Lava Blister MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2001-10-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Odyssey |
| Set code | ODY |
| Number | 200 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Rob Alexander |
Text of card
Destroy target nonbasic land unless its controller has Lava Blister deal 6 damage to him or her.
To treat flesh wounds, use earth. To treat earth wounds, use flesh. —Barbarian saying
Cards like Lava Blister
Lava Blister forms part of the land disruption arsenal in Magic: The Gathering, standing alongside cards like Stone Rain and Molten Rain. Much like these cards, Lava Blister is crafted to thwart opponents by destroying their lands. While Stone Rain allows for a straightforward land destruction at a lower cost, Lava Blister brings a unique upside to the strategic table — the potential to bypass nonbasic land’s usual immunity to destruction.
Contrasting it with Molten Rain, players notice not only the similar mana cost but also Molten Rain’s added benefit of dealing damage to the opponent. Lava Blister differs with its conditional requirement for dealing damage, based on whether the destroyed land was a nonbasic land. This specifies its role in a player’s strategy, making it a more situational choice. Meanwhile, Demolish stands as another alternative, with the added versatility of targeting artifacts as well as lands.
Playing Lava Blister, therefore, is a tactical decision, allowing players to pinpoint their destruction depending on the game state. It can be especially effective in metagames with a high prevalence of nonbasic lands, highlighting its potential as a sideboard option or a main deck card under the right circumstances.
Cards similar to Lava Blister by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Lava Blister offers a strategic edge by potentially removing an opponent’s land, which can lead to a card advantage if it thwarts their plans or disrupts their mana base, especially in the critical moments of a match.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating your resources, Lava Blister can slow down an opponent’s development. In the right situation, this can equate to a form of indirect acceleration, as it may allow you to maintain board superiority while your opponent works to reestablish their resources.
Instant Speed: Lava Blister’s power comes from its ability to be played at sorcery speed. Though it does not offer the flexibility of an instant, its effect on the board has the potential to be significant when timed correctly, primarily when used to exploit an opponent’s tapped-out state or to strategically set them back during your turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When casting Lava Blister, you must discard a land card unless you control no lands. This requirement could be a strategic setback in land-centric decks or when you need to maintain land plays for future turns.
Specific Mana Cost: Lava Blister entails a mana cost that necessitates one red and two other mana to cast. This cost may not align well with multicolor decks that are heavy on other colors and can hinder the card’s inclusion in such builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana to destroy only a nonbasic land, Lava Blister could be considered inefficient, especially when compared to other land destruction spells in the game that may offer similar or better effects for the same or less mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Lava Blister offers flexibility in red-based control or land destruction decks. It can be a reliable way to disrupt opponents who rely heavily on nonbasic lands for their strategy.
Combo Potential: In conjunction with land recursion mechanics or cards that benefit from destroying lands, Lava Blister has the potential to become part of a powerful combination that can severely limit your opponent’s gameplay.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where land-based strategies are prevalent, such as those featuring utility lands or multicolor decks, Lava Blister serves as an effective tool in keeping these decks in check and maintaining a competitive edge.
How to beat
Lava Blister is a card that can catch players off guard with its potential land destruction in Magic: The Gathering. This card, which can be particularly disruptive against nonbasic lands, encourages strategic play around land bases. To counteract the effects of Lava Blister, it’s wise to diversify your land types and incorporate basic lands into your deck. This reduces the impact of Lava Blister, as it has a less significant effect on basic lands.
An additional tactic to consider is the inclusion of instant-speed land protection or counter spells. These can preserve your valuable nonbasic lands at critical junctures. Employing cards like Terra Eternal or running counterspells like Negate can help safeguard against disruptive plays. Look for opportunities to counter Lava Blister when your opponent is tapping out to prevent any surprise land loss, maintaining your resources for a consistent mana base throughout the game.
Bearing in mind these strategies, players can tailor their game plans to minimize the potential disruption caused by Lava Blister. With careful deck construction and tactical in-game decisions, overcoming the challenge posed by this card is certainly within reach for seasoned Magic: The Gathering players.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lava Blister MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Blister 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lava Blister has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |