Hydrosurge MTG Card

Hydrosurge helps control decks manage threats while maintaining card advantage thanks to its low cost. It’s flexible at instant speed, able to affect combat outcomes by reducing creature power tactically. Despite limitations, Hydrosurge’s unique role in control strategies adds a nuanced tool for blue mages.

Magic 2013 (M13)
2012-07-13 - Number 54

Magic 2015 (M15)
2014-07-18 - Number 58

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant

Text of card

Target creature gets -5/-0 until end of turn.

"Thirsty?" —Drunvalus, hydromancer

Cards like Hydrosurge

Hydrosurge is an intriguing magic spell in MTG’s vast array of offerings. It resembles other low-cost spells designed to temporarily weaken enemy creatures, such as Unsummon or Vapor Snag. Both Unsummon and Vapor Snag allow players to return a creature to its owner’s hand, but Hydrosurge is distinct – it reduces a creature’s power without changing its position on the battlefield. This can be preferable in scenarios where players wish to avoid giving their opponents the opportunity to replay creatures with beneficial enter-the-battlefield effects.

Moreover, while Vapor Snag deals one damage to that creature’s controller, Hydrosurge does not, making it a less aggressive option. Another card worth mentioning here is Downsize. It similarly debuffs multiple creatures, but unlike Hydrosurge, which targets a single creature, Downsize affects an opponent’s entire creature line during a turn. It involves strategic timing to maximize impact, while Hydrosurge might be used more tactically on key threats.

In essence, while Hydrosurge may not permanently deal with a threat, it allows players to finesse their way around potential blockers or attackers without giving their opponent a chance to reuse creatures, setting its niche in control strategies within MTG.

Cards similar to Hydrosurge by color, type and mana cost

Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions

Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Hydrosurge does not directly allow you to draw cards, its low casting cost can help preserve your hand, allowing you to maintain card advantage by using fewer resources to deal with threats.

Resource Acceleration: Hydrosurge isn’t designed specifically for mana acceleration, but its minimal mana requirements ensure that you can deploy other strategies and develop your board without being set back.

Instant Speed: Hydrosurge can be cast at instant speed, providing the flexibility to decide during your opponent’s turn whether to reduce an attacking or blocking creature’s power, potentially altering the course of combat in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Hydrosurge is that it does not have a discard requirement; however, this means that it relies solely on its effect at the moment of casting. In some scenarios, players might prefer cards that also provide an option to discard for additional benefits or to activate other abilities.

Specific Mana Cost: Hydrosurge presents a solid commitment to blue mana with its specific mana cost. This requirement could restrict its inclusion to decks that are based around blue mana or have a heavy blue component, potentially excluding it from more varied mana base strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although its mana cost is low, when you factor in the impact of the effect, Hydrosurge might be considered to have a high cost. In competitive play, cards that can alter creature stats are often evaluated for cost efficiency, and there are alternative spells that might achieve more substantial changes to the game state at a similar cost.

Reasons to Include Hydrosurge in Your Collection

Versatility: Hydrosurge is a low-cost spell that can easily fit into blue decks that prioritize control and need inexpensive ways to manage opponents’ creatures. Its flexibility allows it to be a useful tool in various game situations.

Combo Potential: This instant has the potential to synergize with cards that capitalize on targeting, such as prowess or heroic abilities, efficiently turning a simple spell into a multi-purpose play.

Meta-Relevance: In scenarios where aggressive creatures dominate the battlefield, Hydrosurge can serve as a crucial tempo play, providing blue mages the necessary time to stabilize the board and set up their win conditions.

How to Beat Hydrosurge

Hydrosurge is a unique spell in the world of MTG, boasting the ability to reduce a creature’s strength temporarily. This card can indeed be a hiccup for your attacking or blocking strategies. So, how can you outmaneuver this watery obstacle? A judicious use of instant-speed buffs can help your creatures survive the effect, essentially countering the power drop. Cards that can provide a quick boost to your creature’s stats will help weather the tide of Hydrosurge.

Another tactic is to rely on creatures with abilities or powers that are not dependent on their strength. Creatures with abilities like deathtouch or lifelink still pose a threat, regardless of the temporary power reduction. Moreover, maintaining a range of threats on the battlefield ensures that even if one creature is hit by Hydrosurge, your others can successfully carry on with the plan.

It’s also worth noting that Hydrosurge’s effect only lasts for a turn, so patient play can easily circumvent the disruption it aims to cause. This means holding back your most potent attacks or creature activations until after the effect dissipates, allowing you to strike with full force thereafter.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hydrosurge MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2013 and Magic 2015, 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 Hydrosurge and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hydrosurge Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-07-13 and 2014-07-18. Illustrated by Steve Prescott.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2012-07-13	Magic 2013	M13		54	2003	Normal	Black	Steve Prescott
2	2014-07-18	Magic 2015	M15		58	2015	Normal	Black	Steve Prescott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hydrosurge has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal