Magic: The Gathering

Chain Lightning

Eternal Masters 123 • uncommon

Set: Eternal Masters
Collector number: 123
Rarity: Uncommon
Mana cost: red mana
Type: Sorcery
Colors: Red
Artist: Christopher Moeller
Market price: $0.41

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$0.41est. via TCGplayer

104,743cards tracked

11other printings of this card

Market

What it's worth

$0.41market price via TCGplayer · Oct 7, 2026$0.31 – $0.41 over the tracked period

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

Lore

Why it matters

This card serves as a notable example of a spell that demands careful resource management, as its ability to be copied by an opponent turns a direct-damage effect into a potentially dangerous back-and-forth exchange. Its inclusion in this specific set highlights its enduring relevance, allowing players to revisit a classic piece of interaction that rewards strategic timing and careful risk assessment at the table.

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Card face

What it does

Chain Lightning deals 3 damage to any target. Then that player or that permanent's controller may pay red mana red mana. If the player does, they may copy this spell and may choose a new target for that copy.

Formats

Where you can play it

StandardNot legal
PioneerNot legal
ModernNot legal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
CommanderLegal
PauperLegal
BrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
TimelessLegal
Penny DreadfulNot legal
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

Chain Lightning was originally released in the Legends expansion in 1994, designed to provide red decks with a highly efficient, albeit risky, direct damage spell. The card reflects the early philosophy of Magic: The Gathering, where powerful effects were often balanced by mechanics that could potentially backfire, allowing an opponent to copy the spell if they had the mana available.

The version from the Eternal Masters set, released in 2016, features updated artwork by the original illustrator, Christopher Rush. This printing was part of a specialized set designed to provide players with access to historically significant cards for limited and constructed formats, maintaining the iconic, fiery aesthetic that defined the card's visual identity during the game's formative years.

Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI

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 Chain Lightning

Chain Lightning is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Eternal Masters 123 • uncommon. 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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Can I track my own copy of Chain Lightning?

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Where does the Chain Lightning catalog entry come from?

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