Power Surge MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 167
1993-10-04 - Number 168
1993-12-01 - Number 168
1993-12-10 - Number 168
1993-12-10 - Number 168
1994-04-01 - Number 170
1994-04-01 - Number 170
1994-06-21 - Number 170
1995-04-01 - Number 216
1995-04-01 - Number 216
2022-11-28 - Number 163
2022-11-28 - Number 460
| Card sets | Released in 12 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
Before untapping lands at the start of a turn, each player takes 1 damage for each land he or she controls but did not tap during the previous turn.
Cards like Power Surge
Power Surge stands out in the realm of resource disruption in Magic: The Gathering. It’s similar to cards like Manabarbs, which also punishes players for tapping lands. Nevertheless, Power Surge has its unique twist on the mechanic. Instead of dealing damage for every tap, this card specifically targets untapped lands during upkeep. Conversely, Manabarbs doesn’t differentiate, hitting players for each land that’s utilized for mana.
Comparably, Price of Progress is another card that echoes the resource-denying theme. It inflicts damage based on nonbasic lands, incentivizing a different strategic aspect of land management. While Price of Progress is more responsive to the opponents’ land base, Power Surge directly confronts a player’s decision to leave lands untouched. Then we have Citadel of Pain, which shares the untapped land punishment strategy. However, Citadel of Pain is relentless—hurting players during each end step, ensuring consistent pressure.
Power Surge, in an overarching view, captivates players interested in a more strategic, pressure-building approach in Magic: The Gathering. Its role within the resource disruption strategy offers an interesting dynamic, urging players to rethink their land usage cleverly or face the consequences.
Cards similar to Power Surge by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Power Surge uniquely interacts with land resources, compelling players to strategize their land use and potentially providing an advantage by penalizing opponents for untapped lands.
Resource Acceleration: By controlling the flow of your lands’ tap and untap cycles, you can leverage the strategy to accelerate your resource pool while hindering your opponent’s plans, forcing them to adapt to a new pace of resource management.
Instant Speed: The card’s ability enables a fluid dynamic, allowing you to adapt to an evolving board state at a moment’s notice, giving an edge in response actions during the upkeep phase.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: A significant drawback of Power Surge is the necessity for a player to discard a card to activate its ability. In MTG, each card holds strategic value, and having to remove one from your hand can put you at a disadvantage, especially if you’re already facing a depleted hand size.
Specific Mana Cost: Power Surge requires a precise blend of mana to cast, including not just generic but also red mana. This can be restrictive as it necessitates a commitment to red within your deck’s color identity which could potentially disrupt a more versatile or complex mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that isn’t low, Power Surge’s mana demand can be seen as high for what it offers in terms of gameplay impact. Quicker, more efficient alternatives might be available that provide similar or better benefits without taxing your mana pool to the same extent.
Reasons to Include Power Surge in Your Collection
Versatility: Power Surge brings a unique angle to game dynamics that can disrupt traditional play. Its capability to penalize untapped lands means it can slide into control decks that aim to keep the board cleansed of permanents, encouraging a different style of play.
Combo Potential: For those who enjoy a good puzzle, Power Surge opens up avenues for combos with cards that untap lands or benefit from having lands tapped, such as “Seedborn Muse” or “Stasis”. This card invites creative deck builders to experiment with untapped potential.
Meta-Relevance: While not always front and center in current competitive formats, Power Surge can be a silver bullet in metas where players often pass the turn with untapped lands, punishing them for playing conservatively and shaking up their strategy.
How to beat Power Surge
Power Surge is an iconic enchantment card from Magic: The Gathering with the unique ability to penalize players for unused mana. This distinctive mechanic rewards careful mana management and can alter the tempo of gameplay significantly. Understanding the card’s functionalities and developing strategic countermeasures are critical for overcoming its potentially game-altering effects.
To effectively counteract Power Surge, players should aim to harness the full potential of their mana each turn to avoid the punitive damage it inflicts. Utilizing instant spells during an opponent’s turn or during the end phase before your untap step can help ensure that you’re maximizing your resources and mitigating the impact of Power Surge. Cards like instants, creatures with flash, and abilities requiring activated mana can become invaluable tools in this scenario. Additionally, enchantment removal spells like Disenchant or Naturalize offer direct solutions to remove Power Surge from the battlefield, nullifying its threat entirely. By adapting your plays to ensure mana efficiency or packing your deck with key removal spells, you can turn the tables on this disruptive card and maintain control of the game’s pace.
Navigating around Power Surge’s constraints demands strategic foresight. It’s essential to anticipate the card’s implications on your playstyle and board state, ensuring you stay one step ahead. With the correct approach and timely responses, Power Surge’s potential to disrupt your game plan can be effectively neutralized.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Power Surge MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Power Surge 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Power Surge Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Douglas Shuler.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 167 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 168 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 168 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 168 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 168 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 170 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 170 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 170 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 216 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 216 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 11 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 163 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 12 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 460 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Power Surge has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Power Surge 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 | This card knows how many were untapped even if it was not on the battlefield at the beginning of the turn. |