Magic: The Gathering May Never Reprint One Classic Card in Standard

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Summary

  • Lightning Bolt is iconic in Magic: The Gathering due to its strong, versatile 1 Red mana for 3 damage.
  • Lightning Bolt’s low cost results in faster, aggressive metas and poses problems for Standard formats.
  • Unlikely to return to Standard due to balancing concerns and Mark Rosewater’s comments.

As a seasoned Magic: The Gathering player with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that Lightning Bolt is one of the game’s true legends. Its versatility and power have made it an essential part of countless decks, from casual play to high-level competitive scenes. However, its impact on Standard formats has always been a double-edged sword.

In the vast array of formats within Magic: The Gathering, which boasts a card collection spanning over three decades, it’s understandable that certain cards might occasionally be overlooked. This could be due to rotating sets or choices made by Wizards of the Coast. For instance, some cards may be deemed too powerful in specific game metas but not others, even though they are generally playable. The December 2024 MTG Banned and Restricted update brought about numerous alterations to Modern, but not to Standard, as the latter is currently well-balanced. Despite impressive reprints in the Foundations set, one Magic: The Gathering classic remains absent from Standard, and for a valid reason.

One of the biggest problems with balancing Magic: The Gathering formats is that even adding or removing a single card can cause huge splashes in the meta, determining which cards may be good to use and which may not be optimal. This can be especially true for removals, as each deck tends to have at least a few in order to eliminate potential threats to their game plan, and with removals that also deal damage to players, it can be harder still to balance them. This is why Lightning Bolt may never be reprinted in Standard.

Why Magic: The Gathering is Unlikely to Reprint Lightning Bolt in Standard

In the expansive world of “Magic: The Gathering”, Lightning Bolt stands as one of the oldest and widely-used cards, and it’s also one of the most recognizable due to its frequent appearance in games where it’s permitted. This enduring popularity is largely due to the card’s strength. With a mana cost of just 1 Red, Lightning Bolt inflicts three points of damage upon any target. This versatility allows it to harm both Creatures and players, but keep in mind that it doesn’t affect “Magic: The Gathering”‘s Planeswalkers or Battles, for instance.

Even though Lightning Bolt is a card that rarely goes unused during gameplay, it can often be less effective at certain points in the game. However, when used in the Standard format, this versatile and dependable card has the potential to significantly influence which Creature cards are considered viable. This is because anything with a defense of 3 or lower can be eliminated using only one mana, making Lightning Bolt a potent tool for removing threats swiftly. Moreover, it also deals damage to players, allowing for quicker game closures when multiple copies (up to four) are in play, regardless of the Magic: The Gathering format being used.

Indeed, the track “Lightning Bolt” has been incorporated into the latest Rakdos Delirium Magic: The Gathering (MTG) deck in Modern format. This card is used primarily to eliminate smaller creatures on the battlefield or inflict damage upon opponents.

Mark Rosewater May Have Put The Final Nail in Lightning Bolt’s Coffin

Recently, Magic: The Gathering‘s own Mark Rosewater commented on his blog regarding Lightning Bolt’s viability in Standard, precisely mentioning how it can be problematic in terms of determining which Creatures are viable in the format due to its low cost and effectiveness at three damage to Creatures or players. Given that Lightning Bolt already proved controversial in Magic: The Gathering‘s Standard format, and given that MaRo himself doesn’t seem inclined to bring it back, it’s quite unlikely to return.

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The problem is that cards like Lightning Bolt make for a much faster and more aggressive meta, as one has to account both for an efficient removal and the fact that it can be used as “burn,” meaning a card that deals direct damage to players. It’s unclear what 2025 will bring to Magic: The Gathering in terms of new cards, but with a classic like Lightning Bolt not being in Foundations and being discussed as problematic by MaRo, its chances of a Standard reprint are pretty low.

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2024-12-27 03:38