Soulsurge Elemental MTG Card

Soulsurge Elemental offers card advantage by potentially requiring multiple opponent cards to be addressed. It benefits from land drops, increasing power indirectly as your mana base expands. Fits into instant speed decks, allowing for unexpected powerful strikes during play.

Soulsurge Elemental - Rise of the Eldrazi

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Elemental
Abilities	First strike
Released	2010-04-23
Set symbol
Set name	Rise of the Eldrazi
Set code	ROE
Power	*
Toughness	1
Number	163
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jason A. Engle

Text of card

First strike Soulsurge Elemental's power is equal to the number of creatures you control.

It draws its strength from those around it, but the pleasure of destruction is all its own.

Cards like Soulsurge Elemental

Soulsurge Elemental is an intriguing creature card in MTG, often compared with other elemental creatures known for their power scaling with player actions. Its uniqueness lies in gaining power equal to the number of red mana symbols in the mana costs of permanents you control. Notably, Ball Lightning shares the elemental theme and comes with an immediate impact thanks to trample and haste, although it lacks the scaling power mechanism of Soulsurge Elemental.

Another relative is Fire Servant, which enhances the damage of red spells. While not directly increasing its power like Soulsurge Elemental, Fire Servant indirectly amplifies offensive capabilities. Inferno Elementals scratch the surface of similarity too, as substantial standalone threats. However, they miss the dynamic growth potential provided by the mana-symbol mechanic found in Soulsurge Elemental.

In sum, while Soulsurge Elemental may have counterparts in the elemental category, its distinctive attribute of leveraging the red mana symbols strategically sets it apart in terms of potential power output, offering a unique advantage to red-centric decks in the MTG universe.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Soulsurge Elemental can become a significant threat on the battlefield, often forcing opponents to use more than one card to deal with it. This inherent card efficiency can lead to a net positive trade in your favor, effectively granting you a card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: With every land you play, Soulsurge Elemental’s power can increase, which is a form of resource acceleration. As your mana base grows, so does the potential of your Elemental, turning your land drops into indirect power boosts without spending extra mana.

Instant Speed: Though Soulsurge Elemental itself isn’t an instant, its ability to grow quickly can be leveraged in decks that operate at instant speed. With flash creatures and instant spells that add lands or creatures to the board, you can surprise your opponent with a sizeable attacker out of nowhere.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Soulsurge Elemental demands a certain commitment as you need to relinquish another card to play it. This can be particularly onerous when you’re playing with a tight hand or relying on each card for a strategic combo.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting Soulsurge Elemental requires a precise blend of mana, including at least one red source. This necessity can sometimes disrupt your mana base, especially if you’re running a multicolored deck that values flexibility and variety in its mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The elemental’s effectiveness is put into question when considering its mana value. Needing a significant amount of four mana, it competes with other cards in this range that could potentially offer more immediate impact or valuable synergies within your deck’s game plan.

Reasons to Include Soulsurge Elemental in Your Collection

Versatility: Soulsurge Elemental’s ability to scale its power with the number of red mana symbols in play allows it to adapt seamlessly across different red-focused deck themes. It can become a formidable force in aggressive strategies as well as in decks where mana symbols accumulate over time.

Combo Potential: This elemental can create powerful synergies with cards that increase red mana symbols, tap for numerous red mana, or use creatures’ power to deal damage or provide an advantage. It’s a key piece in decks that look to exploit such mechanics for a sudden surge of power.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capability to become a considerable threat swiftly, Soulsurge Elemental can be an asset in metagames that reward fast-paced, high-power plays. Its presence requires opponents to answer quickly or face overwhelming force, making it a strategic addition in a constantly evolving MTG landscape.

How to beat

Soulsurge Elemental is a formidable force in MTG, with its power tied to the number of red mana symbols in the mana costs of permanents you control. Overcoming such a creature demands strategic play and the right countermeasures. In this scenario, the objective is to minimize the impact of those red mana symbols or to deal with the Elemental itself directly.

One method to counter the threat of Soulsurge Elemental is by utilizing removal spells that can bypass its power level, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push, which are unhindered by its potentially massive power. Another tactic is to limit the number of red permanents on the board, diminishing the Elemental’s strength. Additionally, employing creatures with deathtouch can provide a deterrence, ensuring that any attack by the Elemental would result in its destruction. Finally, enchantments like Pacifism or cards that can exile creatures regardless of their power, such as Unmake, can effectively neutralize this powerful card without requiring a direct confrontation on the battlefield.

Understanding the mechanics and having the right tools at your disposal can turn the tide against the heat Soulsurge Elemental brings to MTG matches.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Soulsurge Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi, 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 Soulsurge Elemental and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Soulsurge Elemental has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2010-06-15	Soulsurge Elemental’s power is continuously calculated, regardless of where it is. If it’s on the battlefield, it counts itself.