Obliterating Bolt MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Obliterating Bolt stands out as a versatile removal tool that can potentially lead to gross card advantage. When you successfully control a game, eliminating a threat while smoothly keeping your hand stocked is invaluable, and this card can contribute to that strategy.

Resource Acceleration: Although Obliterating Bolt itself won’t ramp your mana resources directly, it efficiently clears the path for your resource acceleration plays. By dealing with creatures that might threaten your mana dorks or inhibit your development, it ensures that your resource-generating strategies go uninterrupted.

Instant Speed: One of Obliterating Bolt’s key strengths is its instant speed, providing flexibility in your tactical decisions. With the ability to respond on your opponent’s turn or at the end of their phase, you can maximize mana efficiency and make informed plays based on their actions. This dynamic shifts the tempo to your favor and often leads to more favorable interactions in the progression of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Obliterating Bolt prompts players to discard a card, potentially putting them at a disadvantage if their hand size is dwindling or the cards in hand are critical for upcoming strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: It necessitates a precise mana configuration to cast — two red and one of any color. This requirement may not seamlessly fit into multi-colored or mana-flexible deck constructions, limiting deck-building options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a three mana price tag, Obliterating Bolt’s cost-value balance might not be as appealing as other direct damage spells available, especially considering the rate at which similar effects come on less expensive cards.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Obliterating Bolt is a flexible card, seamlessly integrating into a variety of decks. Its ability to deal direct damage makes it a valuable asset for aggressive strategies as well as a solid removal option for more controlling builds.

Combo Potential: This card can be a keystone in combos, potentially clearing a path for a winning strike or systematically dismantling opponent’s defenses. Its precise damage output can be the difference-maker in tightly contested games.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment dominated by creatures, Obliterating Bolt shines. As players bring powerful threats to the table, having an efficient response is crucial. This card provides just that, enabling you to stay one step ahead in the ever-evolving meta.

How to beat

Obliterating Bolt is a powerful card in MTG, known for its ability to deal substantial damage to creatures or planeswalkers. Its effectiveness can often turn the tide of a game, especially with its ability to remove key pieces from the opponent’s board. To counter it, one strategy is to employ cards that grant indestructibility or protection to your valuable creatures. Spells like Heroic Intervention can shield your entire field from such removal spells, preserving your board state against the destructive power of Obliterating Bolt. Another tactic is to utilize instant-speed effects that can fizzle the spell by either increasing the toughness of a targeted creature or by countering the bolt directly with cards like Negate. Additionally, having redundancy in your threats makes it more challenging for an opponent to control the board with single-target removal like Obliterating Bolt. Keeping a watchful eye on the mana your opponent has available and playing around their potential removal spells is essential to mitigate the impact of Obliterating Bolt on your strategy.