Tidal Surge MTG Card
1997-05-01 - Number 74
1998-03-02 - Number 46
1998-06-24 - Number 56
1999-04-21 - Number 102
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
Key Takeaways
- Provides control by tapping up to three creatures, disrupting your opponent’s strategy and preserving your gameplay.
- Can set back opponents but requires careful hand management due to its discard cost and specific mana needs.
- Ideal against aggressive decks, Tidal Surge shines in a meta with numerous creature-based strategies.
Text of card
Tap any one, two, or three creatures without flying. (Tapped creatures can't intercept.)
"'Twas when the seas were roaring With hollow blasts of wind . . . ." —John Gay, "The What D'Ye Call It"
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Tidal Surge gives its controller the upper hand by returning up to three target creatures to their owner’s hand. This can significantly set back your opponent’s board presence and momentum, swinging the game in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: By disrupting your opponent’s creatures, you indirectly accelerate your own resources. You gain valuable time to develop your board, and possibly mana if your opponent is forced to replay their creatures, effectively stunting their potential plays for a turn or two.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Tidal Surge at instant speed offers substantial flexibility. It allows a player to wait until the last possible moment to decide how to best interfere with the opponent’s strategy. Whether it’s in response to an attack, an ability, or at the end of their turn, the timing can be pivotal to maximizing the card’s impact.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Tidal Surge can be a useful tool in the right situation, it has the downside of needing you to discard from your hand. This can be quite the drawback especially when your hand size is dwindling, and every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Tidal Surge’s necessity for blue mana restricts its inclusion strictly to decks with blue color identity. It might not be as versatile for multi-color decks that might have difficulty generating the needed blue mana consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that might be considered steep for its effect, Tidal Surge can be less favorable compared to other lower-cost spells that offer similar or even better benefits. This can severely impact its playability when mana efficiency is key.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Tidal Surge brings an adaptable control dynamic to the game, able to stall multiple creatures. This can be valuable in decks that need to prevent opposing threats from overwhelming the board.
Combo Potential: When paired with cards that capitalize on tapping or untapping mechanics, Tidal Surge can serve as a catalyst, enhancing those synergistic plays and opening the door for powerful turns.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment heavy with aggressive creature strategies, the ability to pause multiple attackers at once can shift the tide, making Tidal Surge a practical choice for current play styles.
How to beat
Tidal Surge is an intriguing card in MTG that allows players to tap up to three target creatures without flying. While this offers a strategic edge in manipulating the battlefield, effectively countering Tidal Surge can make all the difference. A smart approach is to prioritize creatures with the “untap” ability or ones that provide benefits when tapped. Also, having creatures with flying in your deck can naturally negate the effects of Tidal Surge, giving you aerial superiority.
In addition, instants or abilities that can untap your creatures can quickly turn the tide against a Tidal Surge play. Another perspective comes with the use of hexproof or protection to shield your creatures from being targeted. By diversifying your deck with these elements, you reduce the impact of Tidal Surge, keeping your defensive line strong. Consider incorporating a mix of versatile counterspells, too, which give you the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategies, ensuring Tidal Surge doesn’t wash away your chances of victory.
Ultimately, a blend of flying capabilities, untap mechanics, and targeted protection or counterspells form a solid bulwark against the disruptive potential of Tidal Surge in MTG, maintaining your momentum even in the face of controlling waters.
Cards like Tidal Surge
Tidal Surge is an intriguing spell in the realm of tap-down effects within Magic: The Gathering. It stands in good company with cards like Frost Breath, which also taps down multiple targets. However, Tidal Surge offers its ability exclusively to creatures without flying and at a lower cost. Frost Breath impacts creatures regardless of flying but does so at a higher mana investment.
Looking at Sleep, the similarities are evident since both spells tap creatures, yet Sleep has the added advantage of keeping the affected creatures tapped for an extra turn. This extended control over the opponent’s forces can be game-changing. Conversely, Tidal Surge has a lower mana cost, promoting a quicker response to threats on the board.
Examining different options within tap-down tactics, it’s clear that Tidal Surge is positioned as a cost-effective tool in a player’s arsenal. Its specificity towards non-flying creatures creates strategic niche uses, making it a smart option for players looking to manage threats efficiently in their Magic: The Gathering matches.
Cards similar to Tidal Surge by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tidal Surge MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Stronghold, 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 Tidal Surge and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Tidal Surge Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 1999-04-21. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-05-01 | Portal | POR | 74 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 2 | 1998-03-02 | Stronghold | STH | 46 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Doug Chaffee | |
| 3 | 1998-06-24 | Portal Second Age | P02 | 56 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Phil Foglio | |
| 4 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 102 | 1997 | Normal | White | Doug Chaffee |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tidal Surge has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
