Lightning Visionary MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Minotaur Shaman
Abilities	Prowess
Released	2020-07-17
Set symbol
Set name	Jumpstart
Set code	JMP
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	22
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Bryan Sola

Key Takeaways

Lightning Visionary offers card draw and sifting, enhancing strategic deck manipulation.
Its ability to generate extra mana accelerates spell casting for dynamic plays.
Instant speed casting adds surprise and disrupts opponents’ strategies effectively.

Text of card

Prowess (Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)

"The gods don't speak to mortals with gentle entreaties. They speak with thunder and fury."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Lightning Visionary enters the battlefield, you immediately get a peek at the top card of your library, potentially letting you draw a key spell when you need it most. The ability to sift through your deck swiftly can make all the difference, keeping your plays ahead of the curve.

Resource Acceleration: Lightning Visionary’s electro-charged ability doesn’t just light up the battlefield, it also energizes your mana pool. As you cast more spells, this dynamo rewards you with extra mana, fueling even greater plays and enabling a dazzling storm of activity far earlier than usual.

Instant Speed: The speed of lightning is not just for show; Lightning Visionary can be unleashed at instant speed, giving you the edge in the fast-paced world of disharmony and surprise. While your opponents commit to their strategies, you reserve the ability to flash in your visionary, disrupting their plans and keeping them guessing.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Lightning Visionary’s ability necessitates discarding a card, presenting a strategic setback when your hand is sparse or when losing a particular card could be detrimental.

Specific Mana Cost: Lightning Visionary comes with a mana cost that requires red mana, potentially limiting its integration into multicolored decks that may not always have the necessary mana available on demand.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a relatively steep mana cost for its effects, players might find themselves weighing the benefits against other options that could provide similar advantages for less mana, thus maximizing efficiency in gameplay.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Lightning Visionary’s flexible nature means it can be integrated into a myriad of deck builds, particularly those emphasizing instant and sorcery spells or aiming for fast-paced aggro strategies.

Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with spells or abilities that capitalize on casting numerous spells in a single turn, potentially unlocking powerful synergies within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: In a gaming environment where reactive play and spell-slinging are prevalent, Lightning Visionary can hold its ground by providing a consistent source of damage or utility adjustments, keeping you one step ahead of the competition.

How to Beat

Confronting the Lightning Visionary within MTG requires tactical awareness and the right countermeasures. As a creature known for its prowess in dealing direct damage while drawing out more of your deck, it presents a two-fold challenge. The key to success lies in thwarting its ability to connect with your life total and hamstringing its card draw capability.

Instant speed removal spells are your best friends against the Lightning Visionary. Consider spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile, which can dispose of the creature before it becomes a larger threat. Board wipes are also effective, especially if the opposing player has managed to amass a set of creatures on the battlefield. Cards such as Wrath of God or Damnation clear the field, regardless of the creatures’ sizes and abilities, thereby removing the Visionary along with any other threats.

Finally, it’s vital to limit the Lightning Visionary’s damage as much as possible. Cards with lifelink enable you to regain health, offsetting the damage dealt by the Visionary, while cards that increase your life total give you a buffer against its attacks. The Lightning Visionary can be a formidable opponent, but with the right strategy, you can extinguish its spark and keep your life total secure.

Cards like Lightning Visionary

Lightning Visionary finds its niche within the pantheon of red creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This card can be paralleled with the [THEME] standard of Guttersnipe, as both possess an ability triggered by casting instants and sorceries. However, Lightning Visionary is unique with a repeatable effect that requires tapping, a feature not seen in Guttersnipe’s passive trigger.

When we look at Kiln Fiend, another comparable creature, the difference in strategy becomes apparent. Kiln Fiend gains a significant attack boost with each instant or sorcery played, which encourages a more aggressive playstyle, while Lightning Visionary leans towards a build-up of value over time. Young Pyromancer also shares the spell-synergy theme but opts to create elemental creature tokens instead, spreading board presence rather than focusing on single-target prowess.

Assessing the capabilities and adaptability of these cards, Lightning Visionary may appeal to players who value consistent, long-term benefits and enjoy strategically timed spells to unlock its full potential within a match of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Lightning Visionary by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lightning Visionary MTG card by a specific set like Jumpstart, 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 Lightning Visionary and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lightning Visionary has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Commander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Timeless	Legal