It can't target a player, so it isn't on the same level as LB, but it does what LB does to a creature better than any other card with the same CMC. Strafe can't hit Red guys or players and is a Sorcery, Sonic Seizure loses you a card which can be good or bad depending on your deck and what you drop, Shard Volley loses you a land (again, could be good or bad), and Chain Lightning is a Sorcery.
This card is all upside: You either deal 3 to a creature or that creature's controller takes 5.
Plus, it can target your own creatures, meaning for R you can take 5 damage. I'm sure some insane person could find a use for that little tidbit.
~Zuty
Posted By:
Zuty
(4/6/2011 3:39:56 PM)
Back when I first started playing (and was also much younger) I read this card with extra punctuation:
"Blazing Salvo deals 3 damage to target creature. Unless that creature's controller has Blazing Salvo (as in owns the card themself), deal 5 damage to him or her.
I always found the card pretty cheap when it was played against me. The real world version, what with a new mastery of english clauses, is a lot more fair. :P
Posted By:
LeafWheels
(9/8/2010 4:36:09 PM)
A lot like attacking with a 3/1 with Frenzy 2.
Posted By:
Kryptnyt
(7/16/2011 8:00:11 PM)
Reading his endless hate on some of the best cards, I'm starting to think that majinara is just a very dedicated troll.
This card is UBER. For one thing, your opponent won't always make the right choice. For another, since they don't know what else is in your hand, they can't really know what the right choice *is*.
Posted By:
Paleopaladin
(6/19/2011 12:45:36 AM)
It is absolutely nothing like lightning bolt if it doesn't have the ability to hit the player, and nobody is ever going to take 5. Lame card to be honest.
Posted By:
Laguz
(11/21/2009 2:45:10 PM)
...and now we've got Lightning Bolt.
Posted By:
True_Smog
(11/19/2009 8:40:14 AM)
Better than Lightning Bolt? Sometimes, sometimes not. But great card anyway.
@Mdakw576: Speaking of mind games, Blazing Salvo is amazing alongside War Elemental, which again is amazing alongside Browbeat.
Imagine having a War Elemental on the 'field and targeting your opponent's creature with Blazing Salvo... most players would probably choose to let their creature die, instead of pumping War Elemental by +5/+5 >_> ...
Try imagining a burn deck with War Elemental, Browbeat, Blazing Salvo, Breaking Point, Lightning Bolt, Flame Javelin, Fireblast, maybe a couple of Seething Songs and Simian Spirit Guides and not to forget, Oxidda Golems :P I'm pretty sure that deck would be very frustrating to play against xD
Posted By:
GrimjawxRULES
(3/27/2010 4:51:00 PM)
Put it on Isochron Scepter and laugh whenever your opponent plays weenies.
Posted By:
OrzhovGhostCouncil
(11/28/2010 11:21:26 PM)
Best to combo with other burns, use this first, then use your backup burn to either hit the player or the threat
Posted By:
Paladin85
(10/4/2011 8:18:24 PM)
This card is so awful! I mean think about it: what must happen for this card to be good? Your opponent must have a creature in play he doesn't want to lose, that can be killed by this spell, and your opponent must be low on life. Then this is an acceptable creature kill. It's still, in that situation, not better than lightning bolt, because lightning bolt would do exactly the same: kill that creature. Or lightning bolt would kill your opponent.
If your opponent has no creatures in play, or only ones with shroud, protection from red and so on: this card does nothing (because it has no target).
If your opponent has only creatures in play that can't be killed by this card (toughness higher than 3, regeneration, indestructible or whatever): this card does nothing (because your opponent will let you burn the creature for three, which then survives).
If the small creatures your opponent has in play are expendable for him (like 1/1 tokens): congratulations to los... (see all)
Posted By:
majinara
(1/11/2011 11:55:49 AM)