Magic: The Gathering

Branching Bolt

Archenemy 82 • common

Set: Archenemy
Collector number: 82
Rarity: Common
Mana cost: 1 generic mana red mana green mana
Type: Instant
Colors: Green · Red
Artist: Vance Kovacs
Market price: $0.13

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2other printings of this card

Market

What it's worth

$0.13market price via TCGplayer · Aug 20, 2026$0.13 – $0.14 over the tracked period

Estimate for a typical copy of Branching Bolt; condition, printing, and grading move the real number.

Lore

Why it matters

This instant provides a versatile tool at the table, allowing players to adapt their strategy by choosing between two different effects. As a common card from this set, it serves as a foundational piece that offers reliable utility for those building their collections.

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Card face

What it does

Choose one or both —

• Branching Bolt deals 3 damage to target creature with flying.

• Branching Bolt deals 3 damage to target creature without flying.

"Lightning lives in everything, in living flesh and growing things. It must be set free."— Rakka Mar

Formats

Where you can play it

StandardNot legal
PioneerNot legal
ModernLegal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
CommanderLegal
PauperLegal
BrawlNot legal
HistoricNot legal
TimelessNot legal
Penny DreadfulLegal
OathbreakerLegal

Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.

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Where to find one

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Provenance

Where it came from

Branching Bolt was released in 2010 as part of the Archenemy expansion for Magic: The Gathering. The set was designed to facilitate a unique multiplayer format where three players cooperate to defeat a single, powerful opponent. The card reflects the set's focus on high-impact, versatile spells that provide a mechanical advantage in a chaotic, asymmetrical battlefield environment.

The artwork was commissioned from Vance Kovacs, a prominent fantasy illustrator known for his atmospheric and moody visual style. Kovacs designed the image to capture the raw, elemental energy of a redirected lightning strike, emphasizing the card's dual-purpose nature as a piece of spot removal. Upon its release, it was regarded as a functional common, valued by players for its efficiency in Limited formats where controlling the board state is essential.

Generated by Pi, the collecto.rs collecting companion

Other printings

Every version of this card

The same card, printed again — different sets, treatments, and prices.

Collectors

Who's collecting this

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About

About Branching Bolt

Branching Bolt is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Archenemy 82 • common. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.

How many collectors track Branching Bolt on collecto.rs?

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Can I track my own copy of Branching Bolt?

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Where does the Branching Bolt catalog entry come from?

The catalog entry for Branching Bolt is sourced from Scryfall. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.