Short Circuit MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant, Flash |
| Released | 2022-02-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty |
| Set code | NEO |
| Number | 78 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Andreas Zafiratos |
Key Takeaways
- Short Circuit lets players counter threats and maintain tempo by seamlessly drawing a card upon use.
- The card requires discarding and specific mana types, which may limit hand options and deck versatility.
- Its unique utility makes it a strategic addition against artifact and creature-heavy strategies in MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Short Circuit MTG card by a specific set like Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, 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 Short Circuit and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Text of card
Flash Enchant artifact or creature As long as enchanted permanent is a creature, it gets -3/-0 and loses flying.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Short Circuit, you have the ability to disrupt an opponent’s strategy while simultaneously drawing a card, keeping your hand fueled and ready to tackle the challenges ahead.
Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t directly accelerate resources, but by efficiently addressing threats at instant speed, it maintains your tempo, allowing you to optimize the use of your mana and resources in subsequent turns.
Instant Speed: As an instant, Short Circuit offers flexibility in gameplay, enabling you to react to your opponent’s moves during their turn and strategically decide the most opportune moment to cast it, preserving the element of surprise and maintaining defensive capabilities.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Short Circuit card demands that players discard another card to activate its abilities, which could deplete a player’s hand and reduce their strategic options, especially detrimental in the late game where every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Necessitating a blend of blue and red mana, Short Circuit’s specific cost can be restrictive, locking it into decks that can consistently generate both colors, potentially excluding it from more versatile or mono-colored strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that takes a significant portion of a standard turn’s mana resources, Short Circuit might not be as mana-efficient as other cards with similar effects, potentially leading to less optimized plays and greater opportunity costs in critical moments of the game.
Reasons to Include Short Circuit in Your Collection
Versatility: Short Circuit provides a unique edge as it can fit seamlessly into decks that are built around noncreature spells or those that emphasize instant and sorcery prowess. Its ability to disrupt opponents’ strategies by targeting multiple artifacts or creatures can shift the tide of any game.
Combo Potential: This card is a linchpin in setups that capitalize on spell casting or storm counts. Short Circuit can act as both an enabler and protector for your combos, clearing the way of potential artifacts or creature-based hindrances.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where artifact-centric decks like Affinity or creature-heavy decks are prominent, Short Circuit becomes an irreplaceable tool. It can serve as a versatile sideboard option or even a maindeck choice, depending on the prevalence of such strategies in your gaming circles.
How to beat
Short Circuit creates an interesting dynamic in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to disrupt the battlefield by dealing damage to each creature and planeswalker. To strategically outmaneuver this card, consider utilizing indestructible creatures that can withstand the damage from Short Circuit. Diversifying your threats is also key; by having a mix of creature types, such as ones with high toughness or creatures with abilities that trigger upon taking damage, you dilute the efficacy of Short Circuit.
Another approach is to capitalize on instant-speed spells and abilities to protect your assets or to remove key pieces from the board before Short Circuit resolves. Counterspells are a blue mage’s best friend against such disruptions, ensuring that Short Circuit never affects the board state. Finally, keep in mind the mana cost and the colors required to cast Short Circuit, planning your plays around this to apply pressure when your opponent is likely saving mana for such a spell.
By taking these strategies into account and playing to your deck’s strengths, you can effectively mitigate the impacts of Short Circuit and maintain control of the game.
Cards like Short Circuit
Short Circuit adds an electrifying touch to the array of removal options available for players in Magic: The Gathering. It finds its parallels in cards like Lightning Bolt, another efficient spell known for its ability to deal damage directly to creatures or even players. Although Short Circuit doesn’t boast the same direct damage potency or the ability to target players, it compensates by having a broader effect against artifacts and blue creatures, making it a potentially more strategic choice in certain matchups.
Electrickery is yet another card that shares similarities with Short Circuit. Both spells can hit multiple targets, but Electrickery is particularly adept at clearing out a swarm of lesser creatures with its overload ability. In contrast, Electrickery doesn’t share the specialized artifact disruption that makes Short Circuit a more tailored choice against decks that heavily rely on artifacts. Lastly, Shattering Spree serves as an alternative with a singular focus on artifact destruction. Its replicate ability allows for a potential sweep of multiple artifacts, though it doesn’t offer the direct creature removal Short Circuit does.
Each card has its merits, and a thorough analysis of your deck’s needs and your opponent’s strategy will guide you to the right choice. Therefore, Short Circuit can hold its own within the scope of flexible removal spells in Magic: The Gathering, offering unique utilities in a strategic context.
Cards similar to Short Circuit by color, type and mana cost
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Short Circuit has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Guide to Flash card ability
Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.