Surprise Party MTG Card
Text of card
When Surprise Party enters the battlefield, yell "Surprise!" and put onto the battlefield any number of printed Clown Robot tokens that aren't touching each other, that you hid on the battlefield before you cast Surprise Party, and that weren't spotted by an opponent before you cast Surprise Party. Robots you control get +1/+0 and have vigilance.
Cards like Surprise Party
Surprise Party joins the ranks of combat trick and flicker effect cards within Magic: The Gathering with its own twist. Comparatively, cards like Ghostly Flicker or Cloudshift offer instant speed interaction, allowing creatures to be blinked in and out of the battlefield. Ghostly Flicker can target two creatures or permanents, not just one, and Cloudshift is well-known for its straightforward ability to protect a single creature from harm while Surprise Party can impact multiple creatures and bring unexpected guests to the battle.
Another card that shares fellow resonance is Sudden Disappearance. This card exiles all nonland permanents target player controls and returns them to the battlefield at the beginning step of the next end phase. While Sudden Disappearance affects all types of nonland permanents, Surprise Party specifically targets creatures, offering a narrower yet potentially beneficial impact based on the party mechanic’s synergies.
Crucially, Surprise Party differentiates itself through its party-focused mechanics, inviting creatures with various types to join the fray and potentially bringing in significant, board-altering effects. This makes it a card that can turn the tide by leveraging the unique party mechanic to full advantage, surprising opponents with a swift and game-changing move.
Cards similar to Surprise Party by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Surprise Party ensures that you’re not only playing your spell, but you’re setting the stage for a creature to join the fray. By sneakily putting a creature card from your hand onto the battlefield, you’re essentially drawing that creature into play which can immediately impact the game state, giving you an advantage.
Resource Acceleration: The Surprise Party card is a catalyst for resource acceleration. When you cast this spell, not only do you get a creature into play, but you also have the potential to bypass the creature’s mana cost, effectively speeding up your gameplay and allowing you to utilize your resources more effectively than your opponent.
Instant Speed: The ability to play Surprise Party at instant speed gives you the upper hand, keeping your opponents guessing. Whether you’re interrupting their flow during their turn or waiting for the perfect moment to counter their strategies, instant speed spells like this ensure that you’re always one step ahead, ready to celebrate your tactical surprise at just the right time.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One downside of Surprise Party is the requirement to discard a card to trigger its special ability. This can be a strategic setback, especially when your hand is already depleted, and you’re forced to let go of potentially crucial plays.
Specific Mana Cost: Surprise Party demands a precise mana combination to cast, which can complicate its integration into multicolored decks. Restricting flexibility, it may not synergize well with a deck’s existing mana base, potentially causing delays or inconsistencies in gameplay.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost on the higher side, players may find that Surprise Party competes with other impactful cards at similar mana points. Considering your mana curve is critical, and it might be challenging to justify including Surprise Party when other, more immediately impactful cards are available.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Surprise Party’s flexible nature allows it to slip seamlessly into various deck builds, giving players the unexpected advantage of casting spells from an opponent’s library, which can drastically shift the tide of a game.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in environments where knowledge of an opponent’s deck can exponentially increase its value, and in combination with cards that manipulate or reveal the top deck card, Surprise Party’s impact is magnified.
Meta-Relevance: Given that current competitive play often emphasizes strategic adaptability and surprise elements, incorporating Surprise Party into your deck adds a layer of unpredictability that can disrupt opponents’ plans and give you an edge in a variety of matchups.
How to Beat Surprise Party
Surprise Party is a novel and intriguing card that adds a twist to gameplay in Magic: The Gathering. This enchanting card traps an opponent by luring them into casting big spells, only to flip the script and serve you with creatures that match the spell’s mana value. The element of the unexpected is what makes Surprise Party stand out, potentially tilting the board in your favor.
However, to outmaneuver Surprise Party, a tailored game plan is essential. Focus on low-cost spells that trigger less impactful creatures, or employ tactics that force your opponent to play their spells when they’re not ready, limiting the effectiveness of their Surprise Party. Alternatively, counterplay strategies like using enchantment removal cards or playing instant-speed spells can keep you a step ahead.
Tactically, it’s also paramount to anticipate your opponent’s likely creatures and strategize accordingly. This might involve holding back certain spells or setting up optimal blocks to neutralize their surprise creatures. Taking a measured approach against decks running Surprise Party can dramatically increase your chances of success, making your moves unpredictable and harder for your opponent to capitalize on their trap card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Surprise Party MTG card by a specific set like Unfinity and Unfinity, 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 Surprise Party 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 Surprise Party Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-10-07 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by Sean Murray.
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Surprise Party card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-10-07 | The tokens can be hidden under other cards or objects, face up or face down, as long as they aren’t touching each other. No stacks o’ Clowns. |
| 2022-10-07 | You can’t break other rules while hiding the tokens. For example, even if we interpreted your library as part of the battlefield for this purpose, slipping one into the card sleeve of a card in your library during a search effectively marks your deck, and that’s not allowed. |
| 2022-10-07 | You must hide the tokens while the game is in progress. |
| 2022-10-07 | Your opponents may report that they’ve spotted a Robot Clown token even if they can’t literally see it, provided they can identify where it is. That is, you can’t just put your hand over it and claim that can’t see it. Well, you can claim that, and it might be true, but it didn’t work for Entirely Normal Armchair and it won’t work this time either. |
| 2022-10-07 | You’re allowed to hide the tokens anywhere on the battlefield, broadly interpreted as the table where your game is taking place. |
| 2022-10-07 | “Printed Clown Robot tokens” are official printed creature tokens which are both Clowns and Robots. You can use the ones that appear in some Unfinity booster packs, or ones from any other set that happens to include tokens that are both Clowns and Robots. |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.