Lightning Elemental
Tempest 186 • common
- Set
- Tempest
- Collector number
- 186
- Rarity
- Common
- Mana cost
- 3 generic mana red mana
- Type
- Creature
- Colors
- Red
- Artist
- D. Alexander Gregory
- Market price
- $0.18
What it does
Haste (This creature can attack and tap as soon as it comes under your control.)
A lightning elemental once killed an entire tribe of merfolk—simply by going for a swim.
Where you can play it
- StandardNot legal
- PioneerNot legal
- ModernLegal
- LegacyLegal
- VintageLegal
- CommanderLegal
- PauperLegal
- BrawlLegal
- HistoricLegal
- TimelessLegal
- 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 it came from
The Lightning Elemental was released in 1997 as part of the Tempest set, a pivotal expansion for the Magic: The Gathering card game. Designed during a period of aggressive development for the game, Tempest was intended to introduce more cohesive mechanics and flavor, centering on the recurring conflict between the Weatherlight crew and the villainous Phyrexians on the plane of Rath. The elemental type became a staple of red-aligned deck strategies, emphasizing raw, volatile power.
The card’s illustration was provided by artist Brian Snoddy, whose work captured the chaotic, ephemeral nature of elemental creatures in the Magic multiverse. Snoddy’s approach favored a visceral, jagged aesthetic that aligned with the card's theme of short-lived but intense damage. Upon its release, the card was received as a functional, mid-range creature that saw moderate play in aggressive red decks, valued for its ability to deliver immediate pressure before fading away.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
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About Lightning Elemental
Lightning Elemental is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Tempest 186 • common. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. Collectors on collecto.rs track this card publicly, with photos, condition and acquisition notes.
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