Lava Spike MTG Card
2004-10-01 - Number 178
2010-11-08 - Number B20
2013-06-07 - Number 121
2018-12-07 - Number 136
2021-03-19 - Number 347
2007-02-10 - Number 2022-1
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery — Arcane |
Text of card
Lava Spike deals 3 damage to target player.
Some kami attacks during the war were rife with trickery, subterfuge, and subtlety, draining hope and pride from the mortal world. Other attacks were a lot more straightforward.
Cards like Lava Spike
Lava Spike, a renowned damage-dealing force within the realm of MTG, often finds itself in the company of other direct damage spells. A prime comparison is Lightning Bolt, the quintessential one-mana spell that can target both creatures and players, offering more versatility compared to the player-focused Lava Spike. That being said, Lava Spike’s strict player targeting does not diminish its potency within the right deck, particularly within the modern Burn archetype.
Another related spell is Rift Bolt, which also deals three damage but with the unique suspend mechanic, potentially delaying its effect. This can offer strategic advantages, but lacks the immediate impact of Lava Spike. Meanwhile, Shard Volley is yet another alternative, costing the same as Lava Spike but requiring the additional sacrifice of a land. This higher cost can be significant but is balanced by the ability to target creatures as well as players.
Each card offers unique benefits and trade-offs, with Lava Spike’s simplicity and guaranteed player damage situating it as a reliable and straightforward choice for delivering a quick hit to an opponent’s life total in MTG.
Cards similar to Lava Spike by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Lava Spike. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Boros Burn | Modern | Boros Burn | Modern Challenge 64 2024-04-20 (1) |
| Naya Burn | Modern | Naya Burn | Modern Challenge 64 2024-04-21 (1) |
| Mono-Red Prowess | Modern | Mono-Red Prowess | Modern League 2024-05-03 |
 | Burn | Legacy | Burn | Legacy Showcase Challenge 2024-04-21 |
| Mono-Red Burn | Modern | Mono-Red Burn | Modern League 2024-04-25 |
| WRG | Legacy | Legacy Challenge 32 2024-04-24 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Although Lava Spike doesn’t directly provide card advantage, its low-cost high-impact design complements strategies that revolve around drawing and casting multiple spells per turn. This can lead to an indirect card advantage as opponents are forced to deplete their hand to respond to the persistent damage.
Resource Acceleration: Lava Spike excels in decks that seek to win quickly. While it doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense, its single red mana cost efficiently converts resources into direct damage, thus accelerating the pace at which a player can reduce the opponent’s life total.
Instant Speed: Lava Spike is actually a sorcery, which means it cannot be cast at instant speed. However, its straightforward, uncounterable three damage for one mana is a reliable play that easily integrates into a sequence of instant-speed burn spells, maintaining pressure on the opponent’s life total without the need to wait for an opportune moment.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Lava Spike may not require you to discard cards as a cost, optimizing its use often requires pairing with other spells or abilities that demand discarding, which can deplete your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Lava Spike’s casting cost is locked into a single red mana, which makes it exclusively playable in mono-red or red-inclusive decks, reducing its versatility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In comparison to other one-mana burn spells, Lava Spike’s sorcery speed and inability to target creatures can make it less desirable in situations requiring flexible removal options.
Reasons to Include Lava Spike in Your Collection
Versatility: Lava Spike is a straightforward burn spell that slots efficiently into a variety of red-dominated strategies. Its effectiveness isn’t limited by creature presence, making it a reliable source of direct damage in any stage of the game.
Combo Potential: This card is quintessential in burn deck combos and can be multiplied with cards that copy spells or enhance damage, offering a consistent way to whittle down an opponent’s life total rapidly.
Meta-Relevance: With the ever-present nature of aggressive and tempo-based decks in many formats, Lava Spike maintains relevance. It thrives in metas where speed and direct damage are paramount, making it a staple in collections geared towards competitive play.
How to beat
Lava Spike is a dedicated burn spell in Magic: The Gathering with a straightforward objective: deal three damage to a player for a single red mana. Its efficiency in reducing an opponent’s life total makes it a staple in aggressive red decks, particularly in formats like Modern where it contributes to a swift victory. Despite its potency, there are strategies for mitigating its impact.
Utilizing life gain is a primary method. Cards with lifelink, or spells like Feed the Clan, can offset the damage dealt by Lava Spike. Similarly, prevention effects from cards like Aegis of the Gods offer direct protection by making a player hexproof, thus invalidating the target of Lava Spike. Counter spells are also essential in blue-based control decks, providing a direct response to cancel the spell’s effect entirely.
Ultimately, preparing your deck with answers to direct damage spells is key in any format where Lava Spike and its ilk are prevalent. This could mean including versatile cards that serve multiple purposes, ensuring you’re not caught off-guard by the sudden onslaught of burn spells aiming to deplete your life total in a flash.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lava Spike MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa and Pro Tour Promos, 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 Spike 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
Printings
The Lava Spike Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2004-10-01 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-10-01 | Champions of Kamigawa | CHK | 178 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 2 | Pro Tour Promos | PPRO | 2022-1 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | ||
| 3 | 2010-11-08 | Magic Online Theme Decks | TD0 | B20 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 4 | 2013-06-07 | Modern Masters | MMA | 121 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 5 | 2018-12-07 | Ultimate Masters | UMA | 136 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 6 | 2021-03-19 | Time Spiral Remastered | TSR | 347 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lava Spike has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lava Spike card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-03-19 | Arcane is a spell subtype that has no inherent rules meaning. It may be referenced by effects from other cards. |