Branching Bolt
Shards of Alara 158 • common
- Set
- Shards of Alara
- Collector number
- 158
- Rarity
- Common
- Mana cost
- 1 generic mana red mana green mana
- Type
- Instant
- Colors
- Green · Red
- Artist
- Vance Kovacs
- Market price
- $0.18
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
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.
Where to find one
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Where it came from
Branching Bolt was released in 2008 as part of the Shards of Alara set, a pivotal expansion in Magic: The Gathering that introduced the 'shard' mechanics representing three-color combinations. As a common instant designed for limited play, it reflects the set's focus on the Naya shard, which emphasized large creatures and the raw power of the wilderness.
The card’s illustration was created by Vance Kovacs, who utilized his signature atmospheric style to capture the essence of a violent, magical discharge. By depicting the bolt as a wild, multi-directional force, Kovacs aimed to visually translate the card’s mechanical flexibility—allowing players to distribute damage between multiple targets—which earned it a reputation as a reliable and efficient utility spell within the set's draft environment.
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Who's collecting this
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About Branching Bolt
Branching Bolt is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Shards of Alara 158 • 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.
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