Warstorm Surge MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 12 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Warstorm Surge offers dual-threat card advantage, leveraging creatures for immediate damage and board presence.
  2. With red mana specificity, it fits particular strategies and demands deck commitment to red’s playstyle.
  3. Potential comes from versatility, enabling powerful combos, and shifting metagames in your favor.

Text of card

Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, it deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player.

"Listen to the roar! Feel the thunder! The Immersturm shouts its approval with every bolt of lightning!"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Warstorm Surge shines by potentially turning each creature you play into immediate damage to any target. This tranforms each creature card into a dual threat, giving you palpable card advantage, especially in decks designed to put numerous creatures onto the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, this enchantment accelerates your resources differently. It allows for the potential conversion of one resource (creatures) into another (direct damage), enabling you to capitalize on summoning creatures as a form of acceleration towards victory.

Instant Speed: While Warstorm Surge itself does not operate at instant speed, it makes any creature put into play a sudden and unexpected source of damage, bypassing summoning sickness. This immediate impact as creatures enter the battlefield can tilt the game in your favor exactly when needed, much like that of an instant.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Warstorm Surge allows you to deal damage to any target as creatures enter the battlefield, it does not introduce discard conditions itself. However, the requirement of certain cards in your deck to discard for optimization could impede your hand if not managed carefully.

Specific Mana Cost: Warstorm Surge has a color-specific mana necessity, demanding a commitment to red mana in your deck build. This can potentially restrict its inclusion to certain strategies that can fully harness the red mana spectrum.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an investment of six mana to get Warstorm Surge onto the battlefield, it may arrive too late in games where speed is crucial. Other cards with lower mana costs could potentially provide more immediate or varied effects, though often without matching the direct damage potential of Warstorm Surge.


Reasons to Include Warstorm Surge in Your Collection

Versatility: Warstorm Surge is an enchantment that can fit seamlessly into a variety of red decks. Its ability to deal damage equivalent to the power of creatures entering the battlefield under your control allows for powerful interactions in both aggressive and control-focused strategies.

Combo Potential: This card excels in decks looking to exploit enter-the-battlefield (ETB) triggers. Pairing it with creatures that have high power or generate token creatures can lead to a flurry of damage to opponents or their creatures, creating devastating combos that can change the course of the game.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames with creature-heavy decks or where board presence is crucial, Warstorm Surge provides continuous value as it transforms each creature you play into a potential removal spell. This can shift the battlefield in your favor, making the card a relevant choice in various competitive scenes.


How to beat Warstorm Surge

Warstorm Surge is a powerful enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that can turn the tide of a game by dealing damage equal to the creature’s power whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control. Understanding its mechanics is key to devising a successful strategy against it.

To effectively counteract Warstorm Surge, prioritize removal spells that can handle enchantments. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize are excellent tools for swiftly dismantling your opponent’s Surge setup. If you’re lacking in direct enchantment removal, countering it upon casting with a spell like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can prevent it from ever hitting the board.

Players should also consider adjusting their gameplay style. Flexibility can be paramount, as you might want to avoid playing creatures that inadvertently give your opponent target practice with Warstorm Surge. Alternatively, prioritize strategies that don’t rely heavily on creature-based win conditions, opting for direct damage or mill tactics instead.

By employing smart and efficient removal or adapting your game plan, you can neutralize this potentially devastating card and maintain control of the match, ensuring Warstorm Surge’s addition to the board doesn’t escalate to an insurmountable advantage.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG players know the thrill of finding the perfect card to enhance their deck, and Warstorm Surge holds the potential to be that game-changing addition. With its ability to use creatures as a direct damage conduit, it opens up numerous strategic avenues for those favoring red mana. Whether you’re looking to create synergies with ETB triggers or simply want an edge in your creature-heavy deck, Warstorm Surge deserves consideration. Head over to our advanced strategies section where we explore the best combos and deck builds to optimize Warstorm Surge’s impact. Learn, adapt, and start dealing some serious battlefield damage today.


Cards like Warstorm Surge

Warstorm Surge is a dynamic enchantment card that serves as a formidable force in any creature-heavy MTG deck. Its ability to deal damage equivalent to the power of a creature entering the battlefield offers players a powerful tool for controlling the game. When comparing it to other cards, Impact Tremors comes to mind, a cheaper enchantment that deals 1 damage to each opponent whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control. While not as potent in damage output per creature, Impact Tremors can be more accessible due to its lower mana cost.

Another card that echoes Warstorm Surge’s enter-the-battlefield mechanic is Pandemonium. This particular card extends the potential for damage to both players whenever a creature comes into play. It’s a double-edged sword, offering high-risk and high-reward strategy opportunities. Lastly, Where Ancients Tread is a specific alternative geared for larger creatures. It triggers only for creatures with power 5 or greater, but it deals 5 damage to any target, providing significant pinpoint damage for a selective arsenal.

Evaluating these cards alongside Warstorm Surge, each card has its niche, whether it be mana efficiency, broad reach, or target specificity, making Warstorm Surge a staple in its own right when building around impactful creature plays in MTG.

Impact Tremors - MTG Card versions
Pandemonium - MTG Card versions
Where Ancients Tread - MTG Card versions
Impact Tremors - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)
Pandemonium - Exodus (EXO)
Where Ancients Tread - Shards of Alara (ALA)

Cards similar to Warstorm Surge by color, type and mana cost

Territorial Dispute - MTG Card versions
Arcane Bombardment - MTG Card versions
Fiery Emancipation - MTG Card versions
Risky Move - MTG Card versions
Dragon Roost - MTG Card versions
Grip of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Tide of War - MTG Card versions
Curse of the Fire Penguin // Curse of the Fire Penguin Creature - MTG Card versions
Homura, Human Ascendant // Homura's Essence - MTG Card versions
Rage Reflection - MTG Card versions
Wild Evocation - MTG Card versions
Guild Feud - MTG Card versions
Lightning Diadem - MTG Card versions
Cyclops of Eternal Fury - MTG Card versions
Might Makes Right - MTG Card versions
Sunbird's Invocation - MTG Card versions
Form of the Dinosaur - MTG Card versions
Haphazard Bombardment - MTG Card versions
Mirror March - MTG Card versions
Dreamshaper Shaman - MTG Card versions
Territorial Dispute - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Arcane Bombardment - Streets of New Capenna Promos (PSNC)
Fiery Emancipation - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Risky Move - The List (PLST)
Dragon Roost - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Grip of Chaos - Scourge (SCG)
Tide of War - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Curse of the Fire Penguin // Curse of the Fire Penguin Creature - Unhinged (UNH)
Homura, Human Ascendant // Homura's Essence - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Rage Reflection - The List (PLST)
Wild Evocation - Magic 2011 (M11)
Guild Feud - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Lightning Diadem - Jumpstart (JMP)
Cyclops of Eternal Fury - Journey into Nyx (JOU)
Might Makes Right - Magic 2015 (M15)
Sunbird's Invocation - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Form of the Dinosaur - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Haphazard Bombardment - Dominaria Promos (PDOM)
Mirror March - The List (PLST)
Dreamshaper Shaman - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Warstorm Surge MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2012 and Planechase 2012, 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 Warstorm Surge and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Warstorm Surge Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 2011-07-15 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-07-15Magic 2012M12 1602003normalblackRaymond Swanland
22012-06-01Planechase 2012PC2 542003normalblackRaymond Swanland
32013-11-01Commander 2013C13 1292003normalblackRaymond Swanland
42015-11-13Commander 2015C15 1712015normalblackRaymond Swanland
52016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 542015normalblackRaymond Swanland
62018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 1292015normalblackRaymond Swanland
72019-08-23Commander 2019C19 1552015normalblackRaymond Swanland
82021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 1492015normalblackRaymond Swanland
92022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 2772015normalblackRaymond Swanland
102022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 8152015normalblackRaymond Swanland
112022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 2092015normalblackJosu Solano
122022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 209★2015normalblackJosu Solano

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Warstorm Surge has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Warstorm Surge card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2011-09-22 The creature that entered the battlefield deals damage equal to its current power to the targeted permanent or player. If it's no longer on the battlefield, its last known existence on the battlefield is checked to determine its power.
2011-09-22 Warstorm Surge is the source of the ability, but the creature is the source of the damage. The ability couldn't target a creature with protection from red, for example. It could target a creature with protection from creatures, but all the damage would be prevented. Since damage is dealt by the creature, abilities like lifelink, deathtouch and infect are taken into account, even if the creature has left the battlefield by the time it deals damage.

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