Lash of Thorns MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 2019-10-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Throne of Eldraine |
| Set code | ELD |
| Number | 92 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jeff Simpson |
Key Takeaways
- It ensures creature survival and enables favorable trades, impacting player card advantage indirectly.
- Provides flexibility at low cost, boosting both tempo and mana efficiency in-game.
- Instant flexibility with deathtouch can unexpectedly shift combat outcomes in your favor.
Text of card
Target creature gets +2/+1 and gains deathtouch until end of turn.
"Another angry mob? When will they learn to leave me be?" —Terryn, Edgewall outcast
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Lash of Thorns doesn’t provide direct card advantage in the form of drawing, it can lead to advantageous board states. By boosting one of your creatures significantly, it can enable a favorable trade or ensure its survival, indirectly impacting the cards both players have in play.
Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t directly offer resource acceleration such as mana generation. However, its low casting cost allows players to utilize their mana efficiently on the turn it’s played. This efficiency can be pivotal in maintaining tempo and holding up mana for other critical plays during a match.
Instant Speed: The instant speed of Lash of Thorns permits reactionary play. You can utilize it during the combat phase as a defensive trick to deter attackers or during your turn to push through additional damage. Its flexibility provides a surprise element that can shift the tide of combat in your favor without telegraphing your plays in advance.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Lash of Thorns offers a respectable boost in defense and deathtouch, it may not be worth the card slot in your deck if it isn’t paired with creatures that benefit from its effects. Having to discard it at the end of turn if not used makes it a potential liability during gameplay.
Specific Mana Cost: This spell’s requirement for black mana means it’s exclusively useful in black or multicolored decks. For those running a deck without access to black mana, it is entirely unusable, potentially limiting its flexibility across diverse deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing one black mana might seem low, but when considering the temporary nature of the enhancement it provides, players might opt for other permanents or spells that offer more lasting advantages. While its instant speed is a boon, the trade-off may not always align with a player’s strategic needs.
Reasons to Include Lash of Thorns in Your Collection
Versatility: Lash of Thorns boasts flexibility as it can seamlessly blend into various deck archetypes. As a low-cost instant, it can protect your creatures in combat or turn a defensive block into a surprising offensive maneuver.
Combo Potential: This card is a good fit for strategies that capitalize on deathtouch. Pairing it with creatures that have lifelink or trample can suddenly escalate your board presence or alter the course of combat in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames where creature-heavy decks prevail, Lash of Thorns gains value. It grants an unexpected edge, potentially removing larger threats and shifting the course of the game by preserving key creatures or by deftly eliminating an adversary’s attackers.
How to beat
Lash of Thorns presents an interesting dynamic in combat scenarios. As a low-cost instant, it can quickly turn the tides by giving a creature both a power boost and deathtouch. This combination makes even the smallest blockers lethal, putting pressure on opponents to reconsider attacks or blocks. To effectively navigate around Lash of Thorns, players need to be cautious in combat, paying close attention to open mana that could indicate its presence.
An effective strategy is to eliminate potential threats before they can be enhanced. Taking control of the board with removal spells that can preemptively dispatch creatures denies the opportunity to use combat tricks like Lash of Thorns. Board wipes or targeted removal spells when the opponent is tapped out can ensure a creature won’t be around to receive the buff. Another tactic is to utilize instant-speed spells that can neutralize the creature after Lash of Thorns has been cast but before combat damage is dealt, such as instant-speed bounce or exile effects.
Anticipating and disrupting your opponent’s plans are key. By maintaining a careful watch on the game state and managing your removal resources wisely, you can overcome the sudden and deadly twist that Lash of Thorns could bring to the battlefield.
Cards like Lash of Thorns
Lash of Thorns holds a unique position in the realm of instant-speed combat tricks in Magic: The Gathering. This card injects a swift power-up, much like its counterparts, but with its own distinctions. Lash of Thorns provides a creature with not only a +2/+1 boost but also grants deathtouch until the end of turn, perfect for unexpected combat resolutions.
In comparison, we have cards like Vampiric Fury, which gives a lesser +1/+1 boost to all Vampire creatures you control but also includes an entire team lifelink bonus. Unlike the broader effect of Vampiric Fury, Lash of Thorns’ impact is limited to a single creature but with the added advantage of the deathtouch mechanic. Dead Weight, another comparable card, offers a more permanent solution by giving a creature -2/-2 as an enchantment, shaping the battlefield over the long term rather than just a single combat phase.
Assessing the array of choices, Lash of Thorns proves to be a cost-effective and versatile tool, ideally suited for turning tables on your opponent when they least expect it, and confirms its spot in the spectrum of instant-speed tricks players should consider for their MTG decks.
Cards similar to Lash of Thorns by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lash of Thorns MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine, 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 Lash of Thorns 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lash of Thorns 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 |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
