Power Struggle MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment
Released	1997-04-01
Set symbol
Set name	Astral Cards
Set code	PAST
Number	7
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Mark Tedin

Key Takeaways

Gaining card advantage through Power Struggle can shift game balance by increasing players’ tactical choices.
It prompts resource acceleration, letting players draw extra cards to maintain a strategic edge.
The unpredictable nature of Power Struggle requires thoughtful strategy to maximize its game-altering effect.

Text of card

During each player's upkeep, that player exchanges control of random target artifact, creature or land he or she controls, for control of random target permanent of the same type that a random opponent controls.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Power Struggle, often the difference maker in games can be its ability to tip the scales of card advantage in your favor. Each time a player taps a land for mana and the coin flip is lost, that player must then draw a card. This can potentiate your hand, giving you more options and responses as the game progresses.

Resource Acceleration: The design of Power Struggle can lead to an inadvertent form of resource acceleration. As each land tap can result in a card draw, it becomes possible for players to manipulate this to their advantage, thereby ensuring they are never short on options. This can be particularly useful for decks that can utilize numerous cards in a single turn.

Instant Speed: While Power Struggle itself does not operate at instant speed, its continuous effect influences each turn as though it were an instant, applying pressure and creating decision points at every tap of a land. This ever-present possibility can make opponents play more cautiously, modifying their strategy on the fly, which in turn can give strategic players the upper hand during those crucial instant-speed exchanges.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Power Struggle’s gameplay requires players to discard, potentially causing a setback if your hand is your vital resource. Discarding to enable this card’s effect could put you at a disadvantage, especially when your options are already limited.

Specific Mana Cost: Decks using Power Struggle must accommodate its specific mana requirements, which dictate a particular color combination. This can make the card less flexible and harder to cast consistently, especially in formats that prioritize mana efficiency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Having to allocate a substantial amount of mana for Power Struggle’s effect might be costly compared to other options. Other cards in the same mana range could potentially provide a greater impact or versatility in a typical game, making Power Struggle a challenging inclusion when deckbuilding.

Reasons to Include Power Struggle in Your Collection

Versatility: Power Struggle shines in a range of deck types with its unique ability to upend the game’s usual predictability. This blue enchantment fits well in more casual or chaos-focused playgroups, consistently offering a fresh and dynamic experience every time it’s on the table.

Combo Potential: Strategic decks that play with ownership and control of permanents can exploit Power Struggle’s unique exchange mechanism. This creates opportunities for interesting and unexpected combinations, setting the stage for memorable plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a local meta that’s become stale or predictable, introducing Power Struggle can shift the dynamics, challenging players to adapt their strategies. Its ability to disrupt opponent plans and cause disarray makes it relevant, offering an advantage to those who can best navigate the resulting complexity.

How to beat

Power Struggle, an intriguing card in the Magic: The Gathering universe, turns the tide of gameplay by introducing a unique exchange mechanism, reassigning the control of permanents among players. Navigating its effect requires a well-thought-out strategy. To counter this card, prioritize permanents with detrimental effects when under an opponent’s control. Consider plotting your plays to exploit Power Struggle’s random nature, potentially giving adversaries less beneficial or downright harmful assets.

Maintain a lineup of effects that grant you benefits regardless of the controller, or implement ways to sacrifice your permanents before they change hands. Cards with leaving-the-battlefield effects become valuable as they can ensure you’re rewarded if they’re lost to an opponent. Holding instant-speed interaction helps you adapt to the unpredictable swaps, letting you respond aptly to the shifting board state.

Essentially, adapting to Power Struggle’s chaotic nature involves clever deck building and on-the-fly tactics. Guaranteeing you gain more from the exchanges or minimizing the value an opponent receives from your cards is the key to rendering Power Struggle less potent.

Cards like Power Struggle

Power Struggle, a unique magic card, invites players into an intriguing game of chance and skill within MTG. It’s an enchantment card that can shift the tide of a game by swapping control of random creatures, making it similar yet notably distinct from other exchange control cards like Puca’s Mischief. Puca’s Mischief allows for controlled exchanges, specifically targeting the permanents you want to trade, but Power Struggle adds unpredictability by randomizing the exchange.

Comparatively, Switcheroo, while limited to creatures only, offers a more straightforward approach to exchange, allowing players to choose the creatures involved in the trade. On the other hand, Cultural Exchange takes the concept further by enabling the swap of multiple creatures at once, vastly differing from Power Struggle’s one-for-one trade setup. Both of these cards provide a more predictable outcome compared to the chaotic nature of Power Struggle.

In analyzing the mechanics, Power Struggle stands out for its unique approach to control exchange within MTG. It’s a wildcard that can lead to unexpected turns in the gameplay, generating both excitement and complexity in the strategic landscape of the game.

Cards similar to Power Struggle by color, type and mana cost

Heightened Awareness - MTG Card versions

Reflections of Littjara - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Power Struggle MTG card by a specific set like Astral Cards, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Power Struggle and other MTG cards: