Jolt MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Number	70
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	John Matson

Key Takeaways

Jolt doubles mana availability at instant speed, allowing for impactful plays within a turn.
It accelerates game plans by instantly refreshing land resources, enabling a mana surge.
Strategic discard and specific color alignment are necessary trade-offs for its benefits.

Text of card

Tap or untap target artifact, creature, or land. Draw a card at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep.

"There's nothing like a sudden shock to clarify one's thoughts." —Pashad ibn Asim, Suq'Ata trader

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Jolt allows players to untap all lands they control, potentially doubling the mana available and allowing for significant card plays within the same turn.

Resource Acceleration: By refreshing your land resources, Jolt acts as a form of mana ramp. This can lead to casting more spells or activating abilities, effectively accelerating your game plan ahead of opponents.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Jolt at instant speed means you can wait until the most opportune moment, such as the end of an opponent’s turn, to maximize your untapped lands without telegraphing your strategy.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Jolt asks players to discard a card as part of the spell’s cost. This action might force a player to lose an essential card, thereby thinning already constrained hands and applying pressure on the player’s strategic resources. It’s a trade-off that requires careful consideration, especially in tight game scenarios where each card’s value is amplified.

Specific Mana Cost: With its casting requirement rooted in a particular mana color, Jolt’s inclusion in a deck demands a commitment to the color alignment it specifies. Deck builders contemplating its addition must ensure a mana base that consistently supports this, potentially at the expense of a more flexible or varied mana strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Mana economy is crucial in MTG gameplay, and Jolt enters the fray with a mana demand that could be deemed hefty relative to other options. Cards with a lower mana cost or those that offer a greater advantage, such as more significant board impact or card advantage for the same, if not lower, investment, might overshadow Jolt, relegating it to a suboptimal choice for competitive play.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Jolt is a dynamic card that seamlessly integrates into numerous deck types. It shines in scenarios where quick mana acceleration is key, allowing players to cast spells faster than their opponents expect.

Combo Potential: Jolt can be a crucial enabler for powerful combinations, unlocking mana for multi-spell turns or fueling more complex engines that rely on untapping permanents for repeatable effects.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where speed is of the essence, Jolt’s capacity to surge your mana development keeps your deck competitive against fast-paced aggro or tight control decks that aim to limit your resources.

How to beat

Jolt is an interesting card in the realm of MTG, known for its capacity to untap all lands that a player controls. This can be a game-changer, allowing for a significant advantage, particularly in builds that capitalize on mana generation to deploy powerful spells or effects within a single turn. It can potentially turn the tide of a game by providing the user with a sudden influx of resources, enabling them to cast otherwise uncastable spells in one go.

Countering Jolt effectively requires a strategic approach. Since the card excels in decks that seek to leverage large amounts of mana, one method is to employ counterspells or targeted discard strategies to remove Jolt before it can be played, disrupting your opponent’s planned combo or sequence. Alternatively, using instant-speed removal when your opponent taps out for a big play can minimize the impact of their untapped lands. Moreover, incorporating land destruction tactics can also hinder the card’s effectiveness, as reducing the total number of lands available limits the advantage gained from Jolt. Constant vigilance and a carefully curated hand are essential in ensuring that the sudden surge of mana doesn’t catch you off-guard and leave you in a compromised position in the match.

Understanding the broad spectrum of strategies in MTG not only showcases the depth of gameplay but also emphasizes the importance of having a plan in place to counter game-altering cards like Jolt. By maintaining a tactical mindset and utilizing the right resources at the opportune moment, players can mitigate the impact of potent cards and steer towards victory.

Cards like Jolt

Jolt, a dynamic card in Magic: The Gathering, energizes the land-based play by untapping two lands. Its comparability leans towards cards like Early Harvest, which pushes the boundary further by untapping all lands a player controls. While Jolt’s effect is less sweeping, it requires no color specification in its mana cost, making it more versatile in multi-colored decks.

Exploration picks up a similar thread by allowing you to play an additional land on each of your turns. Although not directly untapping lands, it accelerates mana availability, sharing Jolt’s essence of resource boost. Where Turnabout stands in this comparison is with its flexibility. It can untap all lands just like Early Harvest, but it also has the ability to target artifacts or creatures, making it multifaceted. However, it comes with a higher mana cost and is at sorcery speed, contrasting with Jolt’s instant nature.

In weighing these options, Jolt holds its own by combining low cost and instant speed, which can be crucial for surprising opponents or responding swiftly during a turn. Its straightforward and immediate effect gives it an esteemed spot within the realm of mana generation and resource acceleration cards in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Jolt by color, type and mana cost

Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jolt MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Jolt and other MTG cards: