Glacial Ray MTG Card

Splice onto arcane provides card advantage by casting two spells for the price of one. Instant speed allows strategic responses, giving an edge during opponent’s turns. Mana cost and arcane requirement limit its inclusion in diverse deck types.

Arena League 2004 (PAL04)
2004-01-01 - Number 8

Glacial Ray - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
2004-10-01 - Number 168

Modern Masters (MMA)
2013-06-07 - Number 115

Magic Online Promos (PRM)
2002-06-24 - Number 36286

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant — Arcane
Abilities	Splice

Text of card

Glacial Ray deals 2 damage to any target. Splice onto Arcane (As you cast an Arcane spell, you may reveal this card from your hand and pay its splice cost. If you do, add this card's effects to that spell.)

Cards like Glacial Ray

Glacial Ray stands out in the world of spell damage cards in Magic: The Gathering. It’s on par with other damage-dealing spells such as Lightning Bolt for its instant impact. Glacial Ray offers a splice onto Arcane ability, adding a layer of strategic depth not seen in the straightforward and more potent Lightning Bolt, which delivers three damage outright.

Another comparable card is Shock, which offers two damage to any target immediately for one less mana. Where Glacial Ray edges ahead is in its potential to be reused through the splice mechanic, potentially providing more value across a longer game. Conversely, Searing Spear presents itself as another alternative, but at a cost of two mana for three damage without additional synergies.

In a broader look at instant damage spells within MTG, Glacial Ray has a unique position. Its potential for reuse and strategic play opportunities make it a card worthy of attention, especially in a deck built around the Arcane mechanic.

Cards similar to Glacial Ray by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Glacial Ray presents the opportunity to capitalize on card advantage through its splice onto arcane mechanic. This unique ability allows you to essentially cast two spells for the cost of one, giving you an edge through additional spell effects without depleting your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly a resource acceleration tool, Glacial Ray’s moderate casting cost can be subsidised by various mana acceleration cards in MTG, fitting seamlessly into decks that strategically play cheaper spells to maintain tempo and control.

Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of Glacial Ray gives you the flexibility to respond during critical moments of gameplay. This allows you to deftly remove threats or finish off a weakened opponent during their turn, keeping you a step ahead in the match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Glacial Ray’s splice onto arcane feature necessitates discarding another card with the arcane tag, potentially depleting hand resources without guarantee of substantial benefit.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring one red and one generic mana, this card demands a dedicated source of red mana, which might restrict its integration into multicolor decks that aren’t heavily red-focused.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Glacial Ray’s mana cost may be seen as steep for a spell that deals only 2 damage; other options in the game provide more damage or additional effects for a similar or lower cost investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Glacial Ray offers adaptability in various deck builds, serving as both a reliable burn spell and a tool for spot removal. Its inclusion in a Spell-slinger deck or a deck with a Spells-matter theme can improve the deck’s performance significantly.

Combo Potential: Flexibility in combination plays is where Glacial Ray shines. Its splice onto Arcane mechanic allows for duplication alongside other spells, enabling intricate plays and surprising your opponent with a burst of damage or clearing the way for a winning strike.

Meta-Relevance: With a surge of creature-based strategies in the current meta, having an efficient removal tool like Glacial Ray is essential. It deals with small to mid-sized creatures effectively, which can be crucial for maintaining board control and staying competitive in the game.

How to beat

Glacial Ray stands out in MTG as a staple in decks that favor spell-slinging strategies. This card can be a key play in removing creatures or finishing off an opponent. To gain the upper hand against Glacial Ray, consider strategies that mitigate its impact. Utilize cards that offer spell protection or hexproof to shield your important creatures from being targeted. Counterspells are also an effective method to directly contradict Glacial Ray before it can affect the board state.

Moreover, adopting a deck that operates at instant speed allows you to maintain resources and react to the spell on your terms. This way, you can efficiently manage your threats and responses without falling prey to the two-damage increments that Glacial Ray can dish out. A keen understanding of your opponent’s mana pool is crucial, since Glacial Ray can be played using the splice onto arcane mechanic, making it a recurrent threat. Playing around their available mana can minimize the chances of repeated Glacial Ray casts disrupting your gameplay.

Ultimately, while Glacial Ray brings versatility and potential for repeated use, a strategy that emphasizes protection, disruption, and careful observation of the opponent’s resources can effectively neutralize the advantages that Glacial Ray presents in a game of MTG.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Glacial Ray MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Arena League 2004, 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 Glacial Ray and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Glacial Ray Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2004-01-01 and 2013-06-07. Illustrated by Jim Murray.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	~~2002-06-24~~	Magic Online Promos	PRM	36286	2003	Normal	Black	Jim Murray
2	2004-01-01	Arena League 2004	PAL04	8	2003	Normal	Black	Jim Murray
3	2004-10-01	Champions of Kamigawa	CHK	168	2003	Normal	Black	Jim Murray
4	2013-06-07	Modern Masters	MMA	115	2003	Normal	Black	Jim Murray

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Glacial Ray has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-06-07	A card with a splice ability can’t be spliced onto itself because the spell is on the stack (and not in your hand) when you reveal the cards you want to splice onto it.
2013-06-07	If all of the spell’s targets are illegal when the spell tries to resolve, it won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen.
2013-06-07	You choose all targets for the spell after revealing cards you want to splice, including any targets required by the text of any of those cards. You may choose a different target for each instance of the word “target” on the resulting spell.
2013-06-07	You reveal all cards you intend to splice at the same time. Each individual card can be spliced only once onto any one spell.