Lava Coil MTG Card

Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
2018-10-05 - Number 108

Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
2022-07-08 - Number 116

Media Inserts (PMEI)
1995-01-02 - Number 33

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery

Key Takeaways

Lava Coil offers a one-for-one creature removal, often disrupting opponent strategies efficiently.
Its low mana cost allows for effective resource management, pivotal in fast-paced matches.
Despite its sorcery speed, the exile effect provides a permanent solution to recurrent threats.

Text of card

Lava Coil deals 4 damage to target creature. If that creature would die this turn, exile it instead.

"Commander, we caught the Dimir spy and took her ashes into custody." —Kramm, Wojek security officer

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Lava Coil doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it does offer a form of card advantage by efficiently removing a creature from the game. This means that it outclasses the creature it removes, effectively serving as a one-for-one exchange that can disrupt your opponent’s strategy and maintain balance on the playing field.

Resource Acceleration: Although Lava Coil itself doesn’t provide mana or resource acceleration, its low mana cost enables you to manage your resources effectively. You can eliminate a threatening creature for just two mana, leaving you with potentially more mana to cast other spells or develop your board in the same turn.

Instant Speed: Lava Coil operates at sorcery speed, which means its timing isn’t as flexible as an instant. Nevertheless, its potent exile effect compensates for this by offering a permanent solution to creatures like Rekindling Phoenix or Arclight Phoenix, which can otherwise return to the battlefield and continue to be a problem.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some burn spells that offer a trade-off, Lava Coil presents none, which means it doesn’t help if you’re aiming to reduce your hand for cards like Hazoret the Fervent or capitalize on discard synergies.

Specific Mana Cost: Lava Coil demands a red-only mana investment, which might not readily fit into multicolored or splash-heavy strategies, inevitably restricting deck-building flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the cost might seem reasonable at face value, when pitted against other removal options available, Lava Coil can be on the loftier side, especially given that it cannot target players or planeswalkers, limiting its versatility during gameplay.

Reasons to Include Lava Coil in Your Collection

Versatility: Lava Coil is a valuable addition to a range of decks, particularly those looking to efficiently handle threats. Its ability to remove creatures from the game is a significant advantage during gameplay.

Combo Potential: While not a traditional combo enabler, Lava Coil’s reliability in removing key pieces from your opponent’s board can lead to smoother execution of your strategy.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creatures are pivotal, the current meta often sees a variety of targets for Lava Coil. Its relevance in the format makes it a staple in decks that need to manage an evolving battlefield efficiently.

How to beat

Lava Coil is a potent spell in the world of MTG, known for its ability to deal four damage to a target creature. If that creature would die this turn, Lava Coil exiles it, preventing any potential graveyard strategies. To effectively counter this spell, players should consider using creatures with indestructibility or those that have abilities to protect themselves. Additionally, cards that can counter noncreature spells are excellent ways to neutralize Lava Coil before it impacts the battlefield.

Cards like Dive Down can provide a swift defense by boosting a creature’s toughness for the turn, making them survive the assault from Lava Coil. Other tactics include playing hexproof creatures that prevent them from being targeted altogether, or utilizing blink effects to remove your creatures from the battlefield in response to Lava Coil, thus saving them from the fiery grasp. Understanding these strategies can turn the tide in your favor by mitigating the threat Lava Coil poses to your creature-based game plan.

When confronting the challenge of Lava Coil, consider incorporating these defensive measures into your deck. Doing so will empower you to preserve your crucial creatures and maintain control of the board, contributing to a more resilient strategy against removal-heavy opponents.

Cards like Lava Coil

Lava Coil is a distinctive removal spell that has found its way into many red deck strategies within Magic: The Gathering. It lines up alongside other classic red spells such as Lightning Strike or the more recent Roil Eruption. Like Lava Coil, these spells are structured to eliminate threats, but Lava Coil edges out with its ability to exile creatures with its four damage for just two mana. While Lightning Strike offers flexibility, capable of targeting either a creature or player, it doesn’t permanently remove creatures with indestructible or recursion abilities.

Comparing it to Abrade, Lava Coil lacks the versatility of destroying artifacts, but it makes up for this by being a more potent answer to larger creatures, ensuring they don’t return from the graveyard. Another parallel is found in Scorching Dragonfire, which offers a similar exile effect and can target planeswalkers as well. However, Lava Coil deals more damage, solidifying its position for taking out more substantial threats.

When evaluating removal options within the game, Lava Coil presents itself as a valuable addition, especially in contexts where exile effects are crucial, reinforcing its place in the decks that focus on control and tempo.

Scorching Dragonfire - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Lava Coil by color, type and mana cost

Embereth Shieldbreaker // Battle Display - MTG Card versions

Nahiri's Lithoforming - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lava Coil MTG card by a specific set like Media Inserts and Guilds of Ravnica, 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 Lava Coil and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Lava Coil Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-10-05 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	~~1995-01-02~~	Media Inserts	PMEI	33	2015	Normal	Black	Wesley Burt & コーヘー
2	2018-10-05	Guilds of Ravnica	GRN	108	2015	Normal	Black	Wesley Burt
3	2022-07-08	Double Masters 2022	2X2	116	2015	Normal	Black	Wesley Burt

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lava Coil 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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2018-10-05	Lava Coil’s replacement effect will exile the target creature if it would die this turn for any reason, not just due to lethal damage. It applies to the target creature even if Lava Coil deals no damage to it (due to a prevention effect).