Lightning Mauler MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Berserker |
| Abilities | Soulbond |
| Released | 2012-05-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Avacyn Restored |
| Set code | AVR |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 144 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Dave Kendall |
Text of card
Soulbond (You may pair this creature with another unpaired creature when either enters the battlefield. They remain paired for as long as you control both of them.) As long as Lightning Mauler is paired with another creature, both creatures have haste.
Cards like Lightning Mauler
Lightning Mauler has earned its place in Magic: The Gathering as a solid choice for players looking to supplement their creatures with a burst of speed. This card’s soulbond mechanic, which allows it to pair with another creature, granting both haste, is a unique feature that sets it apart from many others. Comparable options include Hellraiser Goblin, which endows all creatures you control with haste but forces them to attack each turn if able.
Ashling’s Prerogative is another relevant card, offering more control over which creatures gain haste based on their converted mana cost, either even or odd. Moreover, Gingerbrute brings individual swiftness but shines in its additional evasion ability, making it unblockable by creatures without haste. While not providing haste to others, it embodies a form of quickness and unpredictability on the battlefield.
Assessing these cards side by side, Lightning Mauler’s balance of speed and flexibility, without the constraints of cards like Hellraiser Goblin, demonstrates its utility for strategic assaults. It’s versatility in pairing shines on a field where timing and combat readiness can shift the tides of a match in your favor.
Cards similar to Lightning Mauler by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Lightning Mauler doesn’t directly allow you to draw more cards, it can facilitate overwhelming board presence by enabling faster deployment of other creatures, effectively putting more resources onto the field quickly and allowing you to maintain or gain card advantage through superior board position.
Resource Acceleration: Lightning Mauler’s soulbond ability can give another creature haste, which accelerates your game plan by allowing immediate attack or utilization of tap abilities. This can lead to faster resource usage and an expedited path to victory, often catching opponents off guard and shifting the pace of the game in your favor.
Instant Speed: Although the card itself is cast at sorcery speed, the haste it grants can turn any creature into an instant-speed threat. This pairs especially well with creatures that have enter-the-battlefield effects or powerful tap abilities, as it allows you to utilize them without giving opponents a turn to prepare or respond, adding a layer of surprise and immediate impact on the game’s state.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Lightning Mauler doesn’t require a discard, its soulbond mechanic necessitates another creature on the battlefield to maximize its potential. If your board is cleared or you’re behind in populating the field, this creature’s value diminishes significantly.
Specific Mana Cost: Lightning Mauler has a mana cost that is strictly red and generic, which makes it less flexible for multi-colored decks that require a finely-tuned mana base. In a format where mana fixing is crucial, this can be a disadvantage.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although a two-mana cost isn’t exorbitant, certain aggressive decks seek even lower curve options. In contrast, Lightning Mauler may seem pricey when compared to one-mana creatures that can be equally as fast in enabling swift attacks, especially in highly-competitive formats where efficiency is key.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Lightning Mauler is adaptable across a variety of decks, serving as an excellent tool for players looking to grant creatures haste. It smoothly becomes a part of aggressive strategies, bolstering your assault and enabling surprise attacks against your opponents.
Combo Potential: This card’s soulbond mechanic allows for powerful combinations, pairing it with high-power creatures to great effect. Use it to instantly bring large threats online or to capitalize on enter-the-battlefield effects that occur the same turn a creature is played.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors quick, decisive battles, Lightning Mauler shines by granting swiftness to your creatures. This can be key in overtaking control or combo decks that may not be prepared to deal with immediate threats, making it a relevant choice for competitive play.
How to beat
Lightning Mauler presents a unique challenge when you’re up against it on the battlefield. This creature from Magic: The Gathering can turn the tides with its soulbond ability, granting both itself and another creature haste. It effectively accelerates the pace of the game, allowing an immediate impact from creatures that would otherwise wait a turn to act. To counteract this quickening of the opponent’s offensive, it’s essential to have control elements or removal spells at the ready.
Efficient removal spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can swiftly dispatch Lightning Mauler before the soulbond ability triggers. In games that allow for counterspells, holding mana open for a Negate or Essence Scatter could prevent Lightning Mauler from entering the battlefield altogether. Meanwhile, instant-speed board wipes, such as Supreme Verdict, ensure that even if soulbond pairs up, you can clean the slate before the next attack. Patience and strategic planning can effectively neutralize the immediate threat posed by Lightning Mauler, so adapt your plays accordingly and always be ready with a response.
Remember, the key against Lightning Mauler lies in timely removal, anticipating the soulbond, and maintaining board control to avoid being overrun by sudden bursts of aggression from this hasty creature.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lightning Mauler MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored, 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 Mauler and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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 Lightning Mauler has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lightning Mauler card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2012-05-01 | A creature that loses haste after it’s been declared as an attacking creature doesn’t stop attacking. |