Lightning Reaver MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Zombie Beast
Abilities	Fear,Haste
Released	2009-04-30
Set symbol
Set name	Alara Reborn
Set code	ARB
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	42
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Cyril Van Der Haegen

Key Takeaways

Lightning Reaver excels in dealing damage across multiple opponents, enhancing its multiplayer game presence.
The card’s charge counter mechanic presents combo possibilities and adaptability in different MTG strategies.
Despite its power, it has cons like a specific mana cost and a high casting cost that may limit its utility.

Text of card

Fear, haste Whenever Lightning Reaver deals combat damage to a player, put a charge counter on it. At the end of your turn, Lightning Reaver deals damage equal to the number of charge counters on it to each opponent.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Lightning Reaver can accumulate charge counters to deal damage to each opponent, potentially netting multiple cards worth of damage from a single card, a solid gain in card efficiency.

Resource Acceleration: While Lightning Reaver doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the threat of consistent damage it poses can indirectly speed up a game’s pace by pressuring opponents.

Instant Speed: Although the Lightning Reaver operates at sorcery speed, its ability to deal damage at the end of each turn gives it a pseudo-instant speed presence on the board, always keeping opponents on their toes.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Lightning Reaver demands that you have a card to discard, which can significantly disrupt your hand management strategy. If your hand is already depleted, this requirement can put you at a further disadvantage, potentially stalling your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Featuring a specific requirement for one black and one red mana within its casting cost makes Lightning Reaver less flexible when building a deck. This mana requirement can be challenging in multicolored decks that may not always have the necessary sources available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, including three generic, Lightning Reaver enters the field at a stage when players expect impactful gameplay. Other creatures and spells at this mana range may offer immediate effects or have more influential abilities, making the Reaver a potentially less efficient choice in competitive play.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Lightning Reaver’s ability to deal damage to multiple opponents makes it a flexible threat in various multiplayer formats. Its place in both aggro and control strategies signifies its adaptability across different deck builds.

Combo Potential: With its charge counter mechanic, Lightning Reaver offers synergy with other counter-based cards, creating potential for powerful combinations that can swiftly escalate in power, leading to lightning-fast victories.

Meta-Relevance: Facing a meta environment where lifegain decks are prevalent, Lightning Reaver stands out. Its unique capability to bypass life totals through direct damage counters aligns perfectly with strategies designed to counter these decks.

How to beat

Lightning Reaver is a formidable force on the battlefield, capable of wreaking havoc in any MTG game. This creature’s fear ability makes it unblockable by most and its ability to accumulate charge counters can quickly become overwhelming. When it attacks and when it deals combat damage to a player, it doesn’t only add a charge counter, but it also deals damage equal to the number of charge counters on it to each opponent.

To counter Lightning Reaver, players should consider employing removal spells that can bypass its fear ability. Look for board wipes such as Wrath of God or instant-speed removal like Path to Exile. Additionally, since Lightning Reaver’s damage is triggered-based, utilizing stifle effects or damage prevention can neutralize its threat. Cards like Tale’s End can counter triggered abilities, while the likes of Circle of Protection: Red can prevent the damage it tries to deal.

By staying ahead of the curve with removal options and keeping a keen eye on the development of charge counters, players can handle the pressure that Lightning Reaver brings to the matchup, thus asserting control and keeping their life total secure from its lightning-fast offensive.

Cards like Lightning Reaver

Lightning Reaver carries an interesting niche as an aggressive creature in MTG. It stands out in comparison to its peers with a fearsome mix of abilities. Not unlike Falkenrath Marauders, it’s a creature that grows stronger with each strike, but Lightning Reaver also spreads damage across the board with its ability to give each opponent a charge counter, then deals damage for each of those counters during your upkeep. While Falkenrath Marauders gains power permanently, Lightning Reaver’s ability resets every turn, offering a different strategic approach.

Looking at Vengeful Reaper, another flying creature with haste, the Reaper’s foretell ability can offer an unexpected play. In contrast, Lightning Reaver’s continuous damage potential creates a consistent threat. Then there’s the imposing Hellrider, which deals damage each time a creature under your control attacks. However, Lightning Reaver’s ability to hit all opponents simultaneously gives it a clear advantage in multiplayer scenarios, positioning it as a persistent threat that must be dealt with swiftly.

When considering Lightning Reaver’s place in MTG, it’s the persistent, wide-reaching effect that makes it a valuable card in any deck that aims to keep the pressure up and weaken multiple opponents turn by turn.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lightning Reaver MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn, 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 Reaver and other MTG cards: