Lightning Bolt
Limited Edition Alpha 161 • common
- Set
- Limited Edition Alpha
- Collector number
- 161
- Rarity
- Common
- Mana cost
- red mana
- Type
- Instant
- Colors
- Red
- Artist
- Christopher Rush
- Market price
- $620.00
What it does
Lightning Bolt deals 3 damage to any target.
Where you can play it
- StandardNot legal
- PioneerNot legal
- ModernLegal
- LegacyLegal
- VintageLegal
- CommanderLegal
- PauperLegal
- BrawlLegal
- HistoricBanned
- 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.
Where to find one
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Where it came from
Released in 1993 as part of the Magic: The Gathering Alpha set, Lightning Bolt was designed by Richard Garfield as a foundational red instant spell. It was created to embody the color red’s philosophy of speed and direct damage, serving as a pillar of the game’s early balance. As one of the original 295 cards in the set, it established the benchmark for power in the game's nascent competitive environment.
The iconic illustration was crafted by Christopher Rush, whose evocative style defined the visual identity of early Magic. Rush utilized a sharp, energetic aesthetic to capture the elemental force of a lightning strike, a design that has since become an indelible piece of trading card game history. The card was immediately recognized by players for its utility and efficiency, remaining a staple of the game for decades after its initial printing.
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About Lightning Bolt
Lightning Bolt is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Limited Edition Alpha 161 • 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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