Surge Mare MTG Card


Surge Mare - Core Set 2019
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Horse Fish
Released2018-07-13
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2019
Set codeM19
Power 0
Toughness 5
Number77
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred bySam Rowan

Key Takeaways

  1. Surge Mare allows deck filtering by discarding to draw, improving hand quality during a game.
  2. Looting at instant speed keeps opponents guessing and enhances mana efficiency by cycling cards.
  3. Surge Mare’s utility in blue decks makes it a valuable asset against green-ground defenses.

Text of card

Surge Mare can't be blocked by green creatures. Whenever Surge Mare deals damage to an opponent, you may draw a card. If you do, discard a card. : Surge Mare gets +2/-2 until end of turn.

When it passes, waves touch the sky.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Surge Mare offers a sustainable way to filter through your deck by allowing you to discard a card to draw a card, this helps in digging for key pieces or just improving your hand quality over the course of a match.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing acceleration, this sturdy steed can indirectly contribute to your mana efficiency. With its affordable looting ability, you can cycle away unneeded lands or spells, streamlining your chances to draw into more useful resources.

Instant Speed: Although the card itself isn’t played at instant speed, its activated ability can be used at any time you could cast an instant. This enables you to wait until your opponent’s end step to decide whether to utilize the card’s ability or keep mana available for other instant speed interactions, thus keeping your adversaries guessing.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One limitation of Surge Mare is the requirement to discard a card to use its activated ability. This can sometimes work against you, especially if you’re already struggling to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Another drawback of this card lies in its specific mana cost – requiring blue mana. This can sometimes restrict its inclusion to only blue or blue-inclusive decks, decreasing its versatility among the various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though Surge Mare has a low initial casting cost, to fully utilize its ability to be unblockable by green creatures, a continuous investment of mana is required. This can add up over time and result in a greater resource commitment compared to other creatures that might fulfill a similar role more efficiently.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Surge Mare is a highly adaptable card that has a home in blue-focused decks that capitalize on evasion tactics. As a creature that cannot be blocked by green creatures, it can effectively bypass common ground-based defenses in many game scenarios.

Combo Potential: This horse fish shines when combined with cards that allow you to untap creatures or benefit from looting. Its ability to discard and draw grants it synergy with graveyard strategies and ensures it’s more than just a blocker.

Meta-Relevance: Given that it’s well-suited to disrupt several popular archetypes in the current format, Surge Mare offers strategic benefits in different metagames, particularly being a thorn in the side of green-dominated decks.


How to Beat Surge Mare

Surge Mare is an intriguing blue creature card that can be a tough nut to crack in MTG. Its ability to be unblockable by green creatures makes it a thorny issue for certain decks that rely on hefty green creatures for defense. Additionally, its ability to gain toughness when targeted with blue mana makes it resilient against damage.

To effectively overcome Surge Mare, one strategy involves the utilization of removal spells that aren’t reliant on dealing damage. This bypasses the toughness boost and targets the card directly. For example, cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can unceremoniously remove Surge Mare from the battlefield without depending on combat damage. Alternatively, using spells that force the opponent to sacrifice a creature can also be an effective way to get rid of Surge Mare as these do not target it directly.

In essence, the key to beating Surge Mare lies in having the right answers in your deck. Adaptability is crucial, and having access to non-damaging removal options can give you the upper hand against this pesky sea horse and other similar obstacles. By staying one step ahead with versatile responses, you can ensure Surge Mare doesn’t become an insurmountable hurdle in your path to victory.


Cards like Surge Mare

Surge Mare is an intriguing creature card in MTG that serves as a sturdy blockade against powerful foes. Its ability to withstand attacks is reminiscent of cards like Wall of Frost, both presenting formidable defenses. Unlike Wall of Frost, Surge Mare offers more versatility with its loot ability, allowing the player to discard and draw, which can be critical for cycling through the deck for key components.

Looking at other similar cards, Steel Wall also provides a defensive option at a lower mana cost, yet it lacks the additional abilities that make Surge Mare a multifaceted tool in a player’s arsenal. Surge Mare, capable of becoming unblockable by green creatures, carves a niche for itself against specific decks that rely heavily on green. Further comparison brings in Mist-Cloaked Herald, an unblockable creature by default, yet it cannot match the bulk that Surge Mare provides in terms of board presence and resilience.

All things considered, Surge Mare stands out for its hybrid role in both defense and utility, ensuring it earns its spot in decks looking to maintain a strong line of defense while cycling through the deck for the best strategic plays.

Wall of Frost - MTG Card versions
Steel Wall - MTG Card versions
Mist-Cloaked Herald - MTG Card versions
Wall of Frost - Magic 2010 (M10)
Steel Wall - Mirrodin (MRD)
Mist-Cloaked Herald - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)

Cards similar to Surge Mare by color, type and mana cost

Vodalian Soldiers - MTG Card versions
Zephyr Falcon - MTG Card versions
Giant Albatross - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Sphere - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Condor - MTG Card versions
School of Piranha - MTG Card versions
Coral Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Wu Light Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Sea Eagle - MTG Card versions
Overtaker - MTG Card versions
Hazy Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Darting Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Thought Eater - MTG Card versions
Spellstutter Sprite - MTG Card versions
Sneaky Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Coral Eel - MTG Card versions
Storm Crow - MTG Card versions
Aquamoeba - MTG Card versions
Soratami Cloudskater - MTG Card versions
Minamo Sightbender - MTG Card versions
Vodalian Soldiers - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Zephyr Falcon - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Giant Albatross - Homelands (HML)
Phantasmal Sphere - Alliances (ALL)
Skyshroud Condor - Tempest (TMP)
School of Piranha - Exodus (EXO)
Coral Merfolk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Wu Light Cavalry - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Sea Eagle - Starter 1999 (S99)
Overtaker - Mercadian Masques Promos (PMMQ)
Hazy Homunculus - Prophecy (PCY)
Darting Merfolk - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Thought Eater - Odyssey (ODY)
Spellstutter Sprite - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Sneaky Homunculus - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Coral Eel - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Storm Crow - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Aquamoeba - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Soratami Cloudskater - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Minamo Sightbender - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Surge Mare MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019, 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 Mare and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Surge Mare has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

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