Triumphant Surge MTG Card

Removal of high power creatures can swing games and offer a significant card advantage. Instant speed play of Triumphant Surge adds depth to your defensive tactics. Stringent target requirements may limit its use, demanding strategic deck building.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set name	Theros Beyond Death
Set code	THB
Number	41
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Daarken

Text of card

Destroy target creature with power 4 or greater. You gain 3 life.

Not even death can quench a hero's inner fire.

Cards like Triumphant Surge

Triumphant Surge is an interesting piece of the removal puzzle in Magic: The Gathering, nestled alongside options such as Pacifism and Swords to Plowshares in the spectrum of white removal spells. Triumphant Surge offers the unique angle of life gain coupled with the destruction of a creature with power 4 or greater, making it an attractive choice in games against decks with formidable creatures.

Examining light mana alternatives, Smite the Monstrous also demands a four power threshold but doesn’t provide the life gain that comes with Triumphant Surge. Then, consider Solemn Offering, a spell allowing for broader target selection including enchantments and artifacts, plus life gain, albeit it lacks the immediate board impact against creatures. Lastly, there’s Reprisal, which destroys creatures with power 4 or greater at instant speed much like Triumphant Surge, but again, doesn’t offer the life gain bonus.

Within the realm of white creature removal, Triumphant Surge stands out not merely for its ability to nullify threats, but also for bolstering a player’s life total, making it a solid contender for deck inclusion where prolonged games and combat with sizable creatures are expected.

Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Triumphant Surge could potentially provide card advantage by eliminating an opponent’s creature that has a higher converted mana cost, thus evening out or turning the tide of the battlefield in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly affecting resources, efficiently using four mana to remove a significant threat can free up your resources later for more plays, effectively keeping the pace of your resource utilization steady.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Triumphant Surge at instant speed offers strategic flexibility, enabling you to respond to threats or combat tricks on your opponent’s turn and keeping them guessing about the contents of your hand.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Triumphant Surge falls short when considering its setup needs. The requirement to target a creature with power 4 or greater can sometimes stall in your hand if opponents don’t meet the condition, making the card miss critical timing.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost demands one white mana, narrowing its seamless inclusion to decks that are based on or comfortable with white mana-generation. Those running multi-color or other mana bases may find the color requirement restrictive.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of four, this spell may not be as mana-efficient as some other removal options available within the MTG realm. Some players might opt for cards with lower mana costs to maintain tempo and flexibility during gameplay.

Reasons to Include Triumphant Surge in Your Collection

Versatility: Triumphant Surge is a removal option that is efficient against decks that rely on large creatures. Its ability to target creatures with power 4 or greater makes it a useful tool in the sideboard, even if it doesn’t find a home in the main deck.

Combo Potential: Within a lifegain deck, this card synergizes well with strategies that benefit from gaining life, potentially triggering various effects or strengthening your position every time you dispatch a large threat.

Meta-Relevance: As creature-heavy decks continue to appear in the metagame, having an answer like Triumphant Surge can be crucial. Additionally, its incidental life gain can be a timely boost against aggro strategies that aim to lower your life total quickly.

How to beat

Triumphant Surge is an intriguing tool for players who enjoy defensive strategies in Magic: The Gathering. The card’s potency is undeniable when dealing with sizeable creatures that could otherwise overrun your battlefield. Able to destroy a creature with power 4 or greater and net you a pleasant lifegain, it certainly can be a thorn in your opponent’s side. Yet, every spell has its Achilles’ heel.

A cautious player can mitigate the risks by diversifying their threats. Deploying a mix of creatures with different power levels ensures Triumphant Surge won’t always find a valid target. Moreover, creature buffs can be carefully timed to avoid boosting a creature’s power to 4 or above until the moment is just right for an attack, thereby sidestepping the ‘surge’ altogether. Furthermore, having countermeasures at the ready, like countermagic or spells that grant your creatures indestructible or hexproof, can protect your pivotal assets from this conditional removal.

In essence, while Triumphant Surge can swing the tide when timed perfectly, it can be outmaneuvered with strategic creature deployment, precise timing of power boosts, and protective spells. Understanding and anticipating this can ensure your creatures, big or small, stay in the fray.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Triumphant Surge MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 Triumphant Surge and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Triumphant Surge has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2020-01-24	If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Triumphant Surge tries to resolve, the spell won’t resolve. You won’t gain 3 life.