Who's excited for surge mechanic?

Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum

Posted on Dec. 12, 2015, 11 a.m. by Ravolt

I definetly am :D

It's going to make mtg more interesting in at least standard, limited, and edh.

GreenGhost says... #2

I'm not sure how I feel about it. It feels like they need to be played in a team game to be any good.

December 12, 2015 11:09 a.m.

Ravolt says... #3

Unless you cast something cheap first like a mana rock. Anyway, the team part is what i'm looking forward to, since it will mean twin headed giant, and allies n enemies will be a lot more epic.

December 12, 2015 11:16 a.m.

It's mostly going to be played in EDH. I'm definitely picking up a playset of Crush of Tentacles, though, just in case it takes off in a control deck in Standard (and one for my Jalira, Master Polymorphist EDH deck lol).

December 12, 2015 11:40 a.m.

Ravolt says... #5

December 12, 2015 11:45 a.m.

Programmer_112 says... #6

I hope that there are some small Surge cantrips, instead of just big flashy expensive things. If there are, then this mechanic might actually make an impact in Eternal formats.

December 12, 2015 12:01 p.m.

Ravolt says... #7

Programmer_112 how so? I've never played legacy or vintage.

December 12, 2015 12:07 p.m.

Programmer_112 says... #8

If we got something like U: Draw 1, Surge U: Draw 2, that would almost certainly be playable. In Legacy and Vintage, multiple spells are cast almost every turn, so Surge is essentially free. If the Surge effect is powerful, while the regular card is mediocre, then the card may be playable in older formats while not breaking Standard (almost like Treasure Cruise, but hopefully less broken.)

December 12, 2015 12:11 p.m.

Programmer that's way too powerful. It just has to be low cmc to have a shot of being playable outside of standard. Like, 1U instant 'draw 1 card' with surge cost 1 and if you surge, put a 2/1 token on the field with flying. That would be fantastically broken in both delver and control.

December 12, 2015 12:12 p.m. Edited.

Ravolt says... #10

Oh cool :D

Maybe eventually i'll make a legacy or vintage deck after I accrew a few years worth of cards. (I started mtg late april this year)

December 12, 2015 12:15 p.m.

Sorry, on my card it should have 'surge cost U', not 'surge cost 1'.

I'd get into modern first. The legacy lands are so expensive that you simply cannot buy into legacy unless you're given everything you need or build mono-color or manaless. Modern is expensive enough to start it.

Programmer_112 I like how we both defaulted to blue cantrips :)

December 12, 2015 12:19 p.m.

Ravolt says... #12

Are there some commander cards that can be useful in legacy and vintage?

December 12, 2015 12:23 p.m.

What do you mean? Like C15 cards? Or cards that are played in both commander and legacy? Snapcaster Mage is played in commander and legacy.

December 12, 2015 12:27 p.m.

Ravolt says... #14

Like C15 and C13 cards

December 12, 2015 12:29 p.m.

Ravolt pretty much True-Name Nemesis is bonkers in Legacy.

December 12, 2015 12:31 p.m.

Ravolt says... #16

Ah, my C13 deck is prossh :(

December 12, 2015 12:42 p.m.

K34 says... #17

What new surge mechanic are you guys talking about?

December 12, 2015 12:54 p.m.

Necrotize says... #18

The only cards in the Prossh premade that are in modern(to my knowledge) are Khalni Garden and Golgari Rot Farm, with both potentially being in Bloom Titan.

@K34

Surge is an alternate cost that was on one of the cards spoiled. If you or a teammate cast a spell prior to the one with surge, you can pay the alternate surge cost which may be cheaper than the regular CMC and may activate an extra effect.

December 12, 2015 12:57 p.m. Edited.

Ravolt says... #19

K34 Look up Crush of Tentacles. It's a confirmed spoiler.

December 12, 2015 12:57 p.m.

GreenGhost says... #20

I completely retract my previous statement. I didn't see that it said if you or a teammate cast a spell. This could be broken if they don't handle this very carefully.

December 12, 2015 1:01 p.m.

Phaetion says... #21

I'll certainly look forward to new options for Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas.

Here's a question for any judges reading this comment: How would Surge work with Sunforger (assuming there's an instant with the mechanic)? If I cast a spell, then use Sunforger's activated ability, would I be able to use Surge or no?

EDIT: Nvm, I just answered my own question. I guess it doesn't work. How sad. Wizards must REALLY hate Sunforger these days.

December 12, 2015 1:23 p.m. Edited.

Ravolt says... #22

Phaetion Awesome. I'm currently working on my shattergang brothers as I go (it will be a purely casual deck, so I'll just get stuff when I see it). Anyway, I'm also interested in seeing what other legendary creatures get released soon, as the one commander I'm currently debating on I'd have no idea on what I want in her Damia, Sage of Stone.

December 12, 2015 1:55 p.m.

beakedbard says... #23

Mizzix of the Izmagus is excited. I'm kinda hoping its a mechanic for red as well. I do wonder what colors it will be in though green seems likely surge sounds like it would be green. I like how it works in two headed giant as well.

December 12, 2015 3:19 p.m.

Phaetion it's a good thing I love Sunforger so much then. :D

December 12, 2015 3:31 p.m.

Phaetion says... #25

canterlotguardian: What do you mean? Surge doesn't work with Sunforger.

December 12, 2015 6:01 p.m.

no you said Sunforger was getting no love from Wizards. I was just saying that I love it even though they don't.

December 12, 2015 11:27 p.m.

Phaetion says... #27

Ah, ok, and I agree with you. It's quickly becoming my favorite card of all time.

December 12, 2015 11:28 p.m.

I run it in my Boros tokens EDH. My favorite play is when I'm ready to win, to swing all in with my creatures, then Sunforger tutor for Brave the Elements to ensure my alpha strike lands.

December 12, 2015 11:37 p.m.

Phaetion says... #29

I run it in Kalemne. Her with Sunforger is "2 hits and you lose...and I can control the board."

And I think we shouldn't venture off topic. :p

December 12, 2015 11:45 p.m.

Do any of you think Surge will be a mechanic limited to big bomby cards, or will there be lower CMC cards that will have it? Or maybe cards with a low CMC that have a higher Surge cost that let you get some insane benefit from it?

December 13, 2015 8:43 a.m.

Ravolt says... #31

Well, let's wait and find out :D

December 13, 2015 11:11 a.m.

If surge is going to be playable in modern, they will have to make 1 or 2 mana cards, preferably cantrips. I really hope they make some god surge card that can revive storm in modern.

December 13, 2015 11:12 a.m.

Ravolt says... #33

Imagine: destroy all creatures, if surge is paid, exile them instead.

December 13, 2015 11:27 a.m.

It'd be too much mana, sadly, to be modern playable. Sorry standard players, but I honestly don't really care about your format. I'm selfish like that. I just want some modern-playable cards.

December 13, 2015 11:29 a.m.

Ravolt says... #35

What about: destroy target creature, surge: gain life equal to that creature's power

December 13, 2015 11:53 a.m.

I could maybe see that - 1BB for normal, then 1B for surge, although it'd likely be destroy target nonblack creature. Very standard playable, perhaps some modern, although it wouldn't be a staple. It would likely be a sorcery because wizards sucks, but if it were an instant it would be much better. It'd definitely see modern play as an instant, but not a staple.

To make the jump to modern, it has to be a 3-4 mana 2-for-1, or a 1 mana cantrip, or an efficient 2 mana card. Useful utility at any mana cost as long as it's worth the mana also has potential.

December 13, 2015 1:39 p.m.

This discussion has been closed