Invasion of Shandalar // Leyline Surge MTG Card
2023-04-21 - Number 193
2023-04-21 - Number 193s
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Battle — Siege |
| Abilities | Transform |
Text of card
(As a Siege enters, choose an opponent to protect it. You and others can attack it. When it's defeated, exile it, then cast it transformed.) When Invasion of Shandalar enters the battlefield, return up to three target permanent cards from your graveyard to your hand.
Cards like Invasion of Shandalar // Leyline Surge
Invasion of Shandalar stands out in the realm of Magic: The Gathering due to its unique blend of disruptive abilities and resource advantage. It’s akin to cards such as Bribery, which allows a player to gain control of an opponent’s creature. However, while Bribery is limited to taking immediate control of a single target, Invasion of Shandalar provides a sustained benefit by enabling repeated plays of stolen cards from the opponent’s deck.
Looking at Praetor’s Grasp, we find another card that allows delving into an opponent’s library. Unlike Invasion of Shandalar, Praetor’s Grasp lets you exile a card face down and then play it without spending mana of that card’s color, providing greater flexibility. Meanwhile, Gonti, Lord of Luxury offers a similar thievery effect but with more restriction, limiting the player to only one card and enclosing it within the scope of a creature’s ability.
Each of these cards offer strategic advantages under different scenarios, showcasing the nuanced choices players face when incorporating such mechanics into their decks. Invasion of Shandalar fares quite competitively by allowing repeated usage of an opponent’s resources, a powerful edge in MTG’s ever-evolving meta.
Cards similar to Invasion of Shandalar // Leyline Surge by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Invasion of Shandalar is a game-changer in terms of giving a player the upper hand by replenishing their hand. Drawing additional cards can be crucial to stay ahead of the opposition and maintain pressure throughout the match.
Resource Acceleration: In addition to its card drawing capabilities, this powerful spell ramps up your resources. It enables faster deployment of threats and can swing the tempo in your favor by allowing you to utilise your mana more efficiently.
Instant Speed: The true versatility of Invasion of Shandalar comes from its instant speed, offering flexibility in gameplay. It allows players to adapt to the changing battlefield and respond to the opponent’s moves with perfect timing, making it a formidable addition to your arsenal.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Invasion of Shandalar imposes a discard condition that can deplete your hand, making it challenging to maintain card advantage, especially in formats where resources in hand are crucial for flexibility and resilience.
Specific Mana Cost: The specific mana requirements for casting Invasion of Shandalar can be a hurdle. Adherence to a particular color identity may not align with all deck strategies, potentially restricting its inclusion in multi-colored or colorless decks that can’t meet the casting prerequisites comfortably.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a higher mana cost, Invasion of Shandalar competes with other game-altering spells and permanents which might offer a more immediate or impactful presence on the battlefield. In faster-paced game scenarios or environments where efficiency is key, this may make it a less favorable choice.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Invasion of Shandalar is a card that lends itself well to a variety of deck archetypes. Its ability to disrupt opponent strategies while setting up your own board makes it an adaptable choice for many game situations.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, Invasion of Shandalar can be a linchpin in powerful combos. It meshes well with cards that capitalize on controlling opponent’s turns or those that benefit from playing additional lands or spells.
Meta-Relevance: On the ever-evolving battlefield of MTG, staying ahead involves adapting to the meta. Invasion of Shandalar can be effective against current popular decks, offering strategic advantage by potentially controlling your opponent’s resources.
How to beat
The card Invasion of Shandalar presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to disrupt the tempo of your game. To effectively counter this, it’s crucial to focus on removing the key pieces that enable its effects. Swift removal spells or ones that can take care of multiple threats at once, such as board wipes, are great tools to keep at the ready. Similarly, prioritizing mana efficiency and flexible spells that can be cast at instant speed will ensure you can respond to your opponent’s plays without falling behind.
Moreover, incorporating cards that provide consistent card advantage can help to mitigate any disruption caused by Invasion of Shandalar. Cards that allow you to draw or play additional lands each turn will bolster your resources, keeping you primed to rebound from any setbacks. Don’t overlook the importance of instant-speed interaction, as it will ensure that you can deal with threats as they arise and maintain control over the game state.
By planning for this interruption and having a strategy to recover quickly, you can neutralize Invasion of Shandalar’s impact and maintain your path to victory.
BurnMana Recommendations
Understanding the intricacies of Invasion of Shandalar can propel your MTG gameplay to new heights. This card boasts the potential to swing games in your favor through its card advantage and resource acceleration. However, its power comes with challenges like a discard requirement and a specific mana cost that may not always align with your deck strategy. Incorporating this card into your collection means tapping into its versatility and meta relevance, giving you the edge over your opponents. Eager to broaden your strategic horizons and take your deck-building skills to the next level? Dive deeper with us and fortify your MTG arsenal for the ultimate gameplay experience.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Invasion of Shandalar // Leyline Surge MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine and March of the Machine 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 Invasion of Shandalar // Leyline Surge and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Invasion of Shandalar // Leyline Surge Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Adam Paquette.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine | MOM | 193 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Adam Paquette | |
| 2 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Promos | PMOM | 193s | 2015 | Transform | Black | Adam Paquette |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Invasion of Shandalar // Leyline Surge has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Invasion of Shandalar // Leyline Surge card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-04-14 | A Siege’s controller can’t be its protector. If a Siege’s protector ever gains control of it, they choose a new player to be its protector. This is a state-based action. |
| 2023-04-14 | A battle can be attacked by all players other than its protector. Notably, this means a Siege’s controller can attack it. |
| 2023-04-14 | A battle can be dealt damage and be target of spells and/or abilities that target “any target.” |
| 2023-04-14 | A battle’s “defense” is displayed in the bottom right corner of the card. A battle enters the battlefield with that number of defense counters. If another permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a battle, it also enters with that number of defense counters. |
| 2023-04-14 | As a Siege enters the battlefield, its controller chooses an opponent to be its protector. |
| 2023-04-14 | Battles can’t attack or block, even if one also becomes a creature. If an attacking or blocking creature somehow becomes a battle in addition to being a creature, it is removed from combat. |
| 2023-04-14 | Damage dealt to a battle causes that many defense counters to be removed from it. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a Siege never had defense counters on it (perhaps because a permanent became a copy of one), it can’t have its last defense counter removed. It will be put into its owner’s graveyard. You won’t exile it or cast the other face. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a battle has no defense counters, and it isn’t the source of a triggered ability that has triggered but not yet left the stack, that battle is put into its owner’s graveyard. This is a state-based action. This doesn’t cause a Siege’s intrinsic triggered ability to trigger. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a battle that’s being attacked somehow stops being a battle, it is removed from combat. Similarly, if its controller changes in the middle of combat, it is removed from combat. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a non-battle permanent that is already on the battlefield become a copy of a Siege, its controller chooses one of their opponents to be that battle’s protector. However, it will most likely be put into its owner’s graveyard because it has no defense counters (see below). |
| 2023-04-14 | If a permanent that is represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it will be exiled as that Siege’s triggered ability resolves, then it will be cast transformed. Note that this applies only to transforming double-faced cards, not to modal double-faced cards that can normally be played using either face. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a token or a card that isn’t represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it can’t be cast as its triggered ability resolves. It will remain in exile. If it’s a token, it will cease to exist the next time state-based actions are performed. |
| 2023-04-14 | In a multiplayer game, if the protector of a battle leaves the game and that battle is not currently being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it as a state-based action. If it is being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it once no creatures are attacking it. This means that it continues to be attacked and can be dealt combat damage as normal. |
| 2023-04-14 | Only creatures controlled by a battle’s protector can block creatures that are attacking that battle. This means a Siege’s controller can never assign creatures to block for it. |
| 2023-04-14 | Sieges each have an intrinsic triggered ability. That ability is “When the last defense counter is removed from this permanent, exile it, then you may cast it transformed without paying its mana cost.” |