Weapon Surge MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Overload

Key Takeaways

  1. Weapon Surge’s Overload offers a game-changing boost to multiple creatures at once.
  2. Instant speed allows for unexpected combat advantages and board state preservation.
  3. Despite its mana specifics, its versatility makes it a powerful inclusion in decks.

Text of card

Target creature you control gets +1/+0 and gains first strike until end of turn. Overload (You may cast this spell for its overload cost. If you do, change its text by replacing all instances of "target" with "each.")


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Weapon Surge is potent for its Overload feature, letting you affect multiple creatures and potentially overwhelming your opponent with a broad, unexpected boost.

Resource Acceleration: Despite not providing direct mana or tokens, Weapon Surge at its base cost is a low-investment spell that preserves your resource pool for other strategic plays throughout your turn.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Weapon Surge at instant speed is invaluable, providing the flexibility to catch an opponent off-guard during combat or at the end of their turn, leading to advantageous trades and preserved board state.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the downsides to using Weapon Surge is the necessity of having the right resources at the right time. Not unlike other cards with discard requirements, players must weigh the tactical advantage of bolstering their creatures against the cost of losing card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Weapon Surge demands a very specific mana allocation for its overload feature, requiring one red mana. This can create stumbling blocks in decks that are not heavily red or those that operate on a tight mana curve, potentially causing delays or awkward plays as players scramble for the appropriate mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that may be considered steep for the effect it provides, Weapon Surge faces stiff competition from other spells that boost team power. Players may find that the mana invested in casting Weapon Surge for its overload cost could be better spent on alternative spells that provide a greater impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include Weapon Surge in Your Collection

Versatility: Weapon Surge serves multiple roles by providing both a necessary damage boost and an overload mechanic which can turn the tide during a match, allowing for strategic plays in both aggressive and tempo-based decks.

Combo Potential: The instant speed of Weapon Surge can be crucial for surprise synergies, potentially enhancing cards that benefit from buffs or targeting multiple creatures. Its capability to affect several creatures at once opens doors for numerous combo interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where board presence is key, Weapon Surge can unexpectedly strengthen your creatures in combat scenarios or as a defensive tool against sweepers. Its utility in a variety of match-ups makes it a relevant choice for current play styles.


How to beat

Weapon Surge is a versatile combat trick commonly employed in Magic: The Gathering to give a sudden boost to a player’s creatures during the heat of battle. This red instant not only increases a creature’s power, making it more potent in combat, but also grants first strike, allowing for advantageous strikes before the opponent’s creatures can respond. To counteract this card effectively, strategic planning is key. Holding up mana for instant-speed removal or damage prevention can nullify the surprise element and counter the temporary power boost. Cards that grant protection from red or spells that can prevent damage entirely for the turn are also effective defenses against Weapon Surge’s immediate threat. Moreover, maintaining a strong board presence with high toughness creatures can minimize the impact of the power boost, denying the opponent favorable exchanges. Understanding timing and having the right answers at the ready turn Weapon Surge from a potential game-changer to a manageable threat.


Cards like Weapon Surge

The Weapon Surge card is an intriguing option for players looking to boost their creatures temporarily in Magic: The Gathering. It’s akin to cards such as Dynacharge, which also provides a short-term power hike to your team. However, Weapon Surge stands out with its ability to not only give your creatures a +1/+0 increase but also furnishes them with first strike until the end of the turn. Unlike Dynacharge, which offers only the power boost without the combat advantage of first strike.

Coordinated Assault is another card that bears resemblance but it has a narrower scope, targeting only two creatures. It does grant an aggressive edge by bestowing both +1/+0 and first strike like Weapon Surge. But Weapon Surge has the upside of potentially reaching more creatures with its overload cost, especially in a more creature-heavy deck. Then there’s Infuriate, which gives a heftier power boost at +3/+2 to a single creature yet lacks the first strike or multiple-target potential found in Weapon Surge.

Therefore, Weapon Surge with its versatility in both single target and multiple-target scenarios, emerges as a flexible tool in red decks, primarily in those moments when combat trickery can pivot the game in your favor.

Dynacharge - MTG Card versions
Coordinated Assault - MTG Card versions
Infuriate - MTG Card versions
Dynacharge - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Coordinated Assault - Theros (THS)
Infuriate - Core Set 2020 (M20)

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

False Orders - MTG Card versions
Chaoslace - MTG Card versions
Red Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Tunnel - MTG Card versions
Artifact Blast - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Active Volcano - MTG Card versions
Shock - MTG Card versions
Panic - MTG Card versions
Vertigo - MTG Card versions
Hearth Charm - MTG Card versions
Pyroblast - MTG Card versions
Fighting Chance - MTG Card versions
Shower of Sparks - MTG Card versions
Heat Ray - MTG Card versions
Overload - MTG Card versions
March of Reckless Joy - MTG Card versions
Burst Lightning - MTG Card versions
Fever Charm - MTG Card versions
Electrostatic Bolt - MTG Card versions
False Orders - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Chaoslace - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Red Elemental Blast - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Tunnel - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Artifact Blast - Antiquities (ATQ)
Lightning Bolt - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Active Volcano - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Shock - Arena Beginner Set (ANB)
Panic - Ice Age (ICE)
Vertigo - Ice Age (ICE)
Hearth Charm - Visions (VIS)
Pyroblast - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)
Fighting Chance - Exodus (EXO)
Shower of Sparks - Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters (DDL)
Heat Ray - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Overload - Invasion (INV)
March of Reckless Joy - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Burst Lightning - Zendikar (ZEN)
Fever Charm - Onslaught (ONS)
Electrostatic Bolt - Mirrodin (MRD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Weapon Surge MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze and Double Masters, 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 Weapon Surge and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Weapon Surge Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2013-05-03 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by Jason Felix.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-05-03Dragon's MazeDGM 402003normalblackJason Felix
22020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1502015normalblackJason Felix

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Weapon Surge has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-08-07 Because a spell with overload doesn't target when its overload cost is paid, it may affect permanents with shroud or with protection from the appropriate color.
2020-08-07 If you are instructed to cast a spell with overload “without paying its mana cost,” you can't choose to pay its overload cost instead.
2020-08-07 If you don't pay the overload cost of Weapon Surge, that spell will have a single target. If you pay the overload cost, the spell won't have any targets.
2020-08-07 To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you're paying (such as an overload cost), add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was.

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