Sangrite Surge MTG Card


Sangrite Surge - Shards of Alara
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Released2008-10-03
Set symbol
Set nameShards of Alara
Set codeALA
Number190
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJarreau Wimberly

Key Takeaways

  1. Improves creatures’ power/toughness and grants double strike, significantly impacting combat outcomes.
  2. Enhances decks with its versatility, combo potential, and relevance in varying metagames.
  3. Countered effectively with instant removal, countermagic, or tactical board control.

Text of card

Target creature gets +3/+3 and gains double strike until end of turn.

Some believe the spiky crystal called sangrite is concentrated dragon's breath. Others think it's crystallized life energy. The clans care only about the power it unleashes when crushed.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sangrite Surge offers a twofold benefit by increasing both the power and toughness of your creature. Playing this card may swing the tide of battle in your favor, especially when you’re aiming for a surprise finish or when overcoming a stalemate on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Although this card itself does not directly contribute to resource acceleration, its considerable boost to a creature can expedite the conclusion of the game. A hasty, large creature can be an immediate threat and force opponents to respond, often consuming their resources in the process.

Instant Speed: The instant nature of Sangrite Surge gives you the tactical advantage to surprise an opponent. You can cast it during the combat phase or at the end of your opponent’s turn, catching them off-guard. This feature allows you to better control the flow of the game, keeping your opponent on their toes and strategically planning for the unexpected.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Sangrite Surge does not have a discard mechanic, its heavy mana requirement may force players to deplete other resources or valuable cards to accommodate its casting cost.

Specific Mana Cost: The hybrid mana cost of Sangrite Surge, which requires both red and green mana, can be restrictive for decks that are not tailored to a Gruul (red-green) color scheme or those that run on a tight mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Casting Sangrite Surge demands four mana, two of which are colored. This is relatively steep, especially since it’s a one-time pump spell. It competes with many other spells that can provide more lasting effects or a stronger board presence for the same or lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sangrite Surge is a unique card that can be included in a variety of decks. Its ability to give a creature a significant power boost and double strike until end of turn makes it adaptable for both aggressive and combo-oriented strategies, allowing you to turn any creature into a significant threat.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key piece in creating powerful interactions. Its surprise factor can turn the tide of a game, especially when paired with creatures that have on-hit effects or with abilities that benefit from dealing combat damage. The sudden boost in power can enable you to eliminate key threats or even close out the game with an unexpected burst of damage.

Meta-Relevance: As the meta shifts, having versatile cards like Sangrite Surge in your arsenal is invaluable. In environments where battles are often won or lost in combat, being able to temporarily supercharge a creature can be the difference between victory and defeat, making it a card worth considering for your collection.


How to beat

Sangrite Surge is a unique card from the realm of Magic: The Gathering, providing creatures with a burst of power and toughness alongside the double strike ability. This spell can turn the tides of combat, transforming an unassuming creature into a significant threat. To counteract the impact of Sangrite Surge, it’s essential to employ strategies such as instant speed removals to eliminate the buffed creature before it can declare an attack. Cards such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push offer excellent ways to manage such threats efficiently.

Alternatively, countermagic can also provide a reliable line of defense. By using spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak, players can prevent Sangrite Surge from ever resolving, thus avoiding the combat trickery it provides. It’s also beneficial to maintain board control with creatures that have deathtouch or those that can block multiple creatures, ensuring that the amplified threat can be neutralized without significant loss. Finally, understanding the timing and being ready to react to your opponent’s moves is key; hold back those kill spells or counters until your opponent commits to their play, maximizing the impact of your disruption.

Overall, while Sangrite Surge can create a sudden and powerful advantage, MTG players have access to an arsenal of tactics to effectively beat it, keeping the battlefield under control and the game in their favor.


Cards like Sangrite Surge

Sangrite Surge is an intriguing combat trick within Magic: The Gathering, often likened to spells like Rush of Adrenaline and Brute Strength. All of these cards augment creatures, boosting their prowess on the battlefield. Sangrite Surge, akin to these cards, provides a significant increase to a creature’s power, also granting double strike, allowing the creature to deal twice the amount of damage in a single combat phase.

While Rush of Adrenaline offers a lower mana cost for a temporary power surge and the boon of trample, it doesn’t enhance the creature’s toughness nor grant double strike. Brute Strength, on the other hand, gives both trample and a toughness boost, yet it still falls short as it doesn’t imbue a creature with the powerful double strike ability. Other comparable cards include Temur Battle Rage, which also grants double strike, but only if a creature has power 4 or greater, offering a conditional trigger that Sangrite Surge does not require.

In essence, Sangrite Surge stands out due to its unique capacity to turn nearly any creature into a formidable double-striking powerhouse, without the need for specific conditions to be met. This characteristic makes it a valuable and dynamic choice in games that call for aggressive combat strategies.

Rush of Adrenaline - MTG Card versions
Brute Strength - MTG Card versions
Temur Battle Rage - MTG Card versions
Rush of Adrenaline - MTG Card versions
Brute Strength - MTG Card versions
Temur Battle Rage - MTG Card versions

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

Vengeful Rebirth - MTG Card versions
Armed // Dangerous - MTG Card versions
Thrash // Threat - MTG Card versions
Road // Ruin - MTG Card versions
Vengeful Rebirth - MTG Card versions
Armed // Dangerous - MTG Card versions
Thrash // Threat - MTG Card versions
Road // Ruin - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sangrite Surge MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara, 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 Sangrite Surge and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sangrite Surge has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal