Feedback Bolt MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	2004-06-04
Set symbol
Set name	Fifth Dawn
Set code	5DN
Number	64
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ron Spencer

Key Takeaways

Feedback Bolt shines in decks with numerous artifacts, transforming them into potent damage sources.
Instant speed casting of Feedback Bolt allows for tactical responses and surprise plays during the game.
The card’s requirement for red mana and card discard can pose challenges within diverse mana decks.

Text of card

Feedback Bolt deals damage to target player equal to the number of artifacts you control.

The path of least resistance is often through your enemies.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Feedback Bolt deals damage to an opponent equal to the number of artifacts you control, potentially swaying the game’s momentum in your favor. This effect can also work as a removal tool, clearing your path by dealing with problematic creatures.

Resource Acceleration: While Feedback Bolt doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its relatively low cost coupled with its high damage potential makes it a cost-effective play. When synergized with a deck that heavily utilizes artifacts, its power could greatly exceed its mana cost.

Instant Speed: One of the key strengths of Feedback Bolt is that it can be cast at instant speed. This provides flexibility, allowing players to respond to threats during the opponent’s turn or to capitalize on the maximum number of artifacts on the field before a board wipe or other disruption.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Feedback Bolt demands that a player must discard a card to utilize its effect. This can be quite restrictive when your hand size is dwindling, or you’re holding onto crucial cards for later turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a precise blend of mana, including specifically red mana, the card might not fit seamlessly into all deck strategies, particularly those that are mana-color divers.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that might be considered steep relative to other options, players could find it challenging to justify its inclusion over lower-cost alternatives that provide similar or greater impact on the game.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Feedback Bolt is a dynamic inclusion in many decks, seamlessly integrating with those that have a high number of artifacts. Its ability to convert artifact quantity into direct damage makes it a flexible choice for control or aggro strategies.

Combo Potential: This card can be a game finisher in decks that ramp up the number of artifacts on the field. In combination with cards that multiply artifacts or strategies that involve sacrificing artifacts for value, Feedback Bolt can serve as an unexpected burst of damage to close out games.

Meta-Relevance: Especially potent in environments where artifacts play a prominent role, Feedback Bolt’s relevance increases. In metas that lean heavily on artifacts, this card becomes a utility player, capable of leveraging the prevalent artifact themes to deal significant damage to opponents.

How to Beat

Feedback Bolt is one unique card in the MTG arsenal, notably for its damage output potential in artifact-heavy decks. The card offers a punch by dealing damage equal to the number of artifacts you control to any target. To effectively counter this card, one would have to keep the artifact count low. Cards that allow for artifact removal, such as Shatter or Naturalize, become incredibly valuable in this scenario. Ensuring that your opponent has fewer artifacts not only diminishes the power of Feedback Bolt but also disrupts their overall game strategy.

Another strategy is to prioritize the protection of your life total and valuable game pieces. Utilizing cards with hexproof or shroud can safeguard against direct damage from Feedback Bolt. Moreover, cards that increase your life total can give you a buffer against the damage Feedback Bolt and similar spells might inflict. Lastly, countering the spell outright with a Counterspell or similar effect can nip the problem in the bud before the damage is dealt, providing a direct and effective line of defense.

In summary, tackling Feedback Bolt involves a blend of preemptive artifact control, protection of key assets, or outright countering spells. Adopting these strategies can help you mitigate the impact and maintain control of the game.

Cards like Feedback Bolt

Feedback Bolt is an interesting spell in Magic: The Gathering, situating itself within the burn spells subset. It finds kinship with cards such as Shrapnel Blast, both harnessing artifacts on the battlefield to deal damage. However, Feedback Bolt takes a distinct approach by calculating damage based on the count of artifacts under your control rather than sacrificing one, like Shrapnel Blast necessitates.

Galvanic Blast also emerges as a relatable card, offering potential for amplified damage if metalcraft is achieved—an ability that requires three or more artifacts to be in play. While Galvanic Blast boasts a lower initial cost and the power to deal damage equal to Feedback Bolt under ideal conditions, Feedback Bolt’s total potential damage isn’t capped, allowing for more substantial swings in late-game scenarios.

Reviewing these spells side by side, Feedback Bolt holds its own by rewarding players who heavily invest in artifact-rich decks. Its utility grows with the number of artifacts on the field, thereby potentially outperforming its counterparts in the right deck. Hence, its unique scaling damage mechanism earns it a noteworthy position in the arsenal of burn spells within Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Feedback Bolt by color, type and mana cost

Beacon of Destruction - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Feedback Bolt MTG card by a specific set like Fifth Dawn, 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 Feedback Bolt and other MTG cards: