Ball Lightning MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 13 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 3 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Creature — Elemental |
Abilities | Haste,Trample |
Power | 6 |
Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Trample Ball Lightning may attack on the turn during which it is summoned. Ball Lightning is buried at the end of the turn during which it is summoned.
Cards like Ball Lightning
Ball Lightning is a remarkable card in the realm of MTG, with striking similarities to other cards within the red spells suite. Particularly, it can be compared to Hell’s Thunder, a card, like Ball Lightning, known for its short-lived but potentially game-changing impact. Whereas Ball Lightning has haste and trample, Hell’s Thunder only carries flying and haste, forfeiting the chance to deal extra damage if blocked.
Another comparable card is Lightning Skelemental, packing a combination of trample, haste, and a unique ability to force the opponent to discard two cards upon dealing combat damage. It shares Ball Lightning’s trait of being sacrificed at end of turn, though having higher power and toughness at the expense of black mana in the casting cost.
Another card sharing a striking resemblance is Groundbreaker with its green equivalent to Ball Lightning. It retains the power and toughness, the haste, trample, and the end of turn sacrifice of Ball Lightning but requires triple green mana instead.
To sum it up, while Ball Lightning shares several common traits with these cards, each has unique attributes that can provide distinct advantages based on the strategic approach and deck construction in MTG.
Cards similar to Ball Lightning by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Ball Lightning. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mono-Red Burn | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | ||
Sligh | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The allure of Ball Lightning lies in its swift and devastating effect, potentially dealing 6 damage to your opponent in one swoop. This card can easily tilt the balance of victory in your favor, granting you a robust advantage during your turn.
Resource Acceleration: While Ball Lightning itself doesn’t produce additional resources, it can force opponents to expend their resources hastily to mitigate damage. This tactical use can rush opponents into unfavorable situations, offering you an accelerated control over the game’s pace.
Instant Speed: While not an instant card itself, Ball Lightning can be likened to one due to its Haste ability. This allows you to immediately use Ball Lightning for attacking after casting, denying your adversaries time to strategically respond, much like the instant speed cards.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Unfortunately, Ball Lightning MTG comes with no built-in protection. It may prove costly if removed by an opponent’s instant speed removal spell or blocked by an indestructible creature.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Ball Lightning is significantly restrictive, featuring a stringent stipulation of three red mana. This restricts its usability greatly to primarily mono-red or heavily red-influenced decks, discounting its versatility in the MTG landscape.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Ball Lightning is pretty steep for a creature that most likely won’t stick around after one turn. There’s a range of other three-mana cards in MTG that could provide longer-lasting benefits, like creating multiple units or boosting other creatures, giving them more overall value.
Reasons to Include Ball Lightning in Your Collection
Versatility: This card’s ability to deal a heavy hit in a single turn makes Ball Lightning an excellent option in various decks, especially those that aim for quick damage and rush strategies.
Combo Potential: Ball Lightning has significant synergy with cards that trigger upon creature entering or leaving the battlefield, or abilities that enhance damage dealt, leading to impressive combo potential.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta-game where speed is essential, the immediate impact offered by Ball Lightning can certainly outpace slower, more control-oriented decks, making it a potent threat to reckon with.
How to Beat
Ball Lightning, notorious in MTG for its trailblazing attacks, is a peculiar case when strategizing counters. This unique card, a red elemental creature, allows its controller to cut corners with its overwhelming power. However, its fleeting existence can be a drawback. It hits the battlefield with a lethal 6/1 power/toughness ratio, but at the end of the turn, it’s forced into the graveyard.
Defending against this fiery foe isn’t as intimidating as it seems. The formation of a fruitful defensive line can negate the thunderous effect of Ball Lightning. This can be achieved by placing creatures with greater toughness in its path, effectively absorbing the impact. Spells that can kill or counter it instantly are also great ways to extinguish the threatening spark.
Another intriguing option is to exploit the card’s short lifespan with any kind of detrimental effect or tap card. Considering the turn restriction of Ball Lightning, using cards that gain from the death of enemy creatures might be an effective tactic.
In conclusion, although Ball Lightning arrives rapidly and destructively, it also departs in the same instant, providing players numerous avenues to combat its charged progression. It is briefly powerful, but with thoughtful strategy, you can beat it.
BurnMana Recommendations
When diving into MTG, understanding the dynamics of individual cards like Ball Lightning can be the difference between a win or a loss. It’s a formidable card that can strike your opponent quickly but knowing its limitations and ideal deck settings is key. By considering the insights on its pros and cons, alongside strategies to beat it, you’re well-equipped to make informed decisions about incorporating Ball Lightning into your gameplay. If you’re intrigued by high-impact cards or looking to enhance your red deck’s aggressiveness, continue your journey with us. Discover more insights and strategies around cards like Ball Lightning to refine your MTG prowess.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ball Lightning MTG card by a specific set like The Dark and Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border, 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 Ball Lightning and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Ball Lightning Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 1994-08-01 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1994-08-01 | The Dark | DRK | 57 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Quinton Hoover | |
2 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 176 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Quinton Hoover | |
3 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 176 | 1993 | Normal | White | Quinton Hoover | |
4 | 1995-08-01 | Renaissance | REN | 73 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Quinton Hoover | |
5 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 210 | 1997 | Normal | White | Quinton Hoover | |
6 | 1998-08-12 | World Championship Decks 1998 | WC98 | br210 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Quinton Hoover | |
7 | 2000-10-01 | Beatdown Box Set | BTD | 35 | 1997 | Normal | White | Dave Dorman | |
8 | 2001-01-01 | Judge Gift Cards 2001 | G01 | 1 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Quinton Hoover | |
9 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 35972 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Quinton Hoover | ||
10 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 87 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Quinton Hoover | |
11 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 125 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Trevor Claxton | |
12 | 2018-03-16 | Masters 25 | A25 | 121 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Trevor Claxton | |
13 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 291 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Trevor Claxton |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ball Lightning has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Oldschool | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Restricted |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ball Lightning card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2007-02-01 | The creature is sacrificed at the end of every turn in which it is on the battlefield. There is no choice about what turn to sacrifice it. |