Volcanic Spray MTG Card

Provides board control by damaging creatures without flying and each player, especially in multiplayer setups. Flexibility in use is enhanced with instant speed casting, allowing strategic play during opponent’s turns. Instant speed, board control, and multi-target damage define Volcanic Spray’s tactical role in MTG.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery
Abilities	Flashback
Released	2001-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Odyssey
Set code	ODY
Number	226
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matt Cavotta

Text of card

Volcanic Spray deals 1 damage to each creature without flying and each player. Flashback o1o R (You may play this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then remove it from the game.)

Cards like Volcanic Spray

Volcanic Spray offers MTG enthusiasts a tool for dealing damage to multiple targets, fitting into the realm of area-of-effect sorceries. Comparative to cards like Pyroclasm and Sweltering Suns, Volcanic Spray also clears out an array of smaller creatures from the battlefield. Pyroclasm achieves a similar impact, delivering 2 points of damage to each creature for a lower mana cost and without the option to be flashed back from the graveyard. Sweltering Suns provides the versatility to cycle it from your hand if dealing damage isn’t presently useful, something that Volcanic Spray doesn’t offer, though it demands a higher mana investment.

Anger of the Gods, another close relative in this category, compares well, inflicting 3 damage to each creature and adding the decisive wrinkle of exile for any that perish this way, preventing graveyard recursion tactics. While Volcanic Spray may not exile or present cycling options, its flashback ability allows for a second use, bolstering its potential utility in longer matchups where resources are stretched thin.

Taking these comparisons into account, Volcanic Spray finds itself a niche as a versatile, repetitive solution for creature-heavy boards, although it may not always have the immediate impact of its counterparts.

Cards similar to Volcanic Spray by color, type and mana cost

Embereth Shieldbreaker // Battle Display - MTG Card versions

Nahiri's Lithoforming - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Volcanic Spray. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#	Name	Format	Archetype	Event
	Azorius Aggro	Premodern		$1K - Pre-Modern - SCG CON Atlanta - Saturday - 9:30 am

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Volcanic Spray provides a unique advantage by dealing damage to each creature without flying and each player. In multiplayer formats, this means impacting multiple opponents and creatures, potentially removing numerous threats from the board in one fell swoop.

Resource Acceleration: While Volcanic Spray itself does not directly accelerate resources, the potential to wipe out mana dorks and other utility creatures your opponents control can indirectly slow their development and keep you ahead in the race for mana efficiency.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Volcanic Spray at instant speed offers tremendous flexibility. You can strategically time its casting to disrupt your opponent’s plays or even wait until the most opportune moment during their turn to maximize its effect, catching multiple creatures in its fiery blast.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Volcanic Spray requires players to discard a card to utilize its flashback ability. This can be a tactical setback, particularly when your hand is already strained for valuable cards or when you’re trying to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a specific blend of mana, one mountain, and one generic, to cast. This specificity means it’s inherently less flexible, often designated only to decks that can reliably produce red mana. Players with multicolored or off-theme decks might find this restrictive.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total cost of two mana for an immediate effect and three mana for its flashback, Volcanic Spray’s cost-to-damage ratio can be less economical compared to other damage dealing spells available in MTG. This higher mana investment may limit its appeal when deck building, as players often look for maximum efficiency in card selection.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Volcanic Spray offers dual utility, providing both a way to clear multiple low-toughness creatures and an option to reach in late game situations with its flashback ability.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well in decks that capitalize on spell casts or graveyard strategies, allowing for repeatable effects and potentially game-turning plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given that swarm strategies can be prevalent, Volcanic Spray acts as an efficient counter, keeping the board clear of pesky tokens and other small creatures that may dominate the game.

How to beat

Volcanic Spray offers players a tactical advantage by dealing damage to all creatures without flying and to each opponent. Its strength lies in the card’s ability to sweep numerous smaller creatures off the board while chipping away at an opponent’s life total. But how do you navigate around this fiery obstacle?

To counteract the heat, consider using indestructible or high-toughness creatures that can withstand the damage. Spell counters could also extinguish Volcanic Spray before it ever erupts, putting you ahead in the card advantage game. Moreover, leveraging instant-speed creature protections, such as hexproof or regeneration effects, could effectively save your key creatures from being engulfed in the Spray’s destructive path.

By understanding your opponent’s strategy, you can play around their Volcanic Spray, either by forcing them to use it suboptimally or by keeping your valuable creatures out of harm’s way until you’re ready to make your winning move. Adapting to the situation is key, whether that means deploying non-creature threats or simply saving your creatures for a post-Spray world.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Volcanic Spray MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Volcanic Spray and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Volcanic Spray has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal