Sudden Breakthrough MTG Card


Card advantage and resource acceleration make Sudden Breakthrough a potent addition to aggressive red decks. While instant speed provides flexibility, the discard requirement and specific mana cost can limit its appeal. Its potential for combo plays and meta relevance can justify its inclusion in competitive MTG collections.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Treasure

Text of card

Target creature gets +2/+0 and gains first strike until end of turn. Create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.")

Rootha created constantly, passionately, in hopes of impressing her greatest critic: herself.


Cards like Sudden Breakthrough

Delving into the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Sudden Breakthrough shows its worth among red instant spells focusing on creature enhancement. It draws parallels to cards like Brute Strength, which also gives a boost to a creature’s power and toughness for a turn. The uniqueness of Sudden Breakthrough arises from the additional production of a Treasure token—a short-term resource advantage layered on top of the combat trick.

Comparatively, cards like Samut’s Sprint push the envelope with haste, making immediate impact felt by quickening the pace of the game. Sudden Breakthrough doesn’t include haste, but it compensates with its resource generating twist. Another candidate for comparison is Run Amok, possessing a similar mana cost and providing a greater power increase but, again, lacking the Treasure token benefit that grants Sudden Breakthrough a strategic edge in resource management.

In assessing value and functionality across these options, Sudden Breakthrough strikes a harmonious balance between augmenting a creature’s battlefield performance and enhancing a player’s mana pool, making it a versatile pick in red instant spell strategies within Magic: The Gathering.

Brute Strength - MTG Card versions
Samut's Sprint - MTG Card versions
Run Amok - MTG Card versions
Brute Strength - MTG Card versions
Samut's Sprint - MTG Card versions
Run Amok - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sudden Breakthrough helps you stay ahead by enabling you to draw a card upon casting, keeping your hand stocked with options.

Resource Acceleration: While offering a temporary boost in power to a creature, it also provides an additional red mana, thus potentially ramping up your plays and enabling more aggressive strategies.

Instant Speed: Its ability to be played at instant speed gives you the flexibility to react during your opponent’s turn or to surprise them with an unexpected power boost during combat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sudden Breakthrough demands you to discard a card in order to play it. This additional cost can be particularly punishing if your hand is already dwindling, forcing you to lose a potentially valuable asset.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost demands both red and generic mana. This requirement may pose a challenge for decks that run multiple colors and can struggle to have the necessary mana available at the right time.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of two red and two generic mana, Sudden Breakthrough’s expense can be steep. When considering its place in a deck, players might find other spells that provide similar benefits for less or that fit more seamlessly into efficient mana curves.


Reasons to Include Sudden Breakthrough in Your Collection

Versatility: Sudden Breakthrough offers flexible value as it can be slotted into various red deck archetypes. Its ability to provide a creature with an immediate power boost and first strike can be a game-changer in both aggressive and tempo-based decks.

Combo Potential: This card shines in synergistic plays, particularly with strategies that care about instant and sorcery spells or those looking to capitalize on first strike mechanics to establish dominant board states.

Meta-Relevance: With creature-heavy formats or metas that reward quick, decisive plays, Sudden Breakthrough can be a cost-effective way to surprise opponents and turn the tide of battle in your favor, making it a prudent choice for competitive play.


How to beat

Sudden Breakthrough is a recent inclusion that can catch players off guard in Magic: The Gathering. It boasts the ability to give a creature a temporary power boost and generates an additional resource in the form of a Treasure token. This instant speed red spell has the potential to turn the tides of battle unexpectedly, by not just enhancing a creature’s combat capabilities but also by setting up the potential for future plays.

The trick to countering Sudden Breakthrough lies in timing and removal. Effective spell management, such as counterspells or instant-speed removal, can neutralize the threat before it amplifies. Cards like Negate or Shock can disrupt the play, leaving the opponent with expended mana and a lost card. On the other hand, strategies that limit the opponent’s opportunities to go into combat, through cards like Pacifism or enchantments that tap creatures, can render Sudden Breakthrough less effective.

Ultimately, while Sudden Breakthrough offers strategic flexibility and can sway combat phases in your opponent’s favour, precise counterplay and disruption can mitigate its impact on the game. Being prepared and aware of the possible outcomes it presents is key to ensuring it doesn’t lead to your opponent’s victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Every MTG player knows that the right card can turn the game on its head. Sudden Breakthrough is a shimmering gem that promises both force and flexibility, providing a strategic edge in battle and in mana resources. Be it for its instant speed advantage or its combo potential with first strike synergies, including this card in your deck could mean the difference between defeat and a triumphant win. Curious about how to maximize its potential, integrate it into your deck, or keen to explore similar spells? Dive deeper with us for insights and strategies that could crown you the next victor in the MTG arena. Join BurnMana for a closer look at in-game tactics and more.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sudden Breakthrough MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Sudden Breakthrough and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sudden Breakthrough Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Colin Boyer.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-04-23Strixhaven: School of MagesSTX 1162015NormalBlackColin Boyer
22022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 6102015NormalBlackColin Boyer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sudden Breakthrough has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal