Bituminous Blast isn't as good: you can only target creatures for the 4 damage, so it's not as flexible in its targeting. Also, Cascade forces you to either play or lose to exile the first card that is revealed that has a lower converted cost than the Bituminous Blast; you don't get to save it in your hand for later. Furthermore, the card you get to play for free may not be a card you want, but Cascade gives you no say in what card you get to play, so again, lack of flexibility in the card aspect as well as damage. And to me, playing the card for free doesn't offset that fact that I may be forced to play a card that won't help me in the given situation when Cascade goes off; I've never been a fan of Cascade because of this.
Prophetic Bolt can deal the 4 damage to a player or creature and it doesn't care about the cost of a card as you look at in the top four of your deck, you get to choose any one of the 4 cards to put in your hand. Furthermore, you're not forced to play the card you choose immediately; you put it in your hand and can thus keep it for later to use at a better time.
And all that for the same converted cost of 5 and both are instants. So all around, Prophetic Bolt is better than Bituminous Blast.
NeoKoda
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Better than a cantrip! But the abilities aren't synergistic at all.
Paladin85
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is THE definition of B/R, counterburn at instant speed while having some card drawing
4.5/5
Corey_bayoudragonfly
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Daijin: If you don't play the card you cascade into, it isn't exiled, it goes on the bottom of your library (with any cards revealed above it).
Mickacabra
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is a great card, and VERY Efficient. Consider the following:
Ember Shot costs more, deals less damage, and doesn't give you the best card out of your top four. The only thing it has going for it in comparison is that it doesn't require blue mana.
If Prophetic Bolt was costed as an exact combination of Lightning Blast and Impulse, it would cost 2 cards and an extra colorless mana.
5/5.
sweetgab
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@gromgrom: That's pretty absurd. You're seriously undervaluing card draw / card filtering. This card would be good as it is today, in fact it fits right into Izzet, and is powerful enough that it might revive Izzet control in Standard.
Comments (14)
4.0
I love this card
updated for the new kiddies:
2UR
Instant
5 Damage divided as you choose, scry 3, then draw a card.
Bituminous Blast isn't as good: you can only target creatures for the 4 damage, so it's not as flexible in its targeting. Also, Cascade forces you to either play or lose to exile the first card that is revealed that has a lower converted cost than the Bituminous Blast; you don't get to save it in your hand for later. Furthermore, the card you get to play for free may not be a card you want, but Cascade gives you no say in what card you get to play, so again, lack of flexibility in the card aspect as well as damage. And to me, playing the card for free doesn't offset that fact that I may be forced to play a card that won't help me in the given situation when Cascade goes off; I've never been a fan of Cascade because of this.
Prophetic Bolt can deal the 4 damage to a player or creature and it doesn't care about the cost of a card as you look at in the top four of your deck, you get to choose any one of the 4 cards to put in your hand. Furthermore, you're not forced to play the card you choose immediately; you put it in your hand and can thus keep it for later to use at a better time.
And all that for the same converted cost of 5 and both are instants. So all around, Prophetic Bolt is better than Bituminous Blast.
4.5/5
Ember Shot costs more, deals less damage, and doesn't give you the best card out of your top four. The only thing it has going for it in comparison is that it doesn't require blue mana.
If Prophetic Bolt was costed as an exact combination of Lightning Blast and Impulse, it would cost 2 cards and an extra colorless mana.
5/5.