Sanctum Showdown Surge Arrives May 14

Every turn scores now.

We’re introducing a new citrus-flavored twist on our favorite game of location domination. Sanctum Showdown Surge has you surging around the world as you start with 4 Energy and 4 cards in hand, but the new rules let you earn points much faster. This mode offers a total potential of 4 points on Turn 1, 7 points on Turn 2, and 9 points by Turn 3. Play and progress on the reward track to unlock the new Series 4 card, Ikari. Sanctum Showdown Surge is available May 14–21. The shop will remain open for an additional 48 hours after the event ends.

What is Sanctum Showdown Surge?

Sanctum Showdown Surge is an extreme variation of Sanctum Showdown built around constant scoring and shifting priorities. In traditional Sanctum Showdown, players enter with Scrolls, play a match, and earn event rewards through the mode’s normal progression systems. Surge changes the actual gameplay pace. Instead of only caring about the Sanctum starting from turn 3, players score even more Sanctum points every turn based on the locations they are currently winning. The first player to reach 16 or more points wins the game.

How do you play?

Each game starts with 4 cards and 4 Energy. At the start of each turn, one random location becomes the Sanctum. Players then play cards as normal, trying to win as many locations as possible before scoring happens for that turn. You score points from each location you are winning:

  • The Sanctum is worth 2 points on Turn 1.
  • The Sanctum is worth 3 points on Turn 2.
  • The Sanctum is worth 5 points from Turn 3 onward.
  • Other locations are worth 1 point on Turn 1.
  • Other locations are worth 2 points from Turn 2 onward.

Each turn, players can also Snap to add +1 point to the Sanctum. The first player to reach 16+ points wins the game and earns a free play.

How is Surge different from traditional Sanctum Showdown?

The biggest difference is simple: every turn scores MORE. Traditional Sanctum Showdown plays closer to a standard match with event rewards layered on top. You enter with Scrolls, play the match, earn XP and Charms, and use those Charms in the Sanctum Shop. Sanctum Showdown Surge keeps the event structure, but changes how the game itself is scored:

  1. You score Sanctum points every turn, not just starting turn 3.
  2. Non-Sanctum locations matter even more because they score more points than before.
  3. The game ends when a player reaches 16 or more points.

In short: traditional Sanctum Showdown rewards winning the match, while Surge rewards controlling the board turn after turn and adapting to the shifting Sanctum starting from turn 1.

Sanctum Showdown Surge Economy

Sanctum Showdown Surge is available May 14–21. The Relic Shop will remain open for 48 hours after the event ends. Playing Sanctum Showdown Surge earns Charms, which can be spent in the Relic Shop. Players can also earn XP to progress through the Event Pass. Leftover Charms and Scrolls convert into Boosters after the event ends.

Premium Pass

The Premium Event Pass is available for 800 Gold. The Premium Pass immediately grants:

  • 720 XP
  • 2 Scrolls
  • 1 Green Glyphs Border

Premium rewards also include:

  • 1,800 Charms
  • 10 Scrolls
  • 250 Collector’s Tokens
  • The exclusive Ikari — System Studios Variant

    Open a portal and summon a new card. Portal Pull Cost: 800 Charms

    Featured Portal Pull cards include:

    • White Tiger — Creative House Pocket Variant
    • Terrax the Tamer — Creative House Pocket Variant
    • Gambit — Don Aguillo Variant

    Daily Rotating Offers

    The Daily Rotating Offers refresh every 8 hours.
    • 7 Scrolls — 100 Gold
    • Avatar — 150 Charms or Emote — 1,500 Charms
    • Rare Variant — 500 Charms or Super Rare Variant — 800 Charms

    All Offers

    • Series 4 Collector’s Pack — 1,700 Charms, quantity 1
    • Series 3 Card Pack — 600 Charms, quantity 3
    • Premium Mystery Variant — 500 Charms, quantity 2
    • Silver Samurai — Jon Lam Variant — 800 Charms
    • Shadowlands Daredevil “Let’s Dance” Emote — 1,500 Charms
    • Purple Fire Border — 600 Charms, quantity 12
    • Green Distressed Border — 600 Charms, quantity 12
    • Green Fire Border — 600 Charms, quantity 12
    • Black Cosmic Border — 600 Charms, quantity 12
    • Orange Cosmic Border — 600 Charms, quantity 12
    • Green Cosmic Border — 600 Charms, quantity 12
    • Green Glyphs Border — 300 Charms, quantity 6
    • Premium Mystery Border — 600 Charms
    • Mystery Border — 300 Charms
    • 100 Credits — 60 Charms, quantity 3
    • 50 Credits — 30 Charms, quantity 3

    Banned Cards

    Some cards are banned because of the unique rules and gameplay of Sanctum Showdown Surge. Compared against the previous Sanctum Showdown banned list, the newly banned additions appear to be: Newly Banned Additions
    • Galactus Fantastic Four First Steps
    • Wiccan

    Full Banned List

    • Annihilus
    • Cannonball
    • Captain Marvel
    • Cull Obsidian
    • Dracula
    • Galactus
    • Green Goblin
    • Hobgoblin
    • Invisible Woman
    • Juggernaut
    • Magik
    • Makkari
    • Malekith
    • Man-Spider
    • Martyr
    • M’Baku
    • Mysterio
    • Negasonic Teenage Warhead 19. Quake
    • Rocket And Groot
    • Rocket Raccoon
    • Sauron
    • Scream
    • Storm
    • Supergiant
    • Surtur
    • Viper
    • Werewolf By Night