Electrolyze MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Electrolyze provides card advantage by hitting two targets and allowing card draw.
  2. Instant speed grants flexibility and strategic responses in-game.
  3. Specific mana cost may limit its inclusion in certain decks.

Text of card

Electrolyze deals 2 damage divided as you choose among any number of target creatures and/or players. Draw a card.

The Izzet learn something from every lesson they teach.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you cast Electrolyze, the ability to hit two targets at once not only potentially removes creatures or chips in extra damage but also lets you draw a card. This action can swiftly tilt the scales in your favor by both impacting the board and replenishing your hand simultaneously.

Resource Acceleration: While Electrolyze doesn’t directly ramp your mana, it clears the way for your attacks or defends against incoming threats. This in turn can maintain or improve your board state, indirectly accelerating your resources by keeping your threats alive and pressuring your opponent.

Instant Speed: Flexibility is key in MTG, and Electrolyze’s instant speed offers just that. You can respond to your opponent’s moves, take advantage of unspent mana at the end of their turn, or simply use the spell when it’s most advantageous for your game plan without the need for a sorcery-speed window.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Not applicable for Electrolyze as it does not require you to discard a card as an additional cost. This can be seen as an advantage in decks that want to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Electrolyze demands a precise combination of blue and red mana to cast, which can be restrictive for decks not dedicated to those colors or lacking mana flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its combined damage and card draw effects, Electrolyze’s cost might feel steep when compared with other instants and sorceries in the meta that perform similar functions more efficiently or at a lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include Electrolyze in Your Collection

Versatility: Electrolyze is a flexible card, capable of dealing damage to multiple targets while also allowing you to draw a card. This functions well in decks that aim to maintain board control and card advantage.

Combo Potential: Electrolyze can work seamlessly with spells and abilities that capitalize on dealing damage or drawing cards, making it a solid contributor to combo setups in various decks.

Meta-Relevance: Especially potent in a meta with a prevalence of low-toughness creatures, Electrolyze can be a game-changer by simultaneously removing opponents’ threats and refueling your hand, staying relevant across various formats.


How to beat Electrolyze

Electrolyze is a versatile instant that can split damage and draw a card, making it a unique threat in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to potentially eliminate two creatures with one cast makes it a formidable card to face. To effectively counter this, one strategy is to avoid playing creatures with a single toughness if possible when you know your opponent may have Electrolyze in hand. This minimizes the card’s impact and reduces the chance of a two-for-one scenario.

Another approach is to utilize cards with hexproof or shroud, protecting your creatures from being targeted by spells and abilities. Additionally, instant-speed spells that can buff your creature’s toughness in response to Electrolyze can prove pivotal, safeguarding your board presence while rendering their spell less efficient. Moreover, playing around Electrolyze by holding back on casting creatures until you can protect them, or baiting it out when the loss would be less damaging, are key tactics.

Utilizing counterspells is also a reliable method to nullify Electrolyze before it can affect the board. By anticipating and neutralizing the threat before it manifests, you maintain control over the game state. Overall, understanding the intricacies of Electrolyze’s strengths and weaknesses is crucial in crafting a strategy to overcome this dynamic card.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic depth of MTG shines with cards like Electrolyze that offer both board impact and card advantage, a combo that can steer you towards victory. Understanding the strengths and versatility of such cards allows for enhanced gameplay and better deck building. Dive into our resources to gain deeper insights into optimizing your strategy, discover alternative cards that could complement your collection, and learn effective countermeasures against popular threats in the game. Whether you’re fine-tuning a deck or looking for those key plays that lead to triumphant matches, our guidelines will help you make savvy choices and become a formidable contender in the MTG arena.


Cards like Electrolyze

Electrolyze serves as a versatile staple in any MTG player’s repertoire, delivering both card draw and the ability to deal damage in a split. It finds its kin in cards like Izzet Charm which although offers flexibility, doesn’t provide the same card draw potential. However, Izzet Charm compensates with modal choices, giving players the means to adapt to the dynamics of the game.

Looking at other analogs, Lightning Helix is another remarkable option for dealing damage while gaining life, yet it falls short on the card draw side. Then we have Arc Trail, dealing damage across multiple targets and sharing the same distribution potential as Electrolyze, but notably absent is the extra card advantage. The delicate balance between affecting the board and refueling your hand is where Electrolyze shines.

Delving deeper into card value and utility, Electrolyze holds its position strongly among direct damage spells, thanks to its dual nature. It allows players to remove threats and maintain momentum, making it a powerful choice for those looking to leverage both damage and draw in their play strategy.

Izzet Charm - MTG Card versions
Lightning Helix - MTG Card versions
Arc Trail - MTG Card versions
Izzet Charm - Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari (DDJ)
Lightning Helix - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Arc Trail - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Cards similar to Electrolyze by color, type and mana cost

Prismari Command - MTG Card versions
Schismotivate - MTG Card versions
Cerebral Vortex - MTG Card versions
Unnerving Assault - MTG Card versions
Double Negative - MTG Card versions
Counterflux - MTG Card versions
Dragonshift - MTG Card versions
Winterflame - MTG Card versions
Geistblast - MTG Card versions
Ionize - MTG Card versions
Sonic Assault - MTG Card versions
Flame of Anor - MTG Card versions
Frolicking Familiar // Blow Off Steam - MTG Card versions
Electrosiphon - MTG Card versions
Prismari Command - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Schismotivate - Guildpact (GPT)
Cerebral Vortex - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Unnerving Assault - Eventide (EVE)
Double Negative - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Counterflux - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Dragonshift - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Winterflame - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Geistblast - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Ionize - Guilds of Ravnica Promos (PGRN)
Sonic Assault - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Flame of Anor - The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth (LTR)
Frolicking Familiar // Blow Off Steam - Wilds of Eldraine (WOE)
Electrosiphon - Fallout (PIP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Electrolyze MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Guildpact, 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 Electrolyze and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Electrolyze Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 2006-02-03 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by 12 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 325812003normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
22006-02-03GuildpactGPT 1112003normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
32011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 1972003normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
42012-01-01IDW Comics InsertsPIDW 32003normalblackKarl Kopinski
52013-06-07Modern MastersMMA 1752003normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
62015-05-22Modern Masters 2015MM2 1742015normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
72015-11-18Legendary Cube Prize PackPZ1 1012015normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
82017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 1982015normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
92018-11-02GRN Guild KitGK1 372015normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
102021-04-23Strixhaven Mystical ArchiveSTA 602015normalborderlessDominik Mayer
112021-04-23Strixhaven Mystical ArchiveSTA 1232015normalborderlessHatori Kyoka

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Electrolyze has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
GladiatorLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2017-11-17 If Electrolyze targets two creatures and one becomes an illegal target, the remaining target is dealt 1 damage, not 2. You'll still draw a card.
2017-11-17 If all chosen targets are illegal as Electrolyze tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. No damage will be dealt and you won't draw a card.
2017-11-17 You divide the damage as you cast Electrolyze, not as it resolves. Each target must be assigned at least 1 damage. In other words, as you cast Electrolyze, you choose whether to have it deal 2 damage to a single target, or deal 1 damage to each of two targets.

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