Lightning Elemental MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 14 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elemental
Abilities Haste
Power 4
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. With 4/1 stats for four mana, Lightning Elemental pressures opponents early, compelling valuable resource expenditure.
  2. It bolsters aggressive playstyles, fitting seamlessly into red-themed decks and elevating combat strategies.
  3. Counters like instant-speed removal or strategic blocking are key to mitigating Lightning Elemental’s impact.

Text of card

Lightning Elemental is unaffected by summoning sickness.

A lightning elemental once killed an entire tribe of merfolk—simply by going for a swim.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Lightning Elemental, while not a source of card draw in itself, exemplifies the “threat density” aspect in your deck. With a substantial 4/1 stat line for only four mana, it applies immediate pressure, demanding an answer from your opponent and potentially drawing out their resources.

Resource Acceleration: While Lightning Elemental does not directly contribute to resource acceleration, its sheer aggression can serve to shorten the game timeline, allowing for a quicker path to victory before the need for extensive resources.

Instant Speed: Lightning Elemental is a creature that does not have flash; however, its presence exemplifies the importance of instant speed interaction in a deck. Knowing when to deploy this hasty threat is crucial, as it can capitalize on an opponent’s tapped out status post-combat or during their end step if it were to gain instant speed through other card effects.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The playability of Lightning Elemental can be hampered by strategies that force discarding as it impacts hand resource management, potentially diluting your strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card demands a precise mana alignment, needing a combination of one red and additional colorless mana, which might not effortlessly fit into multi-colored or mana-flexible deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Lightning Elemental boasts swift power, its cost of four mana for a 4/1 creature can be a high investment, especially in an environment teeming with lower-cost creatures that offer similar or greater stability and abilities.


Reasons to Include Lightning Elemental in Your Collection

Versatility: Lightning Elemental fits effortlessly into decks that thrive on aggressive strategies and fast-paced gameplay. Its straightforward nature makes it a reliable creature in various red-based builds.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize well with effects that amplify its attack, making it a lethal force on the battlefield. Imagine pairing it with combat tricks or auras that boost its power.

Meta-Relevance: Given that it’s a quick and hard-hitting creature, Lightning Elemental has the potential to tip the scales in a meta where tempo plays are key. Against slower decks, it can deliver significant damage before opponents have set up their defenses.


How to beat Lightning Elemental

Lightning Elemental, a swift and forceful creature card, presents itself as a significant threat on the battlefield with its rapid attack capability. This card finds its strength in being able to dish out a quick four damage to an opponent, a trait that can catch many players off guard. To effectively manage this threat, it’s crucial to have instant-speed removal spells at your disposal. Cards such as Shock or Lightning Bolt can dispatch the Elemental before it has a chance to strike, provided you cast them during your opponent’s turn or in response to the attack declaration.

Alternatively, strategic blocking can minimize the damage done by Lightning Elemental. Deploying creatures with high toughness, or those with abilities like reach or first strike, can negate the Elemental’s impact or eliminate it upon engagement. Additionally, countermagic serves as an effective deterrent, with spells like Counterspell ready to intercept the Elemental as it’s cast. Ensuring you have a reactive strategy in place can transform the Elemental’s lightning-fast aggression into a fleeting concern, keeping your life total secure and preserving your position in the game.


Cards like Lightning Elemental

Lightning Elemental stands out in the MTG realm as a classic creature known for its aggressive play. It’s often compared to other four-mana cost creatures like Ball Lightning, yet the Elemental offers a steady presence with its ability to stick around past a single turn. Ball Lightning, however, boasts a burst of power with trample and haste but sacrifices longevity since it must be sacrificed at the end of turn.

Spark Elemental follows a similar ethos to Ball Lightning with its one-turn impact. Though it costs less mana, it shares the same fate of a brief appearance on the battlefield. In contrast, Lightning Elemental is a more permanent threat, allowing for ongoing pressure against your opponent. Yet another peer, Fire Elemental, also brings four mana to the table but with a higher power and toughness, trading the speed of Lightning Elemental for a more formidable board presence.

Delving into the dynamics and synergies of red creature spells, Lightning Elemental showcases its value by consistently posing a threat each turn, making it a viable option for players aiming to maintain a strong offensive stance throughout the game.

Ball Lightning - MTG Card versions
Spark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Fire Elemental - MTG Card versions
Ball Lightning - The Dark (DRK)
Spark Elemental - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Fire Elemental - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Lightning Elemental by color, type and mana cost

Keldon Warlord - MTG Card versions
Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
Márton Stromgald - MTG Card versions
Reckless Embermage - MTG Card versions
Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Goblin Goon - MTG Card versions
Lesser Gargadon - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
Ogre Taskmaster - MTG Card versions
Ogre Gatecrasher - MTG Card versions
Keldon Warlord - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Crimson Manticore - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Márton Stromgald - Ice Age (ICE)
Reckless Embermage - Mirage (MIR)
Wildfire Emissary - Mirage (MIR)
Flowstone Giant - Tempest (TMP)
Rathi Dragon - Tempest (TMP)
Mogg Bombers - Stronghold (STH)
Warmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Bloodfire Kavu - Apocalypse (APC)
Whipkeeper - Odyssey (ODY)
Anger - Judgment (JUD)
Nalathni Dragon - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Everquill Phoenix - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Goblin Goon - Legions (LGN)
Lesser Gargadon - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Krark-Clan Engineers - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Ogre Taskmaster - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Ogre Gatecrasher - Dissension (DIS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lightning Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Battle Royale Box Set, 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 Lightning Elemental and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Lightning Elemental Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-10-14TempestTMP 1861997normalblackD. Alexander Gregory
21999-11-12Battle Royale Box SetBRB 371997normalwhiteD. Alexander Gregory
32001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 201★1997normalblackKev Walker
42001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 2011997normalwhiteKev Walker
52003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 2012003normalwhiteKev Walker
62003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 201★2003normalblackKev Walker
72005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 2012003normalwhiteKev Walker
82005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 201★2003normalblackKev Walker
92007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 2172003normalblackKev Walker
102007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 217★2003normalblackKev Walker
112009-07-17Magic 2010M10 1472003normalblackKev Walker
122010-06-04Duels of the PlaneswalkersDPA 502003normalblackKev Walker
132011-07-15Magic 2012M12 1492003normalblackKev Walker
142020-07-17JumpstartJMP 3442015normalblackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lightning Elemental has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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