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
Designer_Genes
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(8 votes)
A strictly better shock. This nearly confirms that we won't see shock in standard for a long time.
sir_dwar
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Sure, its technically an improved shock, but compare the kicker to flame axe- same mana cost to do one less damage, although it is an instant.
Nighthawk42
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(9 votes)
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.
FatCorgi
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(12 votes)
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.
wicked_pick
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(5 votes)
simply one of the best burn spells ever.. I really love red!! shock version 2... harder, faster, stronger.. \m/ 0(*o*)0 \m/
lickthemoose
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.7/5.0)(6 votes)
holy high rating for a shock that sputters off into a lava axe that fell short i get that it can be used late in the game but still c mon now quit rating things higher cause they are new
coyotemoon722
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(6 votes)
Don't see the point of this, run Lightning and Fireballs instead.
Selez
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(4 votes)
The old kicker formula goes out the window when Wizards are concerned with up-ing power level. Shock is now absolutely horrible (okay, strictly worse), and have you seen Unstable Footing?? That is either a great prevention effect or an instant-speed lava axe with unpreventable damage!! Why are they hurting a card with such great flavor text ("Catch!")???
Gaussgoat
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(4 votes)
I'll give it a solid 3.5 for flexibility, although there are some newer burn spells that scare me more than this one.
Necrolysis
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(7 votes)
Only overshadowed cause Bolt is back, still an amazing card.
PanchasX
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
the only concern i have for this card, is paying 5 mana for 4 damage :S
RyanLacoste
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm creating a mono-red standard burn deck... I plan on running 4 lightning bolts and 4 searing blazes with a couple of other things like spire barrages and(maybe?) seismic strike. would this really be worth the slots? a weakened light bolt, and the choice of it being a weakened lava axe? feedback? maybe it'd be good for hurrying up the counters on pyromancer ascension?
BrutalJim
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(5 votes)
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.
ZursApprentice
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(4 votes)
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.
Request
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Beautiful card. Instant speed, 4 OR 2 damage to creature or player. Want me to list the other playable cards that target creature or player for 4 at instant speed? Char Flame Javelin
Oh also COMMON Burn spell that does 4 damage at COMMON level.
bboi018
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Well, if you always plan on kicking it...might as well sub in Inferno Trap...which potentially could end up costing only 1.
Blackworm_Bloodworm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(5 votes)
The kicker cost is way overpriced. It should be , because that way you're paying twice the cost ( vs ) for twice the damage (4 vs 2). Lightning Bolt deals 3 for so it doesn't make sense to have to pay more for a measly 1 damage.
Now, if paying the kicker allowed you to deal an additional 4 damage to another target, then I could see it costing .
Magnor_Criol
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Blackworm, I thought like you for a while - I frankly didn't like this card, and didn't see why everyone raved about it. 4 feels expensive for 2 more damage.
But think of it as an instant-speed, 5-mana fireball, and it becomes a lot clearer why this card is great.
Yes, it doesn't have the multi-target versatility that Fireball does, but in exchange it's instant speed. That helps a lot. As someone earlier pointed out, it's good early game or late game, a sort of versatility often not found in burn.
MtFrostM
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
if it kicked for less than 4, it'd be a shock and a lightning blast in one card.
I doubt wizards is willing to obsolete two classic cards in one go... though Galvanic Blast is kinda pushing it.
Macsen
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Like it for pyro's ascension and for casting out of the graveyard with chandra, or both. The only problem is that I can't find a copy for sale. I guess everyone wants a low cost burn card.
DacenOctavio
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
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.
AppleButter
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
i think this was beter than shok but is still kinda a letdow n
Dragonmaster3.0
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Unkicked, it's a Shock. Kicked, it's a 4 point Blaze. Nice card.
1qazxsw
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
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.
sonorhC
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Blackworm_Bloodworm: A kicker of wouldn't be paying twice the cost for twice the damage, since the most significant part of a card's cost isn't the mana; it's the card itself. This is why cards like Banefire are good, despite having less damage per mana than Scorching Spear: Because you get all of that damage from a single card. If you wanted the kicker to be double the cost, it'd have to be something like "Kicker , discard a card".
nightmare_zombie
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A late game mana sink for red decks or an early game shock quite versatile.
Equinox523
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A Shock with a lategame/empty hand option of becoming Lightning Blast for more than that card's CMC is quite good. The fact that you can choose is great - do you need cheap early removal, late medium-sized removal or a shot to the dome most? Do you want to chip away at life 2 at a time, or do you desperately need to kill that Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer immediately before you get taken down?
And for everyone who thinks that an extra 2 damage (1 more than Lightning Bolt) is measly and insignificant, let me throw some red instant math at you:
Now with that said, Lightning Bolt is usually better. It kills Vampire Nighthawk just fine, and for cheap too. But this is not a bad card by any means, and the option to hobble bigger creatures, or force through some extra damage when games drag on longer than expected is quite relevant.
This is a fantastic burn spell. It's a shame all the formats it is/was legal in, Lightning Bolt was legal at the same time, cos old Bolty will always overshadow pretty much any other burn spell.
Comments (32)
In terms of creature removal it's nearly a Lightning Bolt and nearly a Fireball rolled into one.
I really love red!! shock version 2...
harder, faster, stronger.. \m/ 0(*o*)0 \m/
Want me to list the other playable cards that target creature or player for 4 at instant speed?
Char
Flame Javelin
Oh also COMMON
Burn spell that does 4 damage at COMMON level.
Now, if paying the kicker allowed you to deal an additional 4 damage to another target, then I could see it costing
But think of it as an instant-speed, 5-mana fireball, and it becomes a lot clearer why this card is great.
Yes, it doesn't have the multi-target versatility that Fireball does, but in exchange it's instant speed. That helps a lot. As someone earlier pointed out, it's good early game or late game, a sort of versatility often not found in burn.
I doubt wizards is willing to obsolete two classic cards in one go... though Galvanic Blast is kinda pushing it.
And for everyone who thinks that an extra 2 damage (1 more than Lightning Bolt) is measly and insignificant, let me throw some red instant math at you:
Shock/Unkicked Burst Lightning: 2 damage per turn = 10 shots to kill an opponent
Lightning Bolt: 3 damage = 7 shots to kill
Lightning Blast/kicked Burst Lightning 4 damage = 5 shots to kill
Shrapnel Blast: 5 damage = 4 shots to kill
Now with that said, Lightning Bolt is usually better. It kills Vampire Nighthawk just fine, and for cheap too. But this is not a bad card by any means, and the option to hobble bigger creatures, or force through some extra damage when games drag on longer than expected is quite relevant.
2 damage for R is worse than Lightning Bolt
4 damage for 4R is below the curve
2/5