Burst of Speed MTG Card


Burst of Speed - Magic 2010
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Released2009-07-17
Set symbol
Set nameMagic 2010
Set codeM10
Number129
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Key Takeaways

  1. Burst of Speed turns creatures into immediate threats, providing a surprise attack or defensive option.
  2. Instantly granting haste to all creatures, it strengthens aggressive strategies and combo plays.
  3. Flexibility is key: while powerful, the card requires careful deck building to optimize its impact.

Text of card

Creatures you control gain haste until end of turn. (They can attack and even if they just came under your control.)

Great generals inspire by example. Goblin chieftains inspire by electrifying the barracks.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Burst of Speed itself doesn’t directly provide card advantage, the rapid pace at which it allows creatures to attack can lead to a significant shift in the board state, potentially trading one card for multiple threats on the opponent’s side or fast-tracking the end of the game before the opponent can accumulate more resources.

Resource Acceleration: By granting haste to all creatures you control, this card effectively turns all your newly summoned creatures into immediate threats. This acceleration can convert all your creatures, regardless of summoning sickness, into a formidable force capable of overwhelming your opponent at once.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Burst of Speed at instant speed gives you the element of surprise. Not only does this allow you to wait until the most opportune moment during the combat phase, but it can also be used in response to an opponent’s play that assumes your creatures will be inactive for a turn, thus potentially disrupting their strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Burst of Speed doesn’t necessitate discarding cards, but the one-time effect often requires you to play other cards to maximize its potential, potentially depleting your hand prematurely.

Specific Mana Cost: Burst of Speed requires red mana, which aligns it with certain deck archetypes, potentially limiting its flexibility across various MTG strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While providing creatures with haste can be a game-changer, the single mana cost could be considered high given its immediate but transient impact, especially when measured against other permanent buffs or longer-lasting effects.


Reasons to Include Burst of Speed in Your Collection

Versatility: Burst of Speed is an asset in decks that need to act swiftly. Its ability to give creatures haste until end of turn ensures a surprise shift in the battlefield dynamics, allowing for sudden attacks or unforeseen blocking maneuvers.

Combo Potential: The instant speed of Burst of Speed can unexpectedly enhance strategies centered around creatures entering the battlefield, synergizing particularly well with cards that benefit from attacking or tap abilities.

Meta-Relevance: As the metagame fluctuates, Burst of Speed maintains relevance by countering slow-paced control decks, giving aggro decks an edge to win swiftly, or enabling midrange decks to seize critical game moments.


How to beat

Burst of Speed stands out in the realm of temporary buff mechanics, offering an almost instant surge of tempo for Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts. Much like its namesake suggests, this card propels creatures into action, granting them haste until end of turn – a potent capability when timing and speed are of the essence. This advantage, however, is not insurmountable.

To effectively counteract Burst of Speed, instant speed removal spells can be a valuable asset. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile disrupt the sudden onslaught by efficiently removing key creatures from the equation before they can capitalize on their newfound haste. Strategic use of these spot removal options will often leave the opponent overextended and vulnerable. Additionally, board wipes can be decisive, render Burst of Speed’s effect inconsequential if timed correctly. Supreme Verdict and Wrath of God serve as exemplary choices, eradicating all creatures and negating any accumulated momentum from the haste effect. Hence, while Burst of Speed might promise a quick route to victory, through tactical removal and crowd control spells, one can navigate around the acceleration it provides and regain control of the game.


Cards like Burst of Speed

Burst of Speed stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a card that instantly ramps up the pace of your creatures. This spell is akin to Expedite, which also gives a creature haste but includes a card draw effect. Unlike Expedite, Burst of Speed offers the speed advantage to all your creatures, not just one, transforming an ordinary turn into a potential game-ending maneuver.

Another similar spell, Mass Hysteria, provides all creatures with haste for a more prolonged effect. Unlike Mass Hysteria, Burst of Speed is a one-time event, which means it doesn’t affect your opponents’ creatures in subsequent turns. Then there’s Concordant Crossroads, which grants all creatures haste permanently, but its global effect can benefit opponents as well. Burst of Speed uniquely combines the element of surprise with comprehensive coverage, affecting only your board and at the exact moment for maximum impact.

After examining the distinctive features and strategic uses of each card, Burst of Speed emerges as a strong choice for players looking to seize a sudden advantage without the downside of helping their opponents or having to commit to longer-term consequences.

Expedite - MTG Card versions
Mass Hysteria - MTG Card versions
Concordant Crossroads - MTG Card versions
Expedite - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)
Mass Hysteria - Mirrodin (MRD)
Concordant Crossroads - Legends (LEG)

Cards similar to Burst of Speed by color, type and mana cost

Earthquake - MTG Card versions
Fireball - MTG Card versions
Disintegrate - MTG Card versions
Goblin Grenade - MTG Card versions
Mana Clash - MTG Card versions
Winds of Change - MTG Card versions
Detonate - MTG Card versions
Blaze - MTG Card versions
Gamble - MTG Card versions
Meltdown - MTG Card versions
Landslide - MTG Card versions
Tremor - MTG Card versions
Ghitu Fire - MTG Card versions
Tahngarth's Glare - MTG Card versions
Lava Burst - MTG Card versions
Overmaster - MTG Card versions
Devil's Play - MTG Card versions
Firebolt - MTG Card versions
Crack the Earth - MTG Card versions
Meteor Shower - MTG Card versions
Earthquake - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
Fireball - The List (PLST)
Disintegrate - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Goblin Grenade - The List (PLST)
Mana Clash - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Winds of Change - Masters Edition (ME1)
Detonate - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Blaze - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Gamble - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Meltdown - Urza's Saga (USG)
Landslide - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Tremor - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Ghitu Fire - Invasion (INV)
Tahngarth's Glare - Apocalypse (APC)
Lava Burst - Deckmasters (DKM)
Overmaster - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Devil's Play - Shadows of the Past (SIS)
Firebolt - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Crack the Earth - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Meteor Shower - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Burst of Speed MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010, 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 Burst of Speed and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Burst of Speed has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2009-10-01 Burst of Speed affects only creatures you control at the time it resolves. It won’t affect creatures that come under your control later in the turn.

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