Here is a 3-5 punchy sentence summary of the card Overrun:
Overrun is a powerful uncommon sorcery that gives creatures you control +3/+3 and trample until end of turn. This can instantly turn even small creatures into formidable threats, similar to Giant Growth but with the added benefit of trample. In Commander, Overrun is particularly effective in combo decks or those featuring large, swing-happy creatures like Bramble Wainright. With a moderate mana cost and no real drawbacks, Overrun can be played at any point in the game to gain a significant advantage. It's an excellent addition to any green-heavy deck looking for a boost in power.
Overrun
This uncommon sorcery from the tmp set is a classic example of a powerful, yet situational, card. On its face, it seems straightforward: for 5 mana, you get to buff all your creatures by 3 power and toughness, granting them trample until end of turn.
Mana Cost and Sorcery Speed
Overrun has a significant mana cost, requiring 5 mana (2 green plus 3 additional green). As a sorcery, it will resolve at the beginning of the next upkeep step if it's cast on the stack. This means that any creatures you control when Overrun resolves will receive its benefits.
Keyword Abilities and Effects
Overrun grants two keyword abilities to your creatures: Power/Toughness Increase (+3/+3) and Trample. The power and toughness increase is self-explanatory, but the trample ability requires clarification. Creatures with trample can deal excess combat damage to the player or planeswalker they're attacking.
Stack and Battlefield
When Overrun resolves:
It's essential to note that Overrun only affects creatures you control at the time it resolves. Creatures that enter the battlefield after Overrun has resolved won't receive its benefits.
Edge Cases and Interactions
Commander-Specific Quirks
In Commander formats, Overrun can be a game-changer in green-heavy decks. Its ability to buff and grant trample to all your creatures makes it an excellent choice for aggressive strategies or combo decks. Be mindful of its mana cost and ensure you have sufficient green sources to cast it.
Keep in mind that Overrun's effects only last until end of turn, so plan accordingly. Consider using cards like Mox Opal or Chrome Mox to accelerate your mana development and take full advantage of Overrun's potential.
Overrun is a potent sorcery that can swing games in favor of its controller. Its ability to grant trample to creatures on the battlefield makes it particularly useful in green decks that emphasize creature-based aggression.
In Commander formats, Overrun finds a home in aggressive green strategies like Jhoira of the Ghitelman or Griselbrand. These decks often feature low-toughness, high-power creatures that can take advantage of trample to deal massive damage. The additional +3/+3 boost provided by Overrun amplifies these creatures' impact and makes them formidable opponents.
Green-red Commander decks with Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded or Meren of Clan Nel Toth as their commander also benefit from Overrun's abilities. These decks typically feature more expensive, higher-power creatures that can take advantage of trample and gain significant value from Overrun's buff.
In competitive Modern formats, Overrun sees play in green-based aggro decks like Golgari Aggro. This deck archetype relies on low-toughness creatures with powerful Trample triggers, which Overrun amplifies. The sorcery also helps these decks deal with opposing creatures and planeswalkers by increasing their toughness.
In casual settings, Overrun is often included in green-based commander decks that emphasize aggressive playstyles. Decks featuring Griselbrand or Jhoira of the Ghitelman as their commander are common, as they provide a foundation for aggressive strategies that benefit from Overrun's abilities.
Overrun can also find a home in niche builds like Mardu Aggro. This deck archetype combines elements of red and white with green to create an aggressive strategy focused on dealing direct damage. Overrun provides a significant boost to these decks' creatures, making them more formidable opponents.
Overall, Overrun is a valuable addition to any Commander or Modern deck that prioritizes aggressive playstyles and creature-based aggression.
Overrun's ability to give creatures +3/+3 and trample is potent in its own right, but it becomes even more formidable when paired with other cards that amplify or manipulate creature power and toughness. Consider running it alongside Grenzo, Dungeon Warden, which allows you to sacrifice your creatures to generate card advantage. When Overrun triggers, the sacrificed creatures' power and toughness are added to their controller's pool, creating a snowball effect where more creatures become bigger and harder to kill.
Another synergy to explore is with Bolas's Citadel or Chandra, Torch of Defiance, which both provide additional mana to support casting expensive spells like Overrun. When combined with Rampant Growth, Fertile Ground, or other instant-speed ramp effects, you can accelerate your mana development and cast Overrun more frequently.
In a more aggressive build, pairing Overrun with Avacyn, Angel of Hope or Serra Avatar can create an unstoppable force on the battlefield. These creatures already have respectable power and toughness, but when augmented by Overrun's effects, they become nearly unkillable. Even if an opponent manages to remove one or both creatures from combat, the remaining creature can still deal devastating damage thanks to trample.
The trample keyword is often overlooked in favor of more dramatic abilities, but it can be a game-changer in certain situations. For example, when paired with Dreg Mangler or other high-toughness creatures, you can use Overrun's trample to force opponents to make difficult choices between blocking and taking damage.
In terms of rules tricks, keep in mind that Overrun's effects only last until the end of turn, so you can't use it to create an unstoppable army that remains on the board indefinitely. However, this also means you can reuse the card multiple times in a single game by casting it repeatedly during your turns.
Mistakes to Avoid with Overrun
When playing Overrun, players often overlook the timing of its trigger. This sorcery has a significant impact on the board state, making it crucial to consider when to play it.
Poor Synergies
While Overrun is a powerful card, its effects are not as versatile as some players might assume. Be cautious when combining it with cards that don't complement its abilities.
Timing Considerations
When deciding when to play Overrun, consider the following:
Good Timing | Bad Timing | |
---|---|---|
Opponent's creatures have attacked | Boost your creatures after they've had a chance to deal damage. | Waste an opportunity to enhance your creatures before combat begins. |
Your creatures are small | Use Overrun to make them more formidable in combat. | Boosting insignificant creatures can be counterproductive. |
Keep these considerations in mind when playing Overrun, and you'll be better equipped to maximize its potential benefits.
Overrun is a potent sorcery that can significantly alter the course of combat. In Commander, its ability to bestow +3/+3 power and trample onto all controlled creatures until end of turn makes it a valuable addition for green-based decks.
Its versatility stems from the fact that any creature with Overrun's boon can become an aggressive threat, particularly when paired with cards like Giant Growth, Lingering Souls, or Kithkin Zilbrod to give them an initial boost. This synergy allows for a quick and decisive strike at opponents before they have a chance to react.
However, Overrun is less effective in more static metagames where creatures are the primary threat. It also becomes less impactful if your deck relies heavily on one or two powerful creatures that can outpace the added power and trample from Overrun. In such cases, its inclusion might be better left to a more dynamic and flexible build.
In decks centered around aggressive token generation or swarm strategies, Overrun is best used as a finishing move, creating an unstoppable force once the board has been set up with creatures like Goblin Piledriver, Stromkirk Noble, or Sylvan Caryatid.
Building Around Overrun
Overrun is a potent sorcery that can significantly alter the battlefield. To maximize its impact, build decks that emphasize green's creature advantage and synergies.
Commanders and Color Identities
Overrun excels in aggro-oriented green decks, particularly those centered around Sylvan Caryatid, Elvish Mystic, or Llanowar Elves. These commanders provide a steady stream of low-cost creatures to take advantage of Overrun's scaling.
Themes
Overrun's ability to buff creatures and grant trample makes it an excellent fit for decks focused on:
Engines
To amplify Overrun's effects, incorporate cards that enhance creature advantage and trample synergies. Some examples include:
Synergy Cards
Some synergy-heavy cards pair well with Overrun:
When combining these cards, consider the following:
Card Pair | Description |
---|---|
Overrun + Kemba, Kha Regent | Trample- granting commander with a built-in way to apply Overrun's effects. |
Overrun + Sylvan Caryatid | A classic green aggro combo that gets even more aggressive with Overrun. |
Combo Notes
While Overrun is an excellent standalone spell, it excels in combination with other cards that enhance creature advantage and trample synergies.
Overrun is a versatile and impactful sorcery in Commander and other formats. Its effects can be particularly beneficial in green-based tribal decks that rely on creature advantage.
Commander
In Commander, Overrun can significantly boost the power of creatures on the battlefield, making it an attractive addition to token-generating strategies or those centered around powerful creatures like Avacyn, Angel of Hope or Craterhoard Giant. However, its effectiveness is heavily dependent on the presence of multiple large creatures.
The sorcery's ability to grant trample and +3/+3 power boosts can make it a game-changer in situations where attacking with larger creatures is key. When paired with cards like Llanowar Elves or Fyndhorn Elves, which ramp up mana quickly, Overrun can rapidly accelerate the development of a strong board presence.
Casual Play
In casual play, Overrun's simplicity and potency make it an excellent fit for players looking to introduce themselves to more aggressive, creature-based strategies. It is straightforward and easy to integrate into most green decks, making it accessible even for newer players.
Format | Competitive? | Casual? |
---|---|---|
Commander | Competitive in tribal or token-generating decks | Ideal for casual play with its straightforward effects |
Other Formats
Overrun is also playable in other formats like Modern and Pioneer, although it may not be as impactful due to the prevalence of more efficient removal spells and lower creature counts.
Its relatively affordable price point makes Overrun an attractive option for those looking to bolster their green decks with a powerful, albeit situational, card.
While its effectiveness is highly dependent on the specific game conditions and deck strategy, Overrun remains a valuable addition to green-based Commander decks and casual play. Its price is relatively low compared to other impactful cards in Magic: The Gathering.
Overrun in Commander Politics
In multiplayer Commander games, Overrun can be a game-changing card when played at the right moment. Its ability to boost creatures by +3/+3 and grant them trample can quickly swing the board in favor of its controller.
However, Overrun's impact is reduced in situations where creatures are not the primary focus of the game. For example:
Overrun in Competitive Matchups
In competitive 1v1 or 2v2 matches, Overrun can be a valuable addition to the deck. Its ability to disrupt the opponent's plans by increasing the power of creatures on the board can be particularly effective against:
In contrast, Overrun may struggle against:
Overrun's History
Overrun, a powerful sorcery from tmp, has been making waves in the Magic community. This 5-mana uncommon spell is a creature-buffing powerhouse that gives creatures +3/+3 and trample until end of turn.
Iconic Decks:
Overrun's versatility in various green decks has cemented its place in many players' collections. Its ability to impact games dramatically makes it a reliable choice for aggressive strategies.
In the vast expanse of the Zendikar plane, where ancient secrets slumber beneath the surface and nature's fury can be both beautiful and deadly, Overrun takes its place among the most potent manifestations of the land's unforgiving power.
This uncommon sorcery from the tmp set represents a turning point in the delicate balance between life and death. By tapping into the primal forces that govern Zendikar, Overrun unleashes a torrent of growth and strength upon creatures under one's control. The +3/+3 boost to both power and toughness allows these beasts to overcome even the most formidable foes, their trample ability granting them the freedom to pursue enemies relentlessly.
This is no fleeting respite; the effects of Overrun linger until the end of the turn, giving commanders a window to unleash devastating combinations. Imagine unleashing a horde of rampaging 4/5s, each capable of shrugging off even the most concerted attacks due to their trample prowess. The cumulative effect can be overwhelming: an Elvish Piper, empowered by Overrun's temporary buff and trample ability, becomes nearly unkillable.
For players familiar with Zendikar's lore, Overrun echoes the plane's own natural cycles of life and death. Zendikari creatures are known for their resilience in the face of adversity, often thriving in environments others would find inhospitable. By channeling this aspect of the land's essence, Overrun encapsulates the idea that even in the most dire circumstances, nature's power can be harnessed to turn the tide in one's favor.
Commanders skilled in utilizing Overrun effectively must understand how it interacts with their existing creature base. For example, pairing it with a card like Fertile Ground could create an unstoppable juggernaut of green creatures, their +3/+3 boost from Overrun compounded by the additional power granted by the land itself.
Through its incorporation into a well-rounded deck, Overrun stands as a potent testament to Zendikar's enduring influence on the battlefield.
Budget Breakdown: Overrun
Overrun is an uncommon sorcery from the tmp set, costing 5 mana to cast ({2}{G}{G}{G}). Its impact on gameplay is substantial, granting creatures +3/+3 and trample until end of turn.
Price Points
Reprint Status
Overrun has been reprinted several times across various sets, including Urza's Saga, Mercadian Masques, and others. Its reprint history is well-established, which contributes to its accessible price point.
Similar Options in Commander
For budget-friendly options that offer similar effects, consider the following:
Budget-Friendly Green Stompy Decks
For Commander players looking to create a green stompy deck on a budget: