Draw Steel Surges
Learn how Draw Steel surges increase damage or potency, how hero tokens create surges, when an ability can spend them, and how Shadow timing works.
What is a surge in Draw Steel?
A surge is a short-lived heroic resource. The official character sheet lists common spends for extra damage and increased potency, while some abilities provide their own surge option.
How do hero tokens interact with surges?
The official character sheet allows one hero token from the shared pool to give a hero two surges. Agree on the spend with the table before resolving the ability.
Can a Shadow gain insight while using a surge?
Check the exact Shadow feature that grants insight and resolve its trigger separately from the surge spend. A surge does not create insight unless the current ability or feature explicitly connects those events.
Surge Quick Reference
Track surges beside the heroic resource area on the character sheet. Choose the ability first, confirm that the spend is legal at that point in the action, then apply the damage, potency, or ability-specific benefit.
| Spend | Common Use | Check Before Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 1 surge | Increase damage using the common sheet option. | Confirm the attack deals damage and no feature replaces the standard spend. |
| 2 surges | Increase potency by 1 using the common sheet option. | Confirm the ability has a potency and resolve the spend before the result matters. |
| Ability-specific | Use the surge line printed on an ability. | Follow that ability's timing and target restrictions. |
Shadow Surge Timing
For a Shadow turn, name the feature that grants insight, the ability being resolved, and the moment the surge is spent. Resolve those events in written order instead of treating surge and insight as the same resource.
- Choose the target and ability.
- Resolve movement and the power roll.
- Apply any legal surge spend.
- Resolve insight gains only when their printed trigger occurs.
Common Surge Mistakes
Do not spend a surge on a passive line unless that effect provides a spend window. Do not combine hero tokens, surges, and a class resource as though they were interchangeable.
Verified Sources
Open the source that matches the topic, then check its publication or update date before resolving a rule at the table.