Surge Engine MTG Card
2022-11-18 - Number 320
2022-11-18 - Number 81
2002-06-24 - Number 105674
2002-06-24 - Number 105862
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Construct |
| Abilities | Defender |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Defender : Surge Engine loses defender and gains "This creature can't be blocked." : Surge Engine becomes blue and has base power and toughness 5/4. Activate only if Surge Engine doesn't have defender. : Draw three cards. Activate only if Surge Engine is blue and only once.
Cards like Surge Engine
Surge Engine is a unique artifact that stands out in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering. When looking at parallels, we can draw a line to cards like Astral Cornucopia, which also operates on the concept of proliferating charge counters to generate mana. Yet, Surge Engine offers a fresh dynamic, as it works to build your counters incrementally each turn, potentially leading to an overwhelming mana advantage as the game progresses.
Another relative in this category is Everflowing Chalice, which, similar to Surge Engine, can be a scalable mana resource. The Chalice, however, doesn’t offer the same repetitive counter-building mechanism — it requires a one-time investment during casting. Contrastingly, Surge Engine, after an initial investment, continues to grow, providing persistent value. Then there’s Coalition Relic, which provides a flexible mana acceleration and can store charge for future use, differing from Surge Engine’s intent to accumulate and capitalize on charge counters over time.
Assessing Surge Engine against its counterparts, it is evident that the card carries potential for those who appreciate a gradual climb to powerful mana generation. Its ability to integrate into counter-centric decks especially marks it as a notable contender in mana ramp strategies within Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Surge Engine by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Surge Engine. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Simic Artifact Aggro | Standard | Simic Artifact Aggro | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 1, 2024 |
| Simic Artifacts | Standard | Simic Artifact Aggro | F2F Tour Championship: Montreal May 2024 Top 12 Standard |
 | UR | Standard | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 29, 2024 | |
 | Azorius Tempo | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 14 2024 | |
 | Dimir Draws | Standard | Dimir Draws | Standard Challenge 32 2024-04-13 (1) |
| Azorius Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 15 2024 | |
 | Mono-Blue Artifacts | Standard | Mono-Blue Artifacts | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 1, 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With the Surge Engine card in your arsenal, gathering momentum in the form of additional cards becomes easier, helping to secure a leading position throughout the game.
Resource Acceleration: This card is a powerhouse when it comes to ramping up your resources efficiently, offering a quick way to step up your game and summon larger threats sooner than usual.
Instant Speed: The ability to play Surge Engine at instant speed gives you the flexibility to react on your terms, preserving your mana for the perfect moment to tip the scales in your favor without missing a beat.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Surge Engine demands the player to drop a card from their hand into the graveyard to fuel its ability. This cost can be too steep when the player’s hand is already depleted, reducing strategic options and possibly compromising their position in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: The necessity of specific mana to activate Surge Engine’s effect necessitates a particular deck color alignment. Players running multicolor decks might find it challenging to meet the mana requirement consistently, potentially making the card a dead draw in such situations.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Surge Engine comes with a price point on the higher end for its effect. Players might find that the investment doesn’t yield a strong enough advantage compared to other mana accelerators or card engines available within the same mana range. This can lead to suboptimal plays where other cards might provide a better cost to benefit ratio.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Surge Engine is an artifact that can be slotted into an array of decks, capitalizing on its ability to manipulate energy counters which are a resource across numerous card interactions within the game.
Combo Potential: Its potential for synergy is high as it works well with other cards that generate or use energy counters, enabling intricate combinations that can turn the tide of the game in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where energy mechanics are prevalent, having Surge Engine can provide a significant edge, ensuring your deck is tuned to exploit the current trends effectively.
How to beat
Surge Engine is a card that commands attention on the battlefield. Its ability to manipulate charge counters can quickly escalate the power of certain strategies or, conversely, become the focal point of your opponent’s disruptions. Understanding its mechanics and identifying key moments to disrupt its growth is crucial.
To effectively counter Surge Engine, consider cards that can remove artifacts or negate abilities. Direct artifact removal spells like Disenchant or Abrade can deal with it efficiently. Timing these spells right when your opponent is strapped for mana or has just invested in putting counters on Surge Engine will maximize the disruption to their game plan.
Moreover, leveraging counterspells like Mana Leak when your opponent first casts Surge Engine prevents its engine from starting. Another approach is to apply pressure with a fast-paced aggressive deck that overwhelms your opponent before they can utilize Surge Engine’s full potential. Thus, a calculated and timely response or an early game offensive are both viable strategies to neutralize the power of Surge Engine.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Surge Engine MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online Promos, 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 Surge Engine 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
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Printings
The Surge Engine Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-11-18 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 105674 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken | ||
| 2 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 105862 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa | ||
| 3 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War | BRO | 320 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken | |
| 4 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War | BRO | 81 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Surge Engine has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Surge Engine card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-10-14 | If Surge Engine loses defender in some way other than its first ability, its second ability may still be activated. Likewise, if it becomes blue in some way other than its second ability, its last ability may still be activated. Note that an effect that allows a creature to "attack as though it didn't have defender" doesn't actually cause it to lose defender. |
| 2022-10-14 | If a Surge Engine whose last ability has been activated leaves the battlefield and comes back, it's a new object on the battlefield and its last ability can be activated again (once it's blue, of course). |
| 2022-10-14 | Surge Engine's last ability can be activated only once per game, not once per turn. |