Burst of Energy MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	1999-02-15
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Legacy
Set code	ULG
Number	3
Frame	1997
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Mark Brill

Key Takeaways

Enables card advantage and reuses valuable tap abilities for a superior resource strategy.
Rapidly accelerates resources and enables larger plays with its instant speed versatility.
Despite its potential, the card has limitations due to its specific cost and possible resource setback.

Text of card

Untap target permanent.

"I stand ready to die for our world. Who will stand with me?" —Radiant, archangel

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Despite not directly offering card draw, Burst of Energy unlocks potential card advantage by untapping a creature with a valuable tap effect, leading to multiple uses within a single turn cycle. This repeat utility can outpace an opponent’s resources over time, especially in decks built to capitalize on such synergies.

Resource Acceleration: This card can serve as a form of resource acceleration by untapping lands or mana-producing creatures. The ability to reuse these resources within the same phase can enable larger plays, effectively ramping your available mana for critical turns.

Instant Speed: The versatility of an instant cannot be overstated. Burst of Energy enables surprise interactions by freeing up a blocker or reactivating a creature’s ability on demand. This can disrupt your opponent’s strategy at a crucial moment, effectively giving you a swift and reactive tool to turn the tide of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Burst of Energy requires the player to sacrifice the enchanted permanent if it has no counters on it, which could potentially set back the player’s board presence and resource availability.

Specific Mana Cost: This card necessitates one white mana to play, making it exclusive to decks that run white mana or a compatible mana base that could accommodate white’s color requirements, potentially limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though Burst of Energy’s mana cost is relatively low, the need for precise timing to leverage its untap ability might not justify the card slot in a deck, especially when other cards could provide more consistent or impactful advantages.

Reasons to Include Burst of Energy in Your Collection

Versatility: Burst of Energy offers significant flexibility in play, functioning well in decks that seek to capitalize on untapping creatures for multiple uses or benefit from a surprise block or attack during a crucial moment in the game.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key piece in intricate combos, particularly in decks that revolve around tapping and untapping creatures or permanents for beneficial effects. It can turn a single creature’s abilities into a multiple threat in just one turn.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where speed and the ability to disrupt opponent strategies are crucial, Burst of Energy shines by providing an unexpected tempo swing, making it a strategic addition to any collection aimed at competitive gameplay.

How to Beat Burst of Energy

Burst of Energy is an intriguing card in MTG, offering players a unique twist on creature untapping. It shines in comparison with other untapping spells by infusing a burst of speed into a deck’s arsenal, enabling creatures to dodge summoning sickness or activate abilities twice in a turn. Its low mana cost makes it an efficient tool for surprise plays or rapid assaults.

When confronted with Burst of Energy, it’s essential to anticipate the extra untap during your opponent’s turn. Cards like Linvala, Keeper of Silence can be an effective counter, as they limit the ability to activate creature abilities. Moreover, instant-speed removal spells such as Path to Exile can disrupt any surprise tactics by removing key creatures before Burst of Energy can be used. Players may also employ tapping effects like Frost Lynx, forcing the Burst of Energy to be spent on becoming untapped, thereby neutering the potential for an explosive play.

Ultimately, while Burst of Energy offers a potent surge in momentum, mindful strategy and well-timed counters can effectively mitigate the advantages it provides, preserving the balance of the match and keeping you in control of the game.

Cards like Burst of Energy

Burst of Energy is a unique spell that offers a quick tempo boost in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with spells like Twiddle, which also serves to untap a target permanent. However, Burst of Energy’s ability to untap any permanent—including lands and creatures—adds versatility to any deck’s strategy. Twiddle, by contrast, is limited and does not provide the additional benefit of untapping artifacts.

Analogous to Burst of Energy, we have cards like Unbender Tine, which offers repeated untapping ability, though at a higher mana cost and the dependence on an artifact to function. This makes Unbender Tine less efficient than the on-demand, single mana cost of Burst of Energy. We also have To Arms!, another card in the same vein. It untaps all creatures at once and lets you draw a card, proving it a better option in creature-heavy decks, although it does not serve the same flexibility for other permanent types when compared to Burst of Energy.

Burst of Energy stands out within its category of untapping spells, possessing a low-cost, instant playability, and the flexibility to target a wider variety of permanents, making it a versatile tool for many MTG strategies.

Cards similar to Burst of Energy by color, type and mana cost

Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions

Blaze of Glory - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)

Healing Salve - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)

Purelace - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)

Guardian Angel - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)

Rally the Troops - Portal Second Age (P02)

Enlightened Tutor - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)

Path to Exile - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Burst of Energy MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy, 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 Burst of Energy and other MTG cards: