Harnessed Lightning MTG Card
2016-09-30 - Number 117
2020-11-12 - Number 127
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Choose target creature. You get (three energy counters), then you may pay any amount of . Harnessed Lightning deals that much damage to that creature.
Cards like Harnessed Lightning
Harnessed Lightning offers MTG players a unique twist in the realm of energy-based removal spells. It stands out among its peers with its energy efficiency and flexibility. Energy, the versatile resource that Harnessed Lightning taps into, allows it to be more adaptable compared to other direct damage spells like Lightning Strike or Shock. Lightning Strike delivers a consistent but fixed amount of damage, whereas Harnessed Lightning’s damage output scales with the energy you have, potentially hitting harder.
Galvanic Bombardment is another similar card that scales in power. It increases in damage with each instance you’ve cast before, rewarding you for multiple usages. However, it lacks the instant flexibility that energy provides, as it is bound by its gradual buildup within the game. Harnessed Lightning shines by offering instant control over how much damage is dealt, assuming you’ve accrued enough energy.
Considering the strategic adaptability and potential for higher damage output, Harnessed Lightning is quite favored when analyzing removal options within the game. Its ability to efficiently eliminate threats on the fly makes it a formidable card for players who deftly manage their energy reserves.
Cards similar to Harnessed Lightning by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Harnessed Lightning. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Boros Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 12 2024 | |
 | Temur Combo | Pioneer | Temur Marvel | Sat. 9:30 AM U.S. Regional Championship - Dreamhack Atlanta 2023 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Harnessed Lightning doesn’t explicitly draw cards, its efficiency allows you to effectively deal with threats while maintaining card parity. The energy you gain can be used to fuel other synergistic cards in your deck, making it a versatile tool in maintaining board control.
Resource Acceleration: Harnessed Lightning contributes to resource acceleration by adding energy counters. This extra resource can be a game-changer, allowing you to activate abilities or power up creatures without spending additional mana, speeding up the deck’s overall tempo.
Instant Speed: The instant speed of Harnessed Lightning provides strategic flexibility, letting you make decisive plays during your opponent’s turn. Whether you’re disrupting an attack or removing a blocker, the ability to act at a moment’s notice can significantly swing the game in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Harnessed Lightning doesn’t directly require you to discard a card, it does necessitate having energy counters to use effectively. Without an adequate energy reserve, its potential diminishes, effectively leaving it a dead card in your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Harnessed Lightning calls for one red and two generic mana, which may be slightly restrictive. Decks not heavily invested in red mana sources could find themselves unable to cast it when needed, thus hampering its overall utility in multi-color decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For three mana, Harnessed Lightning provides targeted damage based on the amount of energy you expend. However, in a deck not focused on energy generation, its mana cost might be viewed as high for the effect. Other removal spells in the same cost bracket may offer more reliable or immediate results without the need for an additional resource.
Reasons to Include Harnessed Lightning in Your Collection
Versatility: This instant card offers flexibility in managing threats on the battlefield. Its ability to target creatures regardless of size makes it a valuable addition to any red deck, fitting seamlessly into aggro, midrange, and control strategies alike.
Combo Potential: Harnessed Lightning works well with energy mechanics, allowing you to accumulate energy counters for other synergistic interactions. This potential to stack up energy reserves and decimate opponents’ creatures can turn the tide of a game swiftly in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: Due to its instant speed and energy synergy, Harnessed Lightning remains relevant in various MTG formats. It efficiently handles crucial creatures in the opponent’s lineup, making it an effective tool against a wide range of decks that are prevalent in the current meta.
How to beat
Harnessed Lightning shines as an energy-flexible removal option in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to adapt to the amount of energy you have makes it versatile enough to handle a range of threats. What sets it apart from other removal spells is the energy aspect – you can use it to deal with both small nuisances and larger threats, based on your energy reserve.
Sometimes, the best way to face a spell like Harnessed Lightning is by managing the energy gauge. If your opponent can’t amass enough energy, they won’t be able to fully utilize Harnessed Lightning’s potential. Cards that prevent or limit energy accumulation can effectively dull the impact of this dynamic spell. By focusing your strategy on energy disruption, you can stem the power of Harnessed Lightning and ensure your own creatures remain a force on the battlefield.
Ultimately, successful play against Harnessed Lightning involves foresight and disruption. It’s essential to recognize the role energy plays in your opponent’s strategy and to have a plan to counteract it. In doing so, you convert Harnessed Lightning from a threatening storm to a mere spark.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Harnessed Lightning MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Kaladesh Remastered, 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 Harnessed 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 Harnessed Lightning Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Chris Rallis.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh | KLD | 117 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rallis | |
| 2 | 2020-11-12 | Kaladesh Remastered | KLR | 127 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rallis |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Harnessed Lightning has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Harnessed Lightning card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-09-20 | If the target creature becomes an illegal target, Harnessed Lightning doesn't resolve and none of its effects happen. You won't get or be able to pay any . |
| 2016-09-20 | You choose the target creature as you cast Harnessed Lightning. You don't choose how much to pay until Harnessed Lightning is resolving. No player may take actions between the time you choose how much to pay and the time the creature takes damage equal to the paid this way. |
| 2017-02-09 | Energy counters are a kind of counter that a player may have. They're not associated with specific permanents. (Other kinds of counters that players may have include poison and experience.) |
| 2017-02-09 | Energy counters aren't mana. They don't go away as steps, phases, and turns end, and effects that add mana “of any type” to your mana pool can't give you energy counters. |
| 2017-02-09 | If an effect says you get one or more , you get that many energy counters. To pay one or more , you lose that many energy counters. Any effects that interact with counters a player gets, has, or loses can interact with energy counters. |
| 2017-02-09 | Keep careful track of how many energy counters each player has. You may do so by keeping a running count on paper, by using a die, or by any other clear and mutually agreeable method. |
| 2017-02-09 | You can't pay more energy counters than you have. |
| 2017-02-09 | is the energy symbol. It represents one energy counter. |