Puncturing Light MTG Card
2010-04-23 - Number 41
2016-04-08 - Number 35
2023-03-21 - Number 40
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Destroy target attacking or blocking creature with power 3 or less.
"The vampires knew what was coming. I know it. And they did nothing. They deserve to feel the same agony they've caused all of us." —Anitan, Ondu cleric
Cards like Puncturing Light
Puncturing Light is a unique removal spell in Magic: The Gathering, much like Sunlance which also allows players to deal with creature threats. Both spells target creatures with low toughness, but Puncturing Light has a critical differentiator—it can target only attacking or blocking creatures. This conveys a more reactive playstyle compared to Sunlance’s proactive approach that doesn’t have such a restriction.
Condemn is another card with a condition to target attacking creatures. However, Condemn doesn’t destroy but rather tucks the creature to the bottom of its owner’s library, and typically involves a minor life gain for the opponent. This can sometimes be a more favorable outcome than destruction based on the scenario. Isolation Zone is a broader removal spell encompassing any nonland permanent at a higher casting cost but lacks the instant speed of Puncturing Light, shifting the dynamics of its use considerably.
Assessing the efficiency and conditions of removal spells reveals that Puncturing Light has its place in MTG. Its niche lies in its mana cost and the instant speed, allowing for surprise plays and showing its strength in decks that thrive on controlling combat phases.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Although Puncturing Light doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its ability to remove an attacking or blocking creature with 3 or less power can shift the board advantage in your favor. This removal effect indirectly preserves your cards in play, often saving a crucial blocker or keeping a path clear for your attackers.
Resource Acceleration: Puncturing Light might not directly accelerate your resources, but it’s a cost-efficient removal spell at only two mana. This efficient use of resources ensures you have more mana available to deploy other threats or answers on your turn, keeping the pressure on your opponent without falling behind.
Instant Speed: Due to its instant speed, Puncturing Light offers flexibility, allowing you to dynamically interact with your opponent’s threats during combat. Having the option to remove an attacker or blocker during the heat of combat can catch an opponent off guard, potentially swinging the game in your favor and leading to pivotal turns. This strategic element of surprise is a valuable tool in any MTG player’s arsenal.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Puncturing Light does not necessitate discarding as part of its casting cost, but the ability to effectively use it hinges on having it readily available at the precise moment. Being a reactive spell, holding it in your hand can sometimes mean forgoing the opportunity to develop your board, striking a balance between defense and advancement in your game plan.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both white and generic mana, Puncturing Light’s mana cost can become cumbersome in multicolor decks that are not heavily white. This potentially limits its incorporation to mainly white or white-heavy decks, possibly affecting deck-building flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While two mana for a removal effect seems reasonable, Puncturing Light’s condition of only targeting creatures with power 3 or less may be limiting. Considering that it only works on attacking or blocking creatures, other options may provide removal that is either more unconditional or scalable with the game, making Puncturing Light potentially less efficient in certain situations or metagames.
Reasons to Include Puncturing Light in Your Collection
Versatility: Puncturing Light is a flexible removal spell that can target most early to mid-game creatures. Its instant speed allows players to maneuver effectively during combat or in response to an opponent’s threats, making it a versatile piece in decks emphasizing control or tempo.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies that capitalize on casting instants and benefiting from spellslinger synergies. It can also work in conjunction with cards that care about the number of spells cast, creatures entering the graveyard, or life gain triggers.
Meta-Relevance: In metas dominated by aggressive creature-based strategies, Puncturing Light can serve as an efficient tool to stem the tide and remove key threats. Its capability to dispatch creatures with power 3 or less tackles many predominant early-game menaces, keeping your life total safe and maintaining board stability.
How to beat
Puncturing Light is an intriguing piece of the removal puzzle in Magic: The Gathering, adept at taking down creatures with 3 or less power. Its ability to neutralize threats at instant speed makes it a flexible answer during your opponent’s turn. However, like all spells, it has its limitations and counters.
To outmaneuver Puncturing Light, consider utilizing creatures immune to its conditions. Creatures with power greater than 3 are untouched by its effects, solidifying their place on the battlefield. Moreover, creatures with indestructible or those who have hexproof slip through Puncturing Light’s grasp, as they can’t be targeted or destroyed by such spells. Another strategic play is to use spells that increase the power of your creatures temporarily, pushing them beyond the threshold of Puncturing Light when it matters the most – during combat or in response to the spell.
Ultimately, incorporating these tactics in your deck can protect your creatures from Puncturing Light and maintain your presence in the game, ensuring that your strategy isn’t punctured by such targeted removal spells.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Puncturing Light MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Shadows over Innistrad, 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 Puncturing Light 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 Puncturing Light Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-04-23 | Rise of the Eldrazi | ROE | 41 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai | |
| 2 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 35 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Staples | |
| 3 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows over Innistrad Remastered | SIR | 40 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Staples |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Puncturing Light has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Puncturing Light card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2010-06-15 | A “blocking creature” is one that has been declared as a blocker this combat, or one that was put onto the battlefield blocking this combat. Unless that creature leaves combat, it continues to be a blocking creature through the end of combat step, even if the creature or creatures that it was blocking are no longer on the battlefield or have otherwise left combat by then. |
| 2010-06-15 | An “attacking creature” is one that has been declared as an attacker this combat, or one that was put onto the battlefield attacking this combat. Unless that creature leaves combat, it continues to be an attacking creature through the end of combat step. |
| 2010-06-15 | The power of the targeted creature is checked both as you target it and as Puncturing Light resolves. |