Epic Struggle MTG Card
2002-05-27 - Number 112
2002-06-24 - Number 62447
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control twenty or more creatures, you win the game.
"If our foes will not listen to words, perhaps hooves and claws will make them take notice." —Seton, centaur druid
Cards like Epic Struggle
Epic Struggle, a game-finishing enchantment in Magic: The Gathering, stands out in a realm of cards designed to secure victory through unconventional means. When considering cards akin to Epic Struggle, Helix Pinnacle comes to mind, offering a win condition reliant on accumulating a large quantity of mana rather than creatures. However, Epic Struggle hinges on maintaining a legion of at least 20 creatures by your upkeep, contrasting with Helix Pinnacle’s requirement of shoring up 100 mana.
Mortal Combat is another card that operates under a similar principle. Players striving for a Mortal Combat win must fill their graveyard with creatures, leaning toward a strategy that differs from Epic Struggle’s battlefield presence. It’s crucial to note that while Mortal Combat is triggered during your upkeep like Epic Struggle, the deck building strategy and in-game methods to achieve victory vary significantly between the two.
Ultimately, Epic Struggle offers a unique route to triumph, demanding a substantial creature base, and stands out among other cards with alternative winning conditions due to its direct requirement for creature quantity over other resource types.
Cards similar to Epic Struggle by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Epic Struggle offers an alternative win condition that, once on the battlefield, forces opponents to address it directly, or you leverage it to tilt the game’s balance in your favor. Securing a commanding creature presence in play not only pressures the opponent’s life total but also nudges you towards victory with its unique win mechanism.
Resource Acceleration: While Epic Struggle itself doesn’t directly generate mana or ramp, its presence incentivizes strategies built around creature generation and resource acceleration. By focusing on developing your board with creatures that can tap for mana or spawn additional creature tokens, you enhance your capacity to enact Epic Struggle’s win condition swiftly.
Instant Speed: Although Epic Struggle is a long-term game plan and an enchantment that doesn’t function at instant speed, its synergy with instant speed spells cannot be overstated. Having the enchantment in play means opponents must constantly be wary of end-of-turn creature generation or flash creatures that could unexpectedly satisfy the card’s winning threshold at a moment’s notice.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When playing Epic Struggle, players must be mindful of its requirement to discard a creature card. This condition can pose a strategic dilemma, especially if your hand is already dwindling or if it forces you to sacrifice a crucial creature that’s pivotal for your gameplay strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: The demand for both green and white mana to cast Epic Struggle places a restriction on deck-building flexibility. Players running multicolour decks might find it challenging to meet the specific mana requirement consistently, potentially leading to delayed plays or an inability to cast the card when needed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a need for four mana, including two green and two white, Epic Struggle has a relatively steep casting cost. This can significantly slow down your game tempo, giving opponents time to counter your strategies or establish a more dominant presence on the board before you can leverage the benefits of Epic Struggle.
Reasons to Include Epic Struggle in Your Collection
Versatility: Epic Struggle offers a unique win condition that can be easily integrated into decks focused on creature generation. Its ability to shift the tides of a game regardless of your life total adds a dynamic edge to your strategy.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, such as token generators or untap mechanics, Epic Struggle can turn a crowded board into a sudden victory. Its synergies with cards that produce numerous creatures rapidly only magnify its potential.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors long, drawn-out games or where board states become cluttered with creatures, Epic Struggle stands as a beacon for an alternate path to victory, circumventing traditional combat and life-based win conditions.
How to beat
Epic Struggle is one of those cards in MTG that put a unique victory condition on the table. Rather than the typical avenues of reducing your opponent’s life to zero or deck depletion, Epic Struggle instead presents a challenge of assembling an army. The card states that if a player controls twenty or more creatures at the beginning of their upkeep, they win the game. So, how do you ensure that an opponent’s Epic Struggle doesn’t become your downfall?
Firstly, keeping the creature count low is paramount. Spot removal, board wipes, and counterspells can be effective tools to prevent them from reaching the critical mass. Cards with effects like Wrath of God or Supreme Verdict clear the board irrespective of creature size, placing a significant hurdle in the path of your opponent’s winning strategy. Control decks might employ counterspells like Counterspell or Mana Leak to stop key creature spells or the Epic Struggle card itself.
Moreover, strategies that involve graveyard disruption can hamper their ability to amass creatures. Tools such as Rest in Peace can put creatures out of reach for recursion-based decks. Winning against Epic Struggle requires preemptive action and persistent control of the battlefield. By disrupting your opponent’s strategy, you maintain the upper hand and prevent their success through sheer numbers.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Epic Struggle MTG card by a specific set like Judgment and Magic Online Promos, 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 Epic Struggle and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Epic Struggle Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2002-05-27 and 2002-05-27. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-05-27 | Judgment | JUD | 112 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Greg Hildebrandt & Tim Hildebrandt | |
| 2 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 62447 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Epic Struggle has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Epic Struggle card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | To win, you must control 20 or more creatures both at the beginning of upkeep and when it resolves. |