Sudden Shock MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Split second

Key Takeaways

  1. Instant and Split Second abilities make Sudden Shock a reliable card to disrupt opponents’ strategies.
  2. Specific mana requirement and higher cost can limit Sudden Shock’s versatility across various decks.
  3. Its unique uncounterability offers a distinct edge in competitive MTG gameplay, ensuring impact.

Text of card

Split second (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can't play spells or activated abilities that aren't mana abilities.) Sudden Shock deals 2 damage to target creature or player.

Arc mages aren't known for their patience.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sudden Shock might not directly allow you to draw additional cards, but its Split Second ability means it’s almost guaranteed to resolve, effectively taking out a key creature or interrupting a crucial combo without opposition. This can lead to a loss of resources for your opponent while you maintain board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While Sudden Shock doesn’t accelerate your resources in the traditional sense, it can thwart your opponent’s development by unexpectedly removing their mana dorks or creatures with tap abilities used for acceleration, slowing them down and giving you a time advantage.

Instant Speed: The power of Sudden Shock is significantly amplified by its ability to be cast at instant speed. This allows strategic flexibility, letting you respond to threats or actions during your opponent’s turn without warning. Furthermore, the inability for opponents to react due to Split Second can catch them off guard, securing its effect takes place.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Sudden Shock doesn’t necessitate discarding, it’s worth noting that cards with this mechanic can be detrimental if your hand is already sparse and you’re relying on topdecks to stay in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Sudden Shock requires a specific mana composition – one red and one colorless. This restriction can potentially limit the card’s inclusion to certain types of decks, particularly those that run red or have easy access to color-fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of two for an instant that deals 2 damage, Sudden Shock might compete for a slot in your deck against other burn spells with lower mana costs or those that can deal more damage, affecting its desirability and overall utility in gameplay.


Reasons to Include Sudden Shock in Your Collection

Versatility: Sudden Shock is a unique card that seamlessly integrates into decks that aim to control the field without giving opponents a chance to respond. Its instant speed and Split Second ability ensure that timely plays can be executed, disrupting your opponent’s strategy at critical moments.

Combo Potential: This card shines in scenarios where preventing interference is paramount. Whether it’s preventing the activation of crucial abilities or stopping your opponent’s creatures in their tracks, Sudden Shock is an excellent complement to strategies intent on maintaining the element of surprise.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where fast creature-based strategies are prevalent, Sudden Shock’s instantaneous and uncounterable nature can give players an upper hand. By preemptively eliminating threats or key pieces of an opponent’s combos, this card serves as a potent tool to level the playing field or swing momentum in your favor.


How to beat

Sudden Shock is a staple in MTG for delivering unanswerable damage, thanks to its Split Second ability. This means that while Sudden Shock is on the stack, players can’t cast other spells or activate abilities that aren’t mana abilities, making it exceptionally difficult to counter. However, there are strategies to mitigate its impact.

One method is by maintaining a higher life total, allowing you to absorb its impact without major consequences. Engagement with life-gaining cards can provide a buffer against such surprise attacks. Another approach is the preemptive use of cards with shroud or hexproof, which keeps your key creatures out of Sudden Shock’s reach, as it can’t target them. Moreover, since Sudden Shock only deals 2 damage, creatures with toughness higher than 2 or those that can regenerate could withstand its effect. Lastly, avoid overextending with low toughness creatures when your opponent has untapped mana and could cast Sudden Shock. Instead, playing around it by curating a battlefield that’s less vulnerable to direct damage spells is crucial.

Adopting these tactics will help you maintain a stable board and life total, even when facing the sudden surprise of Sudden Shock in your MTG games.


Cards like Sudden Shock

Sudden Shock is a standout instant in MTG due to its Split Second ability, rendering it uncounterable as players can’t cast spells or activate abilities in response. It’s often compared to Shock, a staple in the red direct damage category. While Shock is cheaper and can be played at critical moments, it lacks the uncounterable nature of Sudden Shock, which ensures the intended damage goes through.

Another comparable option is Lightning Bolt, favored for its cost-effectiveness, offering three damage for one mana. However, the strategic certainty provided by Sudden Shock’s Split Second makes it uniquely reliable in tight situations. Then comes Incinerate, which ensures that creatures it damages can’t be regenerated that turn. It gives more damage than Sudden Shock but doesn’t have the same guaranteed impact due to its vulnerability to counterspells.

Considering the need for assured impact in a game where timing is key, Sudden Shock holds its ground in MTG, especially when the element of surprise and uncounterability are crucial in competitive play.

Shock - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Incinerate - MTG Card versions
Shock - Stronghold (STH)
Lightning Bolt - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Incinerate - Ice Age (ICE)

Cards similar to Sudden Shock by color, type and mana cost

Shatter - MTG Card versions
Word of Blasting - MTG Card versions
Incinerate - MTG Card versions
Guerrilla Tactics - MTG Card versions
Orcish Catapult - MTG Card versions
Blood Frenzy - MTG Card versions
Falter - MTG Card versions
Shattering Pulse - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Strike - MTG Card versions
Starstorm - MTG Card versions
First Volley - MTG Card versions
Surging Flame - MTG Card versions
Psychotic Fury - MTG Card versions
Fists of the Anvil - MTG Card versions
Release the Ants - MTG Card versions
Magma Jet - MTG Card versions
Seismic Shudder - MTG Card versions
Fling - MTG Card versions
Comet Storm - MTG Card versions
Pyretic Ritual - MTG Card versions
Shatter - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Word of Blasting - Ice Age (ICE)
Incinerate - Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra (JVC)
Guerrilla Tactics - Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils (FMB1)
Orcish Catapult - Astral Cards (PAST)
Blood Frenzy - Tempest (TMP)
Falter - Urza's Saga (USG)
Shattering Pulse - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Flowstone Strike - Nemesis (NEM)
Starstorm - Onslaught (ONS)
First Volley - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Surging Flame - Arena League 2006 (PAL06)
Psychotic Fury - Dissension (DIS)
Fists of the Anvil - Tenth Edition (10E)
Release the Ants - Morningtide (MOR)
Magma Jet - Friday Night Magic 2009 (F09)
Seismic Shudder - Zendikar (ZEN)
Fling - Magic 2012 (M12)
Comet Storm - Commander 2017 (C17)
Pyretic Ritual - Magic 2011 (M11)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sudden Shock MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Time Spiral, 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 Shock and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sudden Shock Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2006-10-06 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Vance Kovacs.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 363162003normalblackVance Kovacs
22006-10-06Time SpiralTSP 1792003normalblackVance Kovacs
32006-10-06Time Spiral PromosPTSP 179★2003normalblackVance Kovacs
42013-06-07Modern MastersMMA 1332003normalblackVance Kovacs
52021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 1942015normalblackVance Kovacs

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sudden Shock has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-03-19 After a spell with split second resolves (or otherwise leaves the stack), players may again cast spells and activate abilities before the next object on the stack resolves.
2021-03-19 Casting a spell with split second won’t affect spells and abilities that are already on the stack.
2021-03-19 If the resolution of a triggered ability involves casting a spell, that spell can’t be cast if a spell with split second is on the stack.
2021-03-19 Players may turn face-down creatures face up while a spell with split second is on the stack.
2021-03-19 Players still get priority while a card with split second is on the stack; their options are just limited to mana abilities and certain special actions.
2021-03-19 Split second doesn’t stop triggered abilities from triggering, such as that of Chalice of the Void. If one does, its controller puts it on the stack and chooses targets for it, if any. Those abilities will resolve as normal.

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