When I first read the card name, I thought it ment that someone was getting shot with guts... I can see I was mistaken.
It probably woundn't have killed them to let you draw a card with this effect too. After all if you pay mana for it there are better options, and if you pay life for it the effect seems to small to constitute using up an entire card plus 2 life. In other words the damage from this card for its benefits just puts you too far behind to make it a viable play.
Names_Suck
★☆☆☆☆ (1.1/5.0)(6 votes)
at uncommon this really should have done 2 damage. Still worth something in limited though.
scumbling1
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(7 votes)
While the card can be potentially mana-free, it's really not worth having a card in your deck that deals just a single damage as it's only effect. You can't really remove many creatures with it, and even if you can use it on conjuction with other sources of damage to kill something, it's situational and often costs card disadvantage.
Axelle
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(9 votes)
Of course, if it was a Shock, it would probably have been too powerful. And if it drew a card, that would mean it would be a superior version of Street Wraith.
Hmm.
PhyrexianFailure
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(4 votes)
seems like wizards was too cautious balancing this. i still like it though. kills creatures in monogreen when you're tapped out.
Selez
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(11 votes)
Magic players can be so greedy. Free Shock would definitely have been too powerful. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. As is, it's going to rule in limited; kills utility dudes, adds one damage to any block your opponent is making for no mana - insane. Easily sixth pick, if not fifth.
Tommy9898
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
To help visualize how useful this card can actually be, here is a list of viable targets (except darksteel myr) in scars block alone.
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&format=+&tough=+= (<--- that should be "1" in brackets not the mana symbol. So annoying that there is no way to link gatherer searches to itself.)
Bigg_ol_FATTKIDD
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
was I the only one who felt "shot" in the "gut" when they saw this? ................. =D
Honestly though, I would play it in limited
raadface
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(4 votes)
I don't like this card being at one damage because the cost makes it pretty close to worthless, but I understand why wizards didn't print it any higher, they don't want to give any color free shocks, and the higher they print it the closer they get to it being broke somehow
So, they basically played it safe for balance reasons and in return made a really undesirable card
A nice combat trick while tapped out... and who knows when you'll need to kill someone with one life left... oh and storm LOVES these kind of cards (All-In RED???)
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Maybe it should've been like 3 red (don't know how to make the symbol) and it can deal 3 damage to creature/player. So it'd be the same 2 life for 1 damage trade off but it'd be a bolt, and thus scary/good for off-color decks or well-timed.
TDL
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(11 votes)
I wonder when the flavor writers will run out of puns.
beatmick
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@scumbling: 3rd turn kill: This with 3 Lightning Bolts and a Pyromancer Ascension (with 2 quest counters). 2 quest counters on the Pyro 2nd turn and 3rd turn win is only possible if you're able to play spells like this and Gitaxian Probe with out having the land. I'm gonna build me a fun Pyro deck!
Enemy_Tricolor
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(13 votes)
A free point of damage at instant speed for any colored deck? Jesus Christ you people are greedy.
HippyRei
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
First turn channel-fireball decks will hate this. Then again, they'd hate Mental Misstep just as much...
Magnor_Criol
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Enemy_Tricolor is right - it's free spot removal for any deck. So many tiny little weenie cards that you can just vape for this. Yeah, when you're looking at it 1 appears like it's underwhelming, but it's really not.
Xilinoc
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(5 votes)
A friend of mine pulled four Suture Priests at the Prerelease.
I pulled four of these.
Hilarity ensued.
ugotpauld
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
4 of these will take down the germ token from batterskull or three for jace, the mind sculptor. that said, i dont really know what wizards could have done with this card other than making it cost two phyrexian mana and dealing more damage, which would have probably been quite cool, as is, it doesn't do enough to be worth it. and cheap creatures already have cheap removal to deal with them.
WhiteyMcFly
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
You guys are thinking too small. This card right here is one of the only cards that can stop a turn 1 Channel-Fireball combo. Mental Misstep accomplishes the same thing, but only this will kill your opponent for even trying that dirty trick.
blindthrall
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Umm, it doesn't look like it's hitting him in the gut...
While a point of damage in any deck is something to behold,
(Come on, people, utility creatures that are */1 run rampant, this is fiarly good, don't be greedy.)
I'm hesitant to pay 2 life for 1 damage to 1 target.
Marrow Shards did it well, albeit a condition of attacking is needed.
However, like I said, many utility creatures will fall to those that play this.
And it's definitely a fair threat to all the play Glistener Elf will most likely see.
GottaRunGottaRunNow
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(16 votes)
Not terrible at all. 1 damage is still damage to a source, and that's gonna be useful sometimes.
OR, you can Lightning Bolt yourself for nothing at all. Just because.
Ninjazilla
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
5 stars simply for its adorability
Annoyingblueplayer
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(11 votes)
Amazing how getting stabbed in the gut with a spear and getting a Hornet Sting deal the same damage.
LordAlvon
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I won a game on MTGO with this card yesterday. I was at 1 life. I attacked him down to 1, then cast this for the win. I guess this must be kind of like what it feels like to kill someone with a hornet sting...
Kryptnyt
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
There are plenty of one toughness bombs to surprise in standard, and now with Hex Parasite your deck actually might be in a real need of this card. Also. Quest for pure flame. It's a beautiful thing.
tiddlywanks
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
deal one damage to your opponent and take two yourself = no good. But i can see how it could be useful against a 1/1 with an annoying abillity. This card in no way deserves to be uncommon though.
Paleopaladin
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(4 votes)
Fixed this card for you, Wizards. Here's how to make it more fun:
Gut Shot Instant
Split second.
Gut Shot deals 1 damage to target creature or player. The damage can't be prevented. Creatures dealt damage by Gut Shot can't be regenerated this turn.
WallBeatdown
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Also good with bloodthirst cards.
InsomniacLife
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Look all you complainers. WotC couldn't have printed Shock because Shock is seeing reprint with its friendly companion in battle Incinerate in M12.
Kitty_the_Kat
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
While I generally like this card, I do think that they should've made the damage unpreventable, as that would also go more in line with the flavor or a gut shot. The only problen is that this card was printed in red, and already has much better burn spells at its disposal, even Standard still has Lightning Bolt, on top of other more versitile spells like Burst Lightning.
However the real kicker is that phyrexian mana, so it can be used in any color. Still, I feel for functionality Dismember is much better as it can take almost any target short of a titan. Although I will lol if I ever see someone drop a Lotus Cobra with this, that would simply be insulting!
Crag-Hack
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is a solid blue/black/green/white card.
Studoku
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
With Bloodthirst in M12 and presumably innistrad, this becomes a lot better. Paying 2 life for a bloodthirst enabler that is quite hard to prevent seems pretty good and allows you to drop bloodthirsty creatures on curve, even when you don't have creatures already in play.
NoobOfLore
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
What's happening in the art looks like a little bit more than 1 damage to me. Maybe 1 1/2?
Zacklar
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
in my opinion this thing should deal more damage....then again...i think a shock for any deck would be too broken...hmmm....how could this be better? split second?
Asceric
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Gut Shot + Garruk Relentless//Garruk, the Veil Cursed... Just saying... Play Garruk, Gut shot him for no mana, and suddenly he's transformed... Seems good to me.
Nukeleo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
1 damage is just plain not enough. If it did its damage as infect then maybe since it'd at least stick around.
But 1 damage for 1 card? Nope. I'm having a hard time imagining a situation where this comes out ahead of something else. This, as far as I can tell, is a card for Limited and MAYBE some oddball combo we'll figure out down the road. The fact it can be payed for with life... is just a pittance to the fact it's a card that does only 1 damage. That's *** poor efficiency but like I said it's probably not meant for its burn.
...What I'd have given for a playset if that damage counted as a poison counter or -1/-1 counter...
Bazzoka
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
All I have to say is Caravan Vigil and Brimstone Volley on turn 1(on the draw) and 3 respectively. Surely you can see where I'm going with this.
However, I do wish this did a little more than just 1 damage. I fully understand that anymore damage and it's be too good, but at least make it so they can't be regenerated or it can't be prevented. You're stabbing a jagged, rusted spear through a creature.
Arachibutyrophobia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
for bloodthirst?
chrisAAMO
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I really think this could have worked if it was 2 damage for . Give any color a Shock.
Hoonster
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like how people think that free shock would be over powered, but free counterspells that destroys most of the spells in legacy is ok.
joeah100
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(4 votes)
There's a ridiculous amount of stuff that is expedient to take out with this card. If you're playing an aggro red deck, you're barely looking at your own life total as you're reigning down death upon your opponent. This compliments red aggro perfectly.
GracefulInferno
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
For you Legacy players out there knocking this card...
I found that this card is fun to use with Djinn Illuminatus . If you need the extra push for damage your life will help get you through.
Londonbrig0
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I rated this 4.5 stars. Why?
1. Any deck can play this 2. It's like playing with geistflame; it forces you to think differently. You really don't see the beauty of taking out an opponent's utility creatures early on until you actually have no other option with the spell. - ex. turn 1 (on the draw) - they play birds of paradise, it's gone before your first turn even starts, what more could you want? 3. Ever tapped out against Wolf Run Ramp and lost to an inkmoth nexus? Gut Shot says you're welcome. TO ANY DECK.
I used to be like you, skeptical of 1 damage for 2 life. But now I'm a believer; you can be one too.
Mr.Freshness-Timmy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
who wishes it had a multikicker that copied the spell for one phyrexian red mana and throw storm on too.
Halidir_Orveck
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In my U/R Contra Burn deck i run this as a main bored four of because of Brimstone Volley's morbid trigger Stormblood Berserkers blood thirst and this delicious combo of itself and Turn to Frog because it kills anything! it has inspired a rhyme
Turn to frog your wurmcoil now its short and stout gut shot the frog and watch you pout
Virde
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
My answer to an animated inkmoth Nexus. Just because your opponent wouldn't see it coming when you're all tapped out.
why do people not see why this is good? for NO MANA you can potentially disrupt a lot of common turn 1 plays. hell, it even gets rid of inkmoth. being able to kill a creature before you even take your first turn is just too good. and bloodthirst is a nice afterthought.
Averyck
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Stupid gutshot... killing my splicers...
Silence9
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(2 votes)
3/5. Crap cause it's not worth its weight. This "slot" could be something more useful that pulls its own weight ie: Lightning Bolt. 3 Damage for a hole in my deck sure! 1 Damage for a slot in my deck? *** off please. :)
I 'spose if you're in dire need of burn spells in sealed....... then maybe............ but still NAH.
MrFluffyThing
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
You all complain too much. Works great in red aggro decks, especially for early bloodthirst cards...
There you go. by the end of turn 2, you've dealt two-four damage, and possibly have a 2/2 and a 3/3 on the field. Tack on proliferate and you've started a great game.
Superllama12
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Kills Delver of Secrets in any color. That's an auto 4/5 for me, it should be interesting when this rotates out of Standard
zakando
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Kiln Fiend and Chandra's Phoenix wrote WOTC a letter complaining about not geting reprinted, the next day they got Gut Shot in the mail and problem solved
I can't tell you how many of my friends made fun of this card. So, to get back at them, I put it in a bunch of my decks. I was even surprised at how great this is. Two life is a very small price to pay to kill a 1/1 with evasion, and the shear joy of killing a dark confidant with no mana at all is inexplicable.
There are a lot of one toughness targets out there, and more importantly, there is no better way to finish a game than this.
Fantastic card, especially in fast-paced burn or aggro decks where you aren't too worried about your life total. Being able to deal 1 damage to any target at any time even if you're completely tapped out is ridiculously useful.
Like Gitaxian Probe, its value and flexibility as a "free" Red Phyrexian mana spell even makes it worth considering Gut Shot for decks without any Red mana — if you can afford the life.
PinkMage
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I don't understand why so many people underestimate this card. Everyone always tells me "paying two life to deal one damage is a bad trade." These people clearly do not understand the game they are playing. In Magic, life total is not important, 20 life does not win you games, the only thing that wins games is board position, and this card allows for many great opening board positions on turn one. This card has won me more than one game easily and is a staple 4 in my u/w humans.
CorkBulb
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(2 votes)
ANOTHER green burn spell? Ugh! What have they done to the color pie!?
Anyway, not that good anyway, except for the "oh you have no mana you cant do squat!" attitude when your opponent tries to do something, like cast a 1/1 and then try to enchant it with something nasty and you come out of nowhere with THIS! Except you only get away with it once and then he figures you out. Still fairly useless except for that rare case you absolutely need to burn for damage and don't have enough mana.
There are countless 1 drop red burn cards far superior to this. I don't think the ability to pay 2 life instead of is going to win too many games.
And.... Kills a Wellwisher for all colors! Awesome!
2/5
Notchism
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Geistflame
Kale_Eledar
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I too think setting ramp decks back a turn is just horrible.
Opponent: Forest, Birds of Paradise. You: Gut Shot in response, start turn, forest, Birds of Paradise.
Honestly in today's metagame this is finding newfound utility.
And Mental Misstep? Well, that's banned in Modern, and since it is designed with Legacy and Vintage in mind, I think you'll be more worried about countering Aether Vial or any other scary crap than Gut Shot.
gman92
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(6 votes)
There are 67 creatures with 1 toughness and over a 4.5 community rating without pro red, shroud/hexproof, or indestructible. Bring it down to over 4.2 rating and there are 224. This card gets rid of them all, for . 4/5 for utility. 5/5 for versatility.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Using this to activate bloodthirst is a bad idea, unless its a last resort.
I miss having this card in standard. I remember when I played Grixis Death's Shadow and did this to my self, twice in one turn. It scared my opponent shitless.
Secksee
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Turn 1: Mountain Turn 2: Mountain, Kiln Fiend Turn 3: No Mountain. Ahh well. Burn one blocker with a 1 cost burn. (Lightning Bolt, Burst Lightning, Forked Bolt which is good for two 1/1's) then Assault Strobe your Kiln Fiend. Pay 2 life to Gut Shot the last blocker (or opponent of no creature is availiable.) and then slap your enemy for 20 with your 10/2 Double Strike. =) ----And if Gut Shot isn't in your hand, you can always sacrifice two mountains for a Fireblast. Anything to get that last spell in.
TastetheJace
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I've never seen a card so easily overlooked yet woefully needed.
Ferlord
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In the same way that Gitaxian Probe and Dismember can be put into any deck, you can have a Gut Shot in any deck. This can be easier to play than Hornet Sting if you needed some burn in a green deck.
Perhaps my favourite use of it is a self-Lightning Bolt. Whenever I'm losing horribly, I don't like giving them the satisfaction of victory. ONLY I CAN WIN! I AM THE GOLDEN GOD!
atemu1234
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Use with Guttersnipe. Seriously you get a free two damage. On something that is already free.
Firemane_Outcast
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
the only thing i dont understand is how shoving a barbed spike through someone is less painful than a hammer to the side of the head Skullcrack 4.5/5 for versatility though. has helped me in many an FNM game in mono blue
Lifegainwithbite
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A card that can really break an opponent's first few turns and even in the late game, they block knowing you're tapped out and they have enough toughness to survive... then you pull this and take out an annoying creature.
kazenpaus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Very powerful card.
N03y3D33R
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Something something Storm combo enabler...
SirLibraryEater
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Get a recursion combo going and then cast this infinity times to win with a lifegain deck
Comments (90)
It probably woundn't have killed them to let you draw a card with this effect too. After all if you pay mana for it there are better options, and if you pay life for it the effect seems to small to constitute using up an entire card plus 2 life. In other words the damage from this card for its benefits just puts you too far behind to make it a viable play.
Hmm.
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&format=+&tough=+=
Honestly though, I would play it in limited
So, they basically played it safe for balance reasons and in return made a really undesirable card
still, nah.
Birds of Paradise, Memnite, Cunning Sparkmage, Copperhorn Scout, Lotus Cobra, Glistener Elf, Squadron Hawk, Accorder Paladin, Signal Pest, Student of Warfare disagree.
I pulled four of these.
Hilarity ensued.
Since when did Red have to make sense?
(Come on, people, utility creatures that are */1 run rampant, this is fiarly good, don't be greedy.)
I'm hesitant to pay 2 life for 1 damage to 1 target.
Marrow Shards did it well, albeit a condition of attacking is needed.
However, like I said, many utility creatures will fall to those that play this.
And it's definitely a fair threat to all the play Glistener Elf will most likely see.
OR, you can Lightning Bolt yourself for nothing at all. Just because.
I was at 1 life.
I attacked him down to 1, then cast this for the win.
I guess this must be kind of like what it feels like to kill someone with a hornet sting...
Also. Quest for pure flame. It's a beautiful thing.
Gut Shot
Instant
Split second.
Gut Shot deals 1 damage to target creature or player. The damage can't be prevented. Creatures dealt damage by Gut Shot can't be regenerated this turn.
WotC couldn't have printed
However the real kicker is that phyrexian mana, so it can be used in any color. Still, I feel for functionality Dismember is much better as it can take almost any target short of a titan. Although I will lol if I ever see someone drop a Lotus Cobra with this, that would simply be insulting!
Maybe 1 1/2?
Play Garruk, Gut shot him for no mana, and suddenly he's transformed... Seems good to me.
But 1 damage for 1 card? Nope. I'm having a hard time imagining a situation where this comes out ahead of something else. This, as far as I can tell, is a card for Limited and MAYBE some oddball combo we'll figure out down the road. The fact it can be payed for with life... is just a pittance to the fact it's a card that does only 1 damage. That's *** poor efficiency but like I said it's probably not meant for its burn.
...What I'd have given for a playset if that damage counted as a poison counter or -1/-1 counter...
However, I do wish this did a little more than just 1 damage. I fully understand that anymore damage and it's be too good, but at least make it so they can't be regenerated or it can't be prevented. You're stabbing a jagged, rusted spear through a creature.
It kills Aven Mindcensor, Dark Confidant, Birds of paradise, Noble Hierarch, Vendilion Clique, Cursecatcher, Grim Lavamancer, and Narcomoeba.
You know, just a thought.
1. Any deck can play this
2. It's like playing with geistflame; it forces you to think differently. You really don't see the beauty of taking out an opponent's utility creatures early on until you actually have no other option with the spell.
- ex. turn 1 (on the draw) - they play birds of paradise, it's gone before your first turn even starts, what more could you want?
3. Ever tapped out against Wolf Run Ramp and lost to an inkmoth nexus? Gut Shot says you're welcome. TO ANY DECK.
I used to be like you, skeptical of 1 damage for 2 life. But now I'm a believer; you can be one too.
and throw storm on too.
it has inspired a rhyme
Turn to frog your wurmcoil
now its short and stout
gut shot the frog
and watch you pout
I 'spose if you're in dire need of burn spells in sealed....... then maybe............ but still NAH.
Turn 1: Mountain, Lightning Bolt or Stromkirk Noble
Turn 2: Gut Shot, Stormblood Berserker
There you go. by the end of turn 2, you've dealt two-four damage, and possibly have a 2/2 and a 3/3 on the field. Tack on proliferate and you've started a great game.
You: Gutshot
Win
There are a lot of one toughness targets out there, and more importantly, there is no better way to finish a game than this.
Like Gitaxian Probe, its value and flexibility as a "free" Red Phyrexian mana spell even makes it worth considering Gut Shot for decks without any Red mana — if you can afford the life.
Anyway, not that good anyway, except for the "oh you have no mana you cant do squat!" attitude when your opponent tries to do something, like cast a 1/1 and then try to enchant it with something nasty and you come out of nowhere with THIS! Except you only get away with it once and then he figures you out. Still fairly useless except for that rare case you absolutely need to burn for damage and don't have enough mana.
There are countless 1 drop red burn cards far superior to this. I don't think the ability to pay 2 life instead of
And.... Kills a Wellwisher for all colors! Awesome!
2/5
Opponent: Forest, Birds of Paradise.
You: Gut Shot in response, start turn, forest, Birds of Paradise.
Honestly in today's metagame this is finding newfound utility.
And Mental Misstep? Well, that's banned in Modern, and since it is designed with Legacy and Vintage in mind, I think you'll be more worried about countering Aether Vial or any other scary crap than Gut Shot.
4/5 for utility.
5/5 for versatility.
Also... puts Hornet Sting to shame.
"Swamp, Dark Ritual, Necropotence, draw 19 cards"
Player2:
"GUT SHOT IN RESPONSE!"
Turn 2: Mountain, Kiln Fiend
Turn 3: No Mountain. Ahh well. Burn one blocker with a 1 cost burn. (Lightning Bolt, Burst Lightning, Forked Bolt which is good for two 1/1's) then Assault Strobe your Kiln Fiend. Pay 2 life to Gut Shot the last blocker (or opponent of no creature is availiable.) and then slap your enemy for 20 with your 10/2 Double Strike. =)
----And if Gut Shot isn't in your hand, you can always sacrifice two mountains for a Fireblast. Anything to get that last spell in.
Perhaps my favourite use of it is a self-Lightning Bolt. Whenever I'm losing horribly, I don't like giving them the satisfaction of victory. ONLY I CAN WIN! I AM THE GOLDEN GOD!
4.5/5 for versatility though. has helped me in many an FNM game in mono blue