Sooku, when this was printed Lightning Bolt wasn't. Power is relative. Shock is an under-effect Lightning Bolt, but it certainly saw play, because Lightning Bolt wasn't legal in Standard.
Vinifera7
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(7 votes)
Do I want to deal 3 damage to target creature or player, or deal 3 damage to target creature or player and stop regeneration at instant speed for the same mana cost?
Sorry Vocanic Hammer, Incinerate has made you obsolete.
Love this card. One of the first cards I got to know. It might seem overpriced compared to Lightning Bolt and Incinerate, but I use it anyway because of nostalgic reasons. And it's still a pretty good card :)
psyklone
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(6 votes)
THE first magic card I ever got.
Probably the only card thats even close to playable from the starter set I got soon after.
iantewks
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
this is a FAIRLY priced lightning bolt. sweet-lookin' hammer.
Orim-s_Thunder
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
I miss the era when this was a good burn option. That was also the era of Magnivore.
aeiben77
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
This card is ok, but its obsolete only being a sorcery
bagilis
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(2 votes)
I give it a 4/5 only for being a sorcery. Mix those with Rift bolt, lava spike, lightning bolt, incinerate, chain lightning and the rest of your deck being blue control, and you can burn your opponent so quickly!
Sironos
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I wonder what would happen if lightning bolt had never existed... Burn spells would be reted differently, that's for sure. WHenever I see a red burn spell, my first thought is always "lightning bolt is better". If it hadn't been for lightning bolt, this would have been much better, as would most red burn. Odd that 1 card can set the bar for so many other cards to fail, like bane slayer has done for all angels. It sucks.
RJ.693
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Does it compare to Bolt or Incinerate? Of course not. But you know what? It's still pretty damn good.
I haven't seen this card for years!
(Nostalgia invading me)
ToAsTy42o
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(7 votes)
... i just started playing magic about a year ago, and don't see a reason for this card compared to lightning bolt or incinerate, or even shock or burst lightning or staggershock. I guess some old cards become broken, and some become useless. this card would be better if it was an instant.
Axelle
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Well, if they're going to print an alternative for Lightning Bolt, they should at least make it instant speed...
Nagoragama
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Wizards, you better never put this back in the core set.
DacenOctavio
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(2 votes)
The first magic card I got was Viashino Sandscout. The first Pokemon card I got was Gust of Wind.
luca_barelli
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
It was funny to watch this card's rating go down as Lightning Bolt was reprinted.
Stop trying to defend this card with nostalgia or "lightning bolt is better, but this is still good". It's not. Red is supposed to specialize in cheap, direct, rapid damage. This just fails.
Gabriel422
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(1 vote)
When you have no Bolt or Incinerate around, no Lash Out nor Searing Blaze, you use this. They said during Ravnica you win those games in which you Hammer that T1 Kird Ape and lose those where you can't. Straight red burn decks ran this (while Boros had access to Lightning Helix).
Comments (25)
-jack
Sorry Vocanic Hammer, Incinerate has made you obsolete.
1.Akuta, Born of Ash 2.Mistbind Clique
3.Patron of the Kitsune 4.Thirst for Knowledge
5.Volcanic Hammer
Probably the only card thats even close to playable from the starter set I got soon after.
sweet-lookin' hammer.
(Nostalgia invading me)
... Coming in M13...
Stop trying to defend this card with nostalgia or "lightning bolt is better, but this is still good". It's not. Red is supposed to specialize in cheap, direct, rapid damage. This just fails.
You may cast Volcanic Hammer for