Solar Blast MTG Card
2002-10-07 - Number 234
2014-06-16 - Number 187
2023-01-13 - Number 140
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Cycling |
Text of card
Solar Blast deals 3 damage to target creature or player. Cycling o1o Ro R (o1o Ro R, Discard this card from your hand: Draw a card.) When you cycle Solar Blast, you may have it deal 1 damage to target creature or player.
Cards like Solar Blast
Solar Blast is a versatile choice for players looking to incorporate both direct damage and card draw into their red decks. This card reminds us of Lightning Bolt, a classic direct damage staple. While Lightning Bolt offers no card draw, its low cost and instant speed make it incredibly efficient in a pinch. Solar Blast, however, requires four mana and provides the option to cycle it for just one mana, thus granting the user a potential card advantage.
Comparably, we have Searing Blaze, which damages both a creature and the creature’s controller. Like Solar Blast, it has conditions to meet for maximum effect, though Searing Blaze cannot be cycled for card draw. Alternatively, Browbeat presents players with a choice – either take five damage or allow the spell’s caster to draw three cards. While this card can swing a game, it relies on your opponent’s decisions, unlike the user-controlled versatility Solar Blast provides.
Taking into account options within the genre, it’s clear that Solar Blast offers a unique combination of control over board state and hand contents. Its dual utility in the form of damage and draw capacity situates it as a valuable and adaptable tool for MTG players harnessing the power of red decks.
Cards similar to Solar Blast by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Solar Blast offers a multi-faceted utility that helps players gain card advantage. By allowing the player to draw a card after dealing damage, it ensures your hand remains full, providing you with more options and strategies for your subsequent turns.
Resource Acceleration: Although Solar Blast itself does not directly accelerate resources, its cycling ability can be pivotal in drawing into the lands or ramp spells crucial for escalating your board state rapidly and efficiently.
Instant Speed: Solar Blast’s versatility shines at instant speed, enabling you to react to your opponents’ plays on the fly. It provides the strategic advantage of making decisions with the most information possible, allowing you to respond aptly to threats or to simply end a creature during an opponent’s turn to disrupt their plans.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Solar Blast is the discard requirement as part of its cycling ability. This can be a potential downside when you’re already at a card disadvantage or want to maintain a full hand for strategic plays.
Specific Mana Cost: The card has a colored mana requirement of two generic and one red mana, which makes it exclusive to red decks or those that can reliably produce red mana. This specific cost can restrict deck-building options and reduce the card’s overall flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total casting cost of four mana, it may be less efficient compared to other removal or damage-dealing options available. Players often seek lower-cost spells that offer similar levels of impact on the game, making Solar Blast less appealing in decks that prioritize speed and efficiency.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Solar Blast offers the flexibility to be cast either for its base effect or cycled away for a different interaction, pairing well with decks that pivot between direct damage and card advantage strategies.
Combo Potential: This card can be a key component in cycling-focused decks, offering both deck thinning and targeted damage. Its ability to be used from the graveyard gives it an edge in recurring combo strategies.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where utility and efficiency reign, Solar Blast remains relevant by providing a removal option against creatures with low toughness, disrupting early game plays or eliminating potential blockers.
How to beat
Solar Blast is a unique tool in a player’s arsenal when playing Magic: The Gathering, as it provides both direct damage and card cycling opportunities. To effectively counter this card, it is essential to adopt strategies that diminish its impact. Utilize creatures with toughness greater than Solar Blast’s damage potential to make it an inefficient removal option. Additionally, integrating hexproof or shroud abilities can completely negate Solar Blast by preventing it from targeting your key creatures.
Another method is to employ instant-speed spells that can protect or regenerate your creatures in response to Solar Blast. Counterspells also serve as a direct foil to Solar Blast, disrupting the opponent’s plan and preserving your board state. Moreover, taking advantage of moments when your opponent is low on mana can be crucial, as Solar Blast requires a significant mana investment to utilize its cycling ability effectively.
Ultimately, awareness of your opponent’s potential plays and maintaining a buffer of defensive spells or abilities can ensure that Solar Blast does not dramatically affect the course of the game. Adaptability and preventive measures can tip the scales in your favor against such burn cards.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Solar Blast MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Vintage Masters, 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 Solar Blast 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
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Printings
The Solar Blast Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by Greg Staples.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-10-07 | Onslaught | ONS | 234 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Greg Staples | |
| 2 | 2014-06-16 | Vintage Masters | VMA | 187 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Staples | |
| 3 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 140 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Staples |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Solar Blast has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Solar Blast card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-12-08 | The cycling ability and the triggered ability are separate. If the triggered ability doesn’t resolve (because, for example, it has been countered, or all of its targets have become illegal), the cycling ability will still resolve and you’ll draw a card. |
| 2022-12-08 | When you cycle this card, first the cycling ability goes on the stack, then the triggered ability goes on the stack on top of it. The triggered ability will resolve before you draw a card from the cycling ability. |
| 2022-12-08 | You can cycle this card even if there are no legal targets for the triggered ability. |