Struggle // Survive MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Struggle // Survive can put a creature fight scenario in your favor while the Survive half offers graveyard disruption against your opponent, granting the potential to hinder their strategies and cycling key cards back into their library, thus diluting their future draws. This versatility gives players an edge in terms of card utility and situational control.

Resource Acceleration: The aftermath ability of Survive can be crucial in longer games, allowing you to effectively reset your graveyard by shuffling creatures back into your library which is tantamount to drawing those creatures over time. This mechanic can serve as a form of resource acceleration by rebalancing your deck with desired creatures essential for upcoming turns.

Instant Speed: The instant speed of Struggle allows players to react swiftly to threats on the board, maintaining tactical flexibility. This timing is particularly significant because it enables you to utilize your mana efficiently, holding up resources for either Struggle or other reactive plays depending on the unfolding game state.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Struggle // Survive demands you to toss away another card just to cast it. In high-stakes matches where every card in hand counts, this forced discard can put you at a disadvantage by shrinking your options.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s split nature involves both red and green mana for Struggle and green and white for Survive. Because of this, playing it seamlessly into your game plan requires a deck tailored to these particular color combinations, possibly limiting the range of decks it can be effectively played in.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Struggle’s half has a mana cost that scales with the targeted creature’s power, which might be high, while Survive’s half can be cumbersome at a three mana value. Other cards offer graveyard disruption or damage effects at a more economical rate, making Struggle // Survive seem pricey in contrast.

Reasons to Include Struggle // Survive in Your Collection

Versatility: Struggle // Survive is adaptable to various decks, functioning as a solid removal option with Struggle, or as graveyard disruption with Survive. This makes it valuable in different game scenarios.

Combo Potential: Survive’s ability to shuffle any number of target player’s graveyard into their library can be tactically combined with cards that punish or capitalize on opponents drawing or shuffling their library.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta heavy with graveyard-based strategies, the Survive half becomes a crucial tool. It disrupts the synergy of graveyard-reliant decks, making it a strategic choice for maintaining an edge.

How to beat

Struggle // Survive is an intriguing card that finds its way into various Magic: The Gathering decks, primarily due to its flexibility in dealing with creatures and graveyard management. To tackle the Struggle side of the card, one of the best strategies is to maintain a board state that doesn’t rely on a single powerful creature. Since Struggle targets only one creature, diversifying your threats can dilute its impact. Employing creatures with hexproof or shroud can prevent them from becoming the target, ensuring their safety from Struggle’s reach.

Against the Survive half of the card, graveyard-based strategies should be careful. A timely response with graveyard hate cards can disrupt this effect, erasing its benefits. Utilizing cards like Tormod’s Crypt or Bojuka Bog can exile graveyards in response to Survive, protecting your deck’s graveyard synergy. Additionally, cards with flashback or other abilities that allow you to play them from the graveyard can be used in anticipation of a Survive cast, negating the potential downside of having your graveyard shuffled back into your library.

Overall, the key to overcoming Struggle // Survive is adaptability and preemptive tactics. Effectively managing the board and being mindful of graveyard interactions are surefire methods to diminish the card’s effectiveness against your game plan.

BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the dynamic battlefield of MTG is a continuous adventure. Struggle // Survive offers intriguing utility, balancing fight mechanics with a strategic shuffle effect, ideal for managing both creatures and graveyards. Whether you’re looking to disrupt your opponent’s plans or preserve your resources for the long haul, the versatility of this card can be a game-changer. To further refine your deck and outplay opponents, consider the full spectrum of tactics this card opens up. Embrace the adaptability, and take advantage of its unique strengths. Dive deeper into the strategies and ensure your deck is resilient, versatile, and ready for any challenge ahead.