Lightning Volley MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	2014-02-07
Set symbol
Set name	Born of the Gods
Set code	BNG
Number	101
Frame	2003
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	John Avon

Key Takeaways

Lightning Volley can clear multiple creatures, tipping the board’s balance in your favor rapidly.
Playing at instant speed, it offers surprise plays and dynamic interaction during the game.
While powerful, it’s essential to weigh the cost of discarding and specific mana requirements.

Text of card

Until end of turn, creatures you control gain ": This creature deals 1 damage to target creature or player."

"We are the motes of rain that join to make the thundercloud. The power of the storm god surges through us!"

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Lightning Volley is a strategic addition that can wipe out multiple creatures in one go, potentially clearing the board and giving you a significant edge in creature control. This can shift the momentum of the game, turning card quantity into quality.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing your mana pool, Lightning Volley can pave the way for a more aggressive playstyle. By eliminating blockers, it enables faster damage to opponents, potentially cutting down their resources and bringing victory within reach much quicker.

Instant Speed: The versatility of being an instant cannot be overstated. Lightning Volley can be cast in response to an opponent’s move, providing a surprise element and allowing for tactical plays that could turn the tide of a match when least expected.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Lightning Volley prompts you to discard a card as an additional cost to activate its ability. This can be a setback in crucial moments, especially if you’re already low on resources or if the card discarded could be central to your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting requirements exclusively call for red mana, which might restrict its integration solely to red or certain multicolored decks, potentially limiting its versatility in a player’s arsenal.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a rather steep four mana to activate, Lightning Volley may not be as mana-efficient as other options available to players. Considering the cost versus effect, players might find alternative spells that offer more impact for the mana spent, ultimately casting a shadow on its playability.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Lightning Volley offers a unique flexibility by fitting seamlessly into decks that thrive on direct damage strategies. It’s particularly useful in red-based burn or aggro decks, where dealing damage across multiple targets can be crucial.

Combo Potential: With its ability to distribute multiple points of damage among creatures your opponents control, Lightning Volley can effectively combo with cards that trigger upon dealing damage or destroying creatures, enhancing your board presence and control.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to clear a swath of smaller creatures or pick off weakened larger ones, Lightning Volley proves its worth against creature-heavy decks that dominate many game metas. This card can swiftly shift the tide of battle in your favor.

How to beat

Confronted with the challenge of facing off against Lightning Volley, strategic play becomes crucial. This red instant is known for its potential to turn a developed board of creatures into a deadly arsenal, targeting multiple foes with a flurry of damage. Understand that while this card can distribute lethal damage, it requires a substantial number of creatures on the board to maximize its impact.

Counterspells are your first line of defense, directly nullifying Lightning Volley’s threat before it can be activated. Blue players can readily access a suite of counters such as Counterspell and Negate to prevent it from ever resolving. Alternatively, removing key creatures from the board through spot removal or board wipes can drastically reduce the card’s potency. Black and white spells, such as Bloodchief’s Thirst or Wrath of God, serve well in this capacity.

Remember that maintaining control over the board and being wary of the opponent’s creature count is paramount. If their army balloons, Lightning Volley could spell your demise. Play smart, disrupt your opponent’s strategy, and Lightning Volley’s impact will fizzle before it can ignite.

Cards like Lightning Volley

Lightning Volley stands out as a unique option among red spells in the MTG arsenal, particularly those that deal with multiple-target damage distribution. Cards like Arc Lightning offer a similar function, allowing players to split damage between multiple targets. While Arc Lightning’s damage is fixed, Lightning Volley gives players the flexibility to increase damage output by tapping untapped creatures you control, thus potentially delivering a devastating blow to the opponent’s life total or battlefield presence.

On another note, there’s also Goblin Bombardment, renowned for its sacrifice mechanic to deal damage, which offers repeatable usage unlike the single shot nature of Lightning Volley. However, Lightning Volley can be more explosive in the right deck, capable of dealing a large amount of damage in a single turn. The classic card Pyroclasm also falls into the same category of red damage spells, but it’s not as focused on targeted damage, instead dealing a sweeping effect to all creatures regardless of ownership.

While each card has its situation and deck where it shines, Lightning Volley is special for its potential in creature-heavy red decks that can capitalize on a sudden burst of damage, leveraging each creature’s presence as a potential source of damage.

Cards similar to Lightning Volley by color, type and mana cost

Hidetsugu's Second Rite - MTG Card versions

Lightning Blast - Tempest Remastered (TPR)

Sudden Impact - Premium Deck Series: Fire and Lightning (PD2)

Temporary Insanity - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)

Stoke the Flames - March of the Machine (MOM)

Fated Conflagration - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Solar Blast - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)

Blind with Anger - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Ire of Kaminari - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Hidetsugu's Second Rite - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)

Gaze of Adamaro - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lightning Volley MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods, 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 Volley and other MTG cards: