This seems to be the current solution to the
"2.5 damage debate" that has loomed over Magic
since the printing of Shock. Lightning Bolt is
just too strong, but Shock is underpowered, and
there doesn't seem to be room for anything in
between, does there? Lightning Strike is a
compromise, hitting as hard as the Bolt for one
additional mana. Incinerate, Lash Out, Lightning
Helix, and the like have all sought to shore up
the controversy, and each one was in its time
one of the best burn spells in Standard. But
each of those had an extra rider on the damage
they do. Can the comparatively-vanilla Strike
hold up as well?
Drafters are certainly mroe than happy to see
this come around-- it's been called the best red
common in Theros block. In Standard, well,
people prefer removal that isn't tied to
toughness most of the time, but dealing the last
three to an opponent's face is a useful talent
as well.
I have a confession to make: I like Volcanic
Hammer. I always have, ever since the first time
I saw a Portal version. The concept just seemed
very cool to me, despite the fact that its game
text and sorcery speed compared unfavorably to
Lightning Bolt (which I think was even still in
Standard at that time). Lightning Strike, which
is very nearly the same card, feels somewhat
different in the meta-game sense, not least
because Lightning Bolt was in Standard again
just a couple of years ago and there's almost a
subtext of "this is what a balanced
lightning-themed spell looks like now". Maybe
it's also a BioShock Infinite-style peek behind
the veil of the multiverse, in which there's
always a lightning strike that kills a creature,
but the details (and numbers) are different.
Those who follow the rotating formats like
Standard and Limited are very grateful for that
fact, but sometimes I wish Wizards of the Coast
could find a way to design things that doesn't
invite constant comparisons (on only one axis to
boot).
Today's card of the day is Lightning Strike, or
Searing Spear as it was called in the Magic 2013
set, which are both two mana Red instants that
deals three damage to target creature or player.
This is a solid and playable card, that of
course is not as efficient as Lightning Bolt,
but will continue to be played in decks in the
current Standard formats that can't use the
classic one mana option. Also, with the new name
it does add the option of running even more one
or two mana three damage spells for the pure
burn builds.
For Limited this is effective and low mana
cost removal that is an automatic inclusion in
Sealed for decks using Red mana and possibly
worth splashing if other removal options aren't
available. For Booster this is a strong second
or third choice and even first pick with a weak
rare.
