Surrak, the Hunt Caller MTG Card


Surrak elevates board presence and tempo, rapidly escalating the pace of creature-based strategies. Granting creatures haste, Surrak allows for unexpected plays that can fundamentally alter game outcomes. Countering Surrak relies on timely removal and board management to prevent its formidable power boost.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Warrior
Abilities Formidable
Power 5
Toughness 4

Text of card

Formidable — At the beginning of combat on your turn, if creatures you control have total power 8 or greater, target creature you control gains haste until end of turn.

"The greatest honor is to feed Atarka."


Cards like Surrak, the Hunt Caller

Surrak the Hunt Caller makes a strong impression in the realm of creature-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering. It draws parallels with powerful creatures like Loxodon Smiter which offers a similar body at a 4/4 for three mana. However, Surrak differentiates itself with the ability to grant creatures haste — a potent advantage for rapid offensive plays.

Another creature worth mentioning is Werewolves of London Watch. Although it also enables your creatures to gain haste, Surrak stands out for its formidable presence in creature-focused decks, especially when you’re looking to apply immediate pressure on the board. Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma is another creature that shares Surrak’s theme of empowering your creatures, reducing the mana cost of creature spells. Yet Surrak’s unique form of acceleration in granting haste can potentially swing games faster.

Assessing the synergies and game-altering capabilities of these cards, Surrak the Hunt Caller confidently finds its place as a compelling choice for anyone looking to command a swift and impactful creature-based strategy in Magic: The Gathering.

Loxodon Smiter - MTG Card versions
Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Smiter - MTG Card versions
Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma - MTG Card versions

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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Surrak, the Hunt Caller. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Green AggroMono-Green Aggro ModernGreen Devotion2 Torneio - 10 Liga Arena Guardians
Nykthos RampNykthos Ramp PioneerNykthos RampPioneer Preliminary 2023-12-18
Mono-Green DevotionMono-Green Devotion PioneerNykthos RampReCQ - Pioneer - SCG CON Pittsburgh - Saturday - 1:00 pm (Bronze)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Surrak the Hunt Caller stands out by giving players the ability to swiftly develop a board presence, effectively generating card advantage through its formidable presence. This manifests as having a creature that can apply pressure while simultaneously demanding answers from opponents, amounting to virtual card advantage when it diverts resources away from their main game plan.

Resource Acceleration: A key feature of Surrak the Hunt Caller is its resource acceleration capability. With the ability to grant haste to other creatures, it accelerates the tempo of your game, enabling you to unleash threats quickly and catch your opponents off guard, thus advancing your board state faster than standard pacing would typically allow.

Instant Speed: While Surrak itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its ability to give other creatures haste enables surprise tactics akin to instant-speed interactions. This allows for immediate impact, countering your opponent’s strategy before they can bolster their defenses, and can simulate the sudden advantage normally associated with casting spells at instant speed.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Surrak the Hunt Caller doesn’t directly require a discard, it is part of a mechanic that often requires a full hand to effectively utilize ferocious or formidable abilities. This can lead to situations where maintaining a sufficient creature presence to activate his haste-giving ability risks reducing your hand size, potentially leaving you at a card disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Surrak’s mana cost is specific, including both green and generic mana. This cost necessitates a solid base of green mana sources, which can compromise the flexibility of a deck’s mana base, especially in multicolored decks where mana fixing is essential.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, two of which are green, Surrak the Hunt Caller competes with other four-mana creatures in the green part of the color pie. Other options at this slot may offer more utility or immediate board impact without relying on additional creatures to unlock their full potential.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Surrak the Hunt Caller fits seamlessly into a range of Green decks and strategies. Its ability to give creatures haste can accelerate gameplay, making it a solid choice in both aggressive and creature-focused builds.

Combo Potential: The formidable mechanic activates when your creature’s total power is 8 or more, which pairs excellently with other creatures that benefit from swooping into battle unexpectedly. This sets up powerful synergies with myriad creatures and effects that can turn the tide of a game.

Meta-Relevance: With the current emphasis on creature strategies in various formats, Surrak can be a game-changer. It enables fast-paced play and allows for sudden swings in board state that can catch opponents unprepared, making it a valuable asset against control and tempo opponents.


How to beat

Surrak the Hunt Caller is a formidable creature in MTG known for granting creatures haste, allowing for an immediate impact on the game. To counter this card effectively, it’s crucial to manage the battlefield. Removing Surrak before the combat phase prevents activation of his formidable ability, which gives haste to another creature when you have a total power of 8 or more on the board. Efficient removal spells that can target Surrak before attackers are declared, such as Path to Exile or Murderous Rider, can sway the momentum in your favor.

Furthermore, keeping the board clear of other creatures reduces the chance of Surrak’s ability triggering when he enters the battlefield. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the playing field, nullifying the advantage Surrak might provide. Lastly, use counterspells wisely, especially when playing against a deck that may cast Surrak. A well-timed Negate or Essence Scatter can stop Surrak in his tracks, preserving your board state and keeping you in a strong position during the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Surrak the Hunt Caller can be a formidable addition to your MTG collection with its ability to catapult your creatures into high-speed action. Understanding the strengths and addressing the challenges associated with this card is key to harnessing its full potential. If your deck thrives on quick and decisive moves that leave your opponent scrambling, Surrak’s haste-granting ability is an undeniable asset. Explore deeper strategies, find the perfect synergies, and keep your opponents on their toes. Dive into our well of resources to discover how Surrak can be not just a card in your deck but a significant driver of your victories. Embark on the adventure with us and make every draw a stepping-stone to mastery.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Surrak, the Hunt Caller MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Dragons of Tarkir 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 Surrak, the Hunt Caller and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Surrak, the Hunt Caller Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Wesley Burt.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-03-27Dragons of TarkirDTK 2102015NormalBlackWesley Burt
22015-03-28Dragons of Tarkir PromosPDTK 210s2015NormalBlackWesley Burt
32023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 3262015NormalBlackWesley Burt

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Surrak, the Hunt Caller has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Surrak, the Hunt Caller card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2015-02-25 If you control a creature with power less than 0, use its actual power when calculating the total power of creatures you control. For example, if you control three creatures with powers 4, 5, and -2, the total power of creatures you control is 7.
2015-02-25 Other formidable abilities are triggered abilities with an “intervening ‘if’” clause. Such abilities check the total power of creatures you control twice: once at the appropriate time to see if the ability will trigger, and again as the ability tries to resolve. If, at that time, the total power of creatures you control is no longer 8 or greater, the ability will have no effect.
2015-02-25 Some formidable abilities are activated abilities that require creatures you control to have total power 8 or greater. Once you activate these abilities, it doesn’t matter what happens to the total power of creatures you control.