Wizard's Lightning MTG Card


Wizard's Lightning - Dominaria
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2018-04-27
Set symbol
Set nameDominaria
Set codeDOM
Number152
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byGrzegorz Rutkowski

Key Takeaways

  1. Wizard’s Lightning offers card advantage via cost reduction when paired with a Wizard.
  2. Instant speed provides flexibility and disruption potential during any phase.
  3. Mana specificity limits use to red-centric decks, affecting deck building.

Text of card

This spell costs less to cast if you control a Wizard. Wizard's Lightning deals 3 damage to any target.

"The study of magic began when the first mage taught herself to throw lightning." —Naban, dean of iteration


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Wizard’s Lightning doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, casting it for its reduced cost when you control a Wizard means spending less mana for the same effect, effectively giving you an advantage over opponents by saving resources for other cards in your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Not typically a resource accelerator, but in the context of decks with Wizards, it effectively accelerates your mana usage by costing less, enabling you to utilize your mana in more versatile ways throughout your turn.

Instant Speed: Wizard’s Lightning can be cast at instant speed, providing the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s plays or remove key threats on the fly, all while leaving your options open until it’s the most opportune moment to strike.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Wizard’s Lightning doesn’t require a discard, but it does necessitate having a wizard on the battlefield to take advantage of its reduced cost ability. Without a wizard, you miss out on that extra value.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is anchored in red, meaning only red or red-inclusive decks can harness its power. This specificity reduces its versatility across the vast array of deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana, Wizard’s Lightning may seem economical, but when you’re not controlling a wizard, it’s a less efficient burn spell compared to others that cost less for the same damage output.


Reasons to Include Wizard’s Lightning in Your Collection

Versatility: Wizard’s Lightning offers a powerful option for various deck builds in MTG. This Instant card is particularly suited for spell-heavy and wizard-centric strategies, providing cost reduction that can turn the tide of the game.

Combo Potential: This card pairs well with wizard tribal decks and can be a key component in creating devastating spell combos. Its reduced cost when controlling a wizard makes it a staple in any deck looking to optimize spell synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where fast pacing and quick responses are crucial, Wizard’s Lightning shines. It’s an excellent tool against aggressive creature decks, allowing you to maintain board control without falling behind on tempo.


How to beat

Wizard’s Lightning is a potent instant spell in Magic: The Gathering, offering a substantial burst of damage that mimics the iconic Lightning Bolt, with the primary difference being its higher base casting cost which can be reduced under specific conditions. When facing this spell, it’s essential to adapt strategies that mitigate the impact of direct damage or prevent it altogether.

One effective approach is utilizing cards that grant you hexproof, such as Shalai, Voice of Plenty, which shields you from being targeted by spells like Wizard’s Lightning. Additionally, countering the spell is always a viable play, with affordable options like Spell Pierce for early game protection. Playing creatures with toughness greater than 3 can also help as it keeps them out of range of this particular burst of damage.

For those preferring a proactive approach, utilizing enchantments like Leyline of Sanctity from the get-go can offer permanent immunity from such targeted spells. Keep in mind, beating a card isn’t just about surviving its effects, but also about efficiently managing your resources to maintain the upper hand in the match.


Cards like Wizard's Lightning

Wizard’s Lightning is a dynamic inclusion in the burn spell arsenal for Magic: The Gathering players. It invites comparison with Lightning Bolt, a classic favorite, offering the same potential damage of three at an identical mana cost. However, Wizard’s Lightning introduces an innovative twist – it costs three mana, but if you control a Wizard, the cost is reduced to a single red mana, echoing the efficiency of the beloved Lightning Bolt.

Another akin card, Lightning Strike, deals the same damage but lacks the cost-reduction feature that Wizard’s Lightning brings to the table, remaining at two mana. Then there’s Searing Spear, yet another equivalent that also inflicts three damage at two mana, but does not offer the possibility of a cost decrease. This highlights Wizard’s Lightning’s unique advantage when strategically paired with Wizards.

Comparatively, Wizard’s Lightning not only fortifies a Wizard-centric deck but also performs admirably as a standalone damage dealer. Its versatility and the potential for mana cost optimization ensure its position as a highly regarded choice among similar burn spells within the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering.

Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Lightning Strike - MTG Card versions
Searing Spear - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Lightning Strike - Theros (THS)
Searing Spear - Magic 2013 (M13)

Cards similar to Wizard's Lightning by color, type and mana cost

Solfatara - MTG Card versions
Trumpet Blast - MTG Card versions
Urza's Rage - MTG Card versions
Turf Wound - MTG Card versions
Char - MTG Card versions
Chaos Warp - MTG Card versions
Merchant of the Vale // Haggle - MTG Card versions
Seething Song - MTG Card versions
Unforge - MTG Card versions
Aura Barbs - MTG Card versions
Path of Anger's Flame - MTG Card versions
Smash - MTG Card versions
Fiery Temper - MTG Card versions
Orcish Cannonade - MTG Card versions
Chaos Wrap - MTG Card versions
Fatal Frenzy - MTG Card versions
Seismic Strike - MTG Card versions
Staggershock - MTG Card versions
Flames of the Blood Hand - MTG Card versions
Rally the Forces - MTG Card versions
Solfatara - Visions (VIS)
Trumpet Blast - Masters 25 (A25)
Urza's Rage - Strixhaven Mystical Archive (STA)
Turf Wound - Invasion (INV)
Char - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Chaos Warp - Fallout (PIP)
Merchant of the Vale // Haggle - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Seething Song - Mirrodin (MRD)
Unforge - Darksteel (DST)
Aura Barbs - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Path of Anger's Flame - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Smash - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Fiery Temper - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
Orcish Cannonade - Time Spiral (TSP)
Chaos Wrap - Happy Holidays (HHO)
Fatal Frenzy - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Seismic Strike - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Staggershock - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Flames of the Blood Hand - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)
Rally the Forces - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wizard's Lightning MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria, 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 Wizard's Lightning and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wizard's Lightning has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Wizard's Lightning card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2018-04-27 Once you announce that you’re casting Wizard’s Lightning, no player may take other actions until the spell’s been paid for. Notably, players can’t try to raise the spell’s cost by removing your Wizards.

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