Lava Burst MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Lava Burst excels in removing creatures or hitting opponents, altering the game’s resource balance.
  2. Instant speed allows for flexible, surprise plays—critical for disrupting opponents or sealing victories.
  3. Despite a hefty mana cost, its unpreventable damage makes Lava Burst valuable in targeted removal.

Text of card

Lava Burst deals X damage to target creature or player. Effects that prevent or redirect damage cannot be used to protect that creature.

"Overkill? This isn't a game of Kick-the-Ouphe!" —Jaya Ballard, Task Mage


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Lava Burst doesn’t directly allow you to draw additional cards, it does efficiently remove opposing creatures or target the opponent directly, effectively reducing their resource pool while you maintain yours.

Resource Acceleration: Lava Burst itself does not provide mana acceleration. However, by removing key pieces of your opponent’s strategy, you can hinder their development and accelerate your own position to win.

Instant Speed: With the power to cast Lava Burst at instant speed, you gain the flexibility to react during your opponent’s turn. This element of surprise can be crucial for disrupting their plays or delivering the finishing blow when they least expect it.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Lava Burst doesn’t explicitly require a discard, it can effectively deplete your hand by committing substantial resources to a single play. This leaves players with fewer options for responding to their opponents’ moves.

Specific Mana Cost: Lava Burst demands a precise combination of mana, solely red, potentially restricting its inclusion to mono-red or red-centric decks and limiting its flexibility across various strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Carrying a significant mana cost, Lava Burst may be less efficient compared to other damage spells in MTG. Its mana investment can impact your ability to play multiple spells in a turn or to keep up with opponents casting lower-cost spells with comparable or greater impact.


Reasons to Include Lava Burst in Your Collection

Versatility: Lava Burst is a robust option for red decks looking to deal direct damage. It fits snugly into various deck archetypes, from fast-paced aggro to controlled burn strategies.

Combo Potential: This spell’s ability to inflict precise damage allows it to pair well with cards that capitalize on spell casting or damage triggers, opening up combo avenues in both casual and competitive play.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where larger creatures dominate, Lava Burst can be a game-changer by taking out key threats, thus maintaining its relevance in evolving meta conditions.


How to beat

Lava Burst is a powerful damage-dealing spell in Magic: The Gathering, known for delivering a potent punch to creatures or players. What sets this card apart is its assurance that the damage cannot be prevented if it’s targeting a player. However, when facing an opponent’s Lava Burst, it’s essential to know the right strategies to counteract it. Having a solid lineup of counterspells is key to stopping Lava Burst in its tracks. Cards like Counterspell or Mana Leak can negate Lava Burst before it can impact your game, flipping the advantage in your favor.

Another effective strategy is to maintain a healthy life total which makes Lava Burst’s impact more manageable. Utilizing life-gain spells or abilities to cushion your health can be a lifesaver. Additionally, employing damage redirection spells or abilities can also neutralize the threat by sending the burst elsewhere. Cards such as Deflecting Palm can turn the tables on your opponent, using their own spells against them. By employing these techniques, players can effectively mitigate the threat of Lava Burst and maintain control over the battlefield.


Cards like Lava Burst

Lava Burst is a potent direct damage spell that serves as a staple in Red’s arsenal within Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relative is Fireball, a classic spell with the flexibility to divide damage across multiple targets. In contrast, Lava Burst’s key feature is its prevention of damage reduction, ensuring its full force is felt by a single target. This makes it invaluable when targeting creatures with damage prevention abilities.

Comparably, we have Lightning Bolt, renowned for its efficiency, dealing three damage for a single red mana at instant speed. While not quite matching Lava Burst in raw power, Lightning Bolt offers the versatility and speed Lava Burst lacks. Then there’s Volcanic Hammer, a sorcery-speed damage spell akin to Lava Burst. It comes in at a lower cost but without the same guarantee of delivering unpreventable damage. This distinction is critical for players looking to maximize damage reliability.

Across the board, Lava Burst holds a unique place as a damage-dealing spell. Its ensuring of unblocked damage output at a reasonable cost positions it as a formidable option for players seeking to eliminate key threats definitively.

Fireball - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Volcanic Hammer - MTG Card versions
Fireball - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Lightning Bolt - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Volcanic Hammer - Portal (POR)

Cards similar to Lava Burst by color, type and mana cost

Earthquake - MTG Card versions
Fireball - MTG Card versions
Disintegrate - MTG Card versions
Goblin Grenade - MTG Card versions
Mana Clash - MTG Card versions
Winds of Change - MTG Card versions
Detonate - MTG Card versions
Meteor Shower - MTG Card versions
Tremor - MTG Card versions
Blaze - MTG Card versions
Seething Anger - MTG Card versions
Gamble - MTG Card versions
Meltdown - MTG Card versions
Landslide - MTG Card versions
Ghitu Fire - MTG Card versions
Tahngarth's Glare - MTG Card versions
Overmaster - MTG Card versions
Devil's Play - MTG Card versions
Firebolt - MTG Card versions
Mishra's Command - MTG Card versions
Earthquake - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
Fireball - The List (PLST)
Disintegrate - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Goblin Grenade - The List (PLST)
Mana Clash - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Winds of Change - Masters Edition (ME1)
Detonate - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Meteor Shower - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Tremor - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Blaze - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Seething Anger - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Gamble - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Meltdown - Urza's Saga (USG)
Landslide - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Ghitu Fire - Invasion (INV)
Tahngarth's Glare - Apocalypse (APC)
Overmaster - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Devil's Play - Shadows of the Past (SIS)
Firebolt - The List (PLST)
Mishra's Command - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lava Burst MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Deckmasters, 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 Lava Burst and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Lava Burst Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Tom Wänerstrand.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-06-03Ice AgeICE 1981993normalblackTom Wänerstrand
22001-12-01DeckmastersDKM 161997normalwhiteTom Wänerstrand
32008-09-22Masters Edition IIME2 1341997normalblackTom Wänerstrand

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lava Burst has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2008-10-01 A creature dealt damage by Lava Burst may be regenerated.
2008-10-01 Prevention and redirection effects will have no effect on damage dealt by Lava Burst to a creature. However, they will work on damage that Lava Burst would deal to a player.

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