It finally happened, we got a new and improved Shock. I guess I should be thanking Lightning Bolt for this... Well, anyway, Burst Lightning seems like a really solid burn spell, it's versatile and useful late-game. 4,5/5
Posted By:
True_Mumin
(9/26/2009 12:55:25 PM)
This is more mana intensive than Staggershock, true, but I can get an instant 4 damage out of it on my turn. With Staggershock, I have to cast it on their turn and wait until my upkeep.
Posted By:
DacenOctavio
(5/17/2011 1:56:04 AM)
I really wish this had been reprinted over shock. It still has some value late game, when shock is often useless against creatures. And I dislike just replacing lightning bolt with a card that is going to be worse in every situation, disregarding a ridiculous mindslaver effect.
Posted By:
1qazxsw
(10/2/2011 11:47:38 AM)
It's the second best 1 mana burn spell in standard or extended that can hit both creatures and players. That alone should make it at least a 3.5/5 or higher (I rated a 4), but obviously you'd run 4 Lightning Bolts before you ran 4 of these.
Posted By:
BrutalJim
(3/29/2010 1:23:06 PM)
Only overshadowed cause Bolt is back, still an amazing card.
Posted By:
Necrolysis
(1/14/2010 4:37:06 PM)
Lava Axe only hits the opponent. This can hit creatures as well.
In terms of creature removal it's nearly a Lightning Bolt and nearly a Fireball rolled into one.
Posted By:
Nighthawk42
(9/28/2009 2:59:50 PM)
This follows an old kicker formula. The rule goes that it can't be as good as a decent card with equivalent mana cost on either end (read as Lightning Bolt and Lava Axe) but because it can be a weakened version of both, it's still a viable card because of its versatility.
Posted By:
FatCorgi
(9/30/2009 12:47:33 AM)
Okay this is probably worse than lightning bolt. Searing Blaze, Staggershock, and Lightning Bolt are probably all better, but this is the 4th best burn spell in standard, and still highly viable. I can't wrap my head around how some people don't understand how good this card is. Shock is really good removal in the early game when most creatures have two or less toughness. Then, in the late game, this deals 4 dmg. This enables red to take care of four toughness creatures, which it often has trouble doing. Or conversely, go the face. That's 3 viable options on one card (shock a creature, four to a creature, four to the face), the only option that probably won't be used is 2 to the face. There is a ton of versatility in the card.
Posted By:
ZursApprentice
(5/13/2010 12:31:14 PM)
I'll give it a solid 3.5 for flexibility, although there are some newer burn spells that scare me more than this one.
Posted By:
Gaussgoat
(1/7/2010 5:22:09 PM)
A strictly better shock. This nearly confirms that we won't see shock in standard for a long time.
Posted By:
Designer_Genes
(9/26/2009 12:56:11 PM)