Lavalanche MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Strategically clears numerous creatures, shifting board advantage in your favor with its mass damage capability.
  2. High mana cost should be managed, but offers deck synergies that can mitigate this drawback for powerful plays.
  3. Targets a niche in Commander decks, excelling in controlling the board due to its scalable damage potential.

Text of card

Lavalanche deals X damage to target player and each creature he or she controls.

Alara's burning blood cannot be contained by mere earth and stone.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Lavalanche provides an outright advantage by dealing damage to not just one, but multiple targets simultaneously. It’s an effective way to clear out smaller creatures your opponent controls, potentially tipping the board state in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Although Lavalanche itself is not a direct source of resource acceleration, its potential to remove multiple mana-producing creatures from the board can indirectly speed up your game plan by slowing down your opponent’s resource development.

Instant Speed: Despite Lavalanche being a sorcery, integrating it into a deck featuring cards that can give it flash synergizes well. This tactic allows players to surprise opponents during their turn, emulating the flexibility and strategic advantage typically offered by instant speed spells.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Lavalanche does not have a discard requirement, cards with such mechanics force you to give up valuable hand assets, which can be detrimental, especially when your strategy relies on having multiple options.

Specific Mana Cost: Lavalanche demands a mix of red and black mana, which could be restrictive for players not running a deck with these colors. This specificity narrows its versatility across different deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a base casting cost that includes both three generic and two colored mana, the investment to play Lavalanche can be steep. This high cost can be particularly cumbersome in the early game where mana resources are often limited.


Reasons to Include Lavalanche in Your Collection

Versatility: Lavalanche is a flexible card that can be slotted into various Commander and Casual decks. It excels in destroying multiple targets, whether creatures or players, making it an asset in strategies that need to clear the board or finish off opponents directly.

Combo Potential: This card can work well in decks that look to amplify damage or benefit from spell casting. It fits snugly in strategies that utilize spell copy effects or cards that trigger upon casting big spells, greatly increasing its potential impact on the game.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where board states become very developed with creatures, Lavalanche serves as a powerful reset tool. It adapts well to the changing tides of meta-games that favor creature-heavy decks, offering its wielder a significant advantage in controlling the pace and outcome of matches.


How to beat

Lavalanche is a formidable card known for its ability to sweep away multiple targets with a surge of damage. To navigate its destructive power in the MTG universe, strategy is key. Faced against Lavalanche, employing cards that grant indestructibility or regeneration to your creatures can be an effective shield. Cards like Heroic Intervention or Boros Charm fortify your side of the battlefield, making your creatures endure the fiery onslaught.

Counterplay also comes in the form of instant speed spells that can counter Lavalanche before it wreaks havoc. Running spells like Counterspell or Negate in your deck ensures that when your opponent casts Lavalanche, you have the upper hand to neutralize it. Furthermore, considering Lavalanche’s reliance on a substantial mana investment, ramp disruption strategies can inhibit your opponent’s ability to cast it with full potency. Cards that restrict mana or dismantle your rival’s land base are tactical choices to consider.

Ultimately, though Lavalanche can appear overwhelming, there are several paths to subdue its impact. Having these countermeasures in place enhances your ability to deal with not only Lavalanche but similar wide-reaching threats in MTG games.


BurnMana Recommendations

As we analyze the robust qualities of Lavalanche, remember that leveraging its board-clearing capabilities can swing a match in your favor. It’s an exceptional tool for pacing the game and removing an opponent’s threats. Whether you are building a deck centered around multicolored spells or seeking to enhance your current strategy, consider this card’s ability to adapt to various gameplay scenarios. For those looking to refine their MTG prowess, we offer more insights and strategies to utilize such powerful cards effectively. Elevate your game with us and capitalize on the strategic depth that MTG offers.


Cards like Lavalanche

Lavalanche is a potent force in the cascade of multicolored spells within Magic: The Gathering. It resonates with cards like Bonfire of the Damned, sharing the ability to dish out damage across the board to each opponent and each creature your opponents control. However, Lavalanche offers an additional edge with the flexibility to choose the amount of damage based on the mana invested, unlike Bonfire of the Damned which relies on its miracle cost for an efficient cast.

Examining another kin, Earthquake serves a similar purpose, capable of clearing multiple creatures with its ‘X’ damage scale. Both spells cater to players who aim to control the board. Yet, Earthquake affects all creatures and each player, making Lavalanche a safer choice when preserving your own creatures and life total is crucial to your strategy. There’s also Clan Defiance, which allows for specific targeting, providing precision control over the damage dealt, but it lacks the unconditional sweep Lavalanche is celebrated for.

Ultimately, in the sphere of multicolored mass removal spells, Lavalanche undoubtedly stands out. Its combinatory mix of scalability, selectivity, and potential for widespread impact make it an invaluable tool for players seeking to dominate games through superior board control.

Bonfire of the Damned - MTG Card versions
Earthquake - MTG Card versions
Clan Defiance - MTG Card versions
Bonfire of the Damned - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Earthquake - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Clan Defiance - Gatecrash (GTC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lavalanche MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn and Commander 2016, 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 Lavalanche and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Lavalanche Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2009-04-30 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by Steve Argyle.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-04-30Alara RebornARB 1182003normalblackSteve Argyle
22016-11-11Commander 2016C16 2092015normalblackSteve Argyle
32018-08-09Commander 2018C18 1842015normalblackSteve Argyle
42022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 5162015normalblackSteve Argyle
52022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 2402015normalblackSteve Argyle
62022-09-09Dominaria United CommanderDMC 1572015normalblackSteve Argyle

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lavalanche has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lavalanche card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2009-05-01 Because Lavalanche doesn't target any creatures, it will deal damage to creatures with shroud. Any damage it would deal to creatures with appropriate protection abilities will still be prevented, however.
2009-05-01 If the targeted player has become an illegal target by the time Lavalanche resolves, Lavalanche doesn't resolve. Nothing will be dealt damage.

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