Bolt | A History of Lightning Bolt

What makes a Magic card iconic?
🎥 Support:
Become a Patron:
/ rhysticstudies
Buy shirts at Coalesce (use code STUDIES for 10% off):
www.coalesceapparel.shop/coll...
Buy cards at Card Kingdom:
www.cardkingdom.com/studies
📎 Connect:
Visit my website:
www.rhysticstudies.com
Twitter:
/ rhysticstudies
Linktree:
linktr.ee/rhysticstudies
⚡ Ben Stark vs Shahar Shenhar:
• 2013 Magic World Champ...
🎵 Music:
Fast Lane - LAKEYINSPIRED
/ lakeyinspired
📘 Chapters:
0:00 The World Championship
1:12 Defining Iconic
2:48 Red Boon Rising
6:02 To Bolt or Not To Bolt
9:41 Stealing the Mirror
11:50 The Weight of a Reprint
15:37 Credits
📓 Sources:
modernnexus.com/eldritch-moon-...
modernnexus.com/the-bolt-test-...
• Grand Prix Indianapoli...
markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/...
magic.wizards.com/en/articles/...
magic.wizards.com/en/articles/...
www.mtgsalvation.com/articles/...
magic.wizards.com/en/articles/...
www.mtgsalvation.com/articles/...
www.starcitygames.com/article/...
magic.wizards.com/en/articles/...
Kitchen Table Magic Podcast episode with Richard Garfield:
kitchentablemagic.org/2017/06...
Christopher Moeller retires from Magic:
• Magical
#mtg #magicthegathering

[@RhysticStudies]

you can watch all of my Card Studies here: kzbin.info/aero/PLg9H9LJ2OoGCCYg3JKL3Flcazk3Sz51Fu

[@noobtuber10]

Dont say ooze Say SCOOZE! :D Amazing Vid Btw

[@DragongodZenos]

i absolutely love your channel, the mix of your voice, the calming music and amazing content always leaves me happy.

[@Asmodeus555]

Hey +TheMagicManSam I love your work. I've got an idea for an art video: Special basic land cycles! A couple of sets have some sweet panoramic land art (the art of all the basic lands of a colour can be laid out to form one continuous image). Namely Kamigawa and Rise of the Eldrazi lands and possibly most notably the gorgeous lore rich panorama of Mirrodin Besieged extended to show Phyrexian corruption of the plane by Scars Of Mirrodin. I only recently found this out and had to replace all my basics in some commander decks so now I can play the minigame of assemble the Basics. This coupled with the mystique of various special land printings like Unhinged full arts and various full arts and sought after basics seems like it has the right combination of art and culture to be mixed with some sublime editing to become a MagicManSam video. Only in Basic lands can magic players show their tastes and appreciation for the art of the game without sacrificing on the function of those cards for the game. What are your favorite lands?

[@RamseyHawkeye]

Hey man! I took your idea of ask other people what they think cards do just by knowing their name. You were absolutely correct. After asking 5 people what they think Ancestral Recall, Dark Ritual, and Bolt did, 4/5 guessed Bolts basic ability! :D (Surprisingly, the one who got it wrong guessed Ancestral Recall was a card draw O_O)

[@jezo2008]

I love your videos. Are you making more?

[@ShmingsThings]

We here at Izzet Spellworks classify our spells into two catagories, "bolts" and "draw [more bolts]."

[@DonniesBoStaff]

Our lab has another type, it's called *storm*

[@aorusaki]

Hahaha

[@sethb3090]

There's a third, highly experimental category, "draw/bolts."

[@JollywoodJoel]

Hear, hear

[@Rishkar-Peema-Pants]

The perfect starting hand has one opt and one shock in it

[@nlb137]

The M10 bolt text is brilliant. It's fourth-wall breaking only to people *beyond* that wall, because it also fits perfectly in-universe. It's a perfectly serviceable flavor text on its own, but knowing the history of it elevates it even further. Reading it never fails to send a shiver down my spine.

[@Ten_Thousand_Locusts]

What does it say?

[@nlb137]

@@Ten_Thousand_Locusts It's the *"The sparkmage shrieked, calling on the rage of the storms of his youth. To his surprise, the sky responded with a fierce energy he'd never thought to see again."* text mentioned in the video. It leans on the fourth wall because it is a reference to Bolt itself being reprinted when people thought it never would be, but framed in a way that makes sense in-universe.

[@Ten_Thousand_Locusts]

@@nlb137 ooooh, that's pretty cool actually, I did like that flavour text.

[@SurriSama]

Glad I'm not the only nerd who gets goosebumps reading it. I can vividly imagine a time tested mage trying out of desperation to conjure power that was long thought to be lost, only to be met eyes agape to the thunderous clapping of bolts not seen for a decade.

[@ellentheeducator]

@@SurriSama I also like to imagine the story as the mage first seeing a true, powerful storm when they were a child, who fell in love with magic because they wanted to feel that power, to understand the lightning. And they studied, and attempted, but never succeeded - something eluded them. And then, when they really needed it, when they were burning up inside with that rage, they called out to the sky, and saw it once more - the power which first inspired them.

[@SHiTJuFro743]

The "relatable" aspect is very true. Just last week at my work, I started playing mtg with a co-worker at lunch. Another co-worker was spectating and when I cast "lightning bolt to face" he thought it was hilarious. By the end of the lunch, he asked if I could teach him how to play too.

[@RhysticStudies]

this is awesome.

[@frodothehobo9938]

TheMagicManSam something you didn't mention is that to this day their has never been a burn spell with a one mana to 3 damage ratio. Or anything higher.

[@TheDTM1234]

frodo the hobo There has. Lava spike

[@googustime]

frodo the hobo fiery temper and rift bolt also apply

[@FrostJarl]

3 damage for one mana - rift bolt, chain lightning, lava spike, collateral damage, shard volley, sonic seizure possible 3 or more - fiery impulse, galvanic blast, reckless abandon, vexing devil, goblin grenade

[@RockyOwl]

The only thing funnier than bolting your opponent on 3 is bolting yourself on 3. Deny them the satisfaction of victory.

[@RhysticStudies]

I'll admit, I've done such things before.

[@r.c.beringuela2426]

"You didn't win, I killed myself!"

[@mikekenny3638]

It's almos as good as shocklanding yourself on 2 :p

[@isaacrodewald8807]

I miss suiciding to manage burn.

[@chrisgould101]

the red mages humble death

[@matthewramada922]

40 bolt plus 20 mountain should be a specific format, where one person plays that deck and their opponent has to try and build something that can beat it.

[@TheMonsterClips]

I would think by now there's many ways to beat that. You could build a lifegain deck to cushion the blow and use indestructible creatures to beat your opponent's face. Plus with multiple cards with "you can't lose the game," you can have all the time you need to whittle their life down.

[@coinswaptrader2915]

This is my way I test my decks...If you cant beat a deck with 42 bolts and 18 mountains....your game sucks!

[@david2869]

Good old COP: Red!

[@LottieSquidHugs]

after bolt #1 cast surgical extraction on end step = profit

[@Geroaergaroe]

40 white leyline and 20 plain

[@jordand9037]

My first ever spell that I cast was a lightning bolt. I was 14 years old and I will never forget the moment. I didn't understand at all how magic was played and for some reason thought that the Mana symbols and numbers represented what turn you can cast them on. So my first turn I see one shiny Mana symbol and throw it out (without playing a land or tapping it) my opponent quickly (and rudely) told me I can't and that if I don't have any land I would just have to suck it up because I probably wouldn't win anyway. My uncle who brought me to the event reminded me about lands, I threw down my mountain, tapped it and felt my anger thrown at my opponent as I cast lightning bolt (for real this time) of course I lost that match and every other one I was in that night, but bolt and really red as a whole has stuck with me since, it's still my favorite. Side note, my friend (who is a bit of an asshole) has a VERY similar story about his first ever spell being counterspell used to stop a bolt, and to this day he plays blue control because of the feeling of power it gave him to just say "no".

[@eightbitblitz5868]

That friend is a perfect example of the twistedness of blue players

[@knavenformed9436]

My first spell was the 2015 Murder, I will just always remember how the art on that card drew me into MTG. I was a bit of an edgelord back then and now I would've hoped it was Giant Growth when talking mechanics, I like the adaptability of making never quesable threats or just banking big and making a huge 28/28 to seal the deal with such an early spell.

[@TheeGoodSir]

lightning helix, made me fall in love with white and what it can do in a boros deck deck, and as time as gone on i have fallen in love with control and midrange decks

[@kreistung276]

When i was buildig my first deck(red) My dad gave me his four Lightning Bolt and said ``youl need these``

[@ManMilk07]

Best dad

[@hsinhaowang]

Of the cards mentioned, 'Mill' has seen cross usage in every other card game to refer to the mechanic of sending cards from the top of the deck to the graveyard/discard pile.

[@aorusaki]

Yeah!!!! That's something that has carried out to almost every card game staring with Magic!

[@jimboweezer]

Wow you're right. I used to play Yu-Gi-Oh and saying something like "mill 3" was common. Didn't even realize the history behind it.

[@lyraharrow3005]

Jimbo Weezer fun fact: Wrath’s in Yu-Gi-Oh are called Judgement effects (Like Judgement Dragon). Magic then printed Day of Judgement.

[@jimboweezer]

@@lyraharrow3005 wow that is super cool to see little references between games. Thanks!

[@VVheeli]

I never knew there was a card based around it. YGO and Hearthstone for a while, and now I realized there was an actual mill card.

[@xxiirraann]

"Show me the bolt" -most iconic phrase uttered by players about to lose

[@joshuaking7470]

I definitely say it when I stream Arena even when I know lightning bolt is not legal in the format that I'm playing. There's just this innate fear that any magic player has against a red deck when at three life or less.

[@PewPew_McPewster]

Well ya got 1 out of 4 guesses right. Lightning Bolt apparently not Iconic enough for Iconic Masters.

[@sentientwaffle535]

Rewatching this I actually looked it up and I kinda can’t believe only Serra angel got in

[@marowakcity3727]

@@sentientwaffle535yeah iconic masters was kind of a disappointment, probably because it came out pretty much right before masters 25, which is the one that actually had all of the iconic cards

[@edwardcole9976]

Your videos got me into Magic. When I saw the One With Nothing video, I knew I had to play this game.

[@RhysticStudies]

this made my day.

[@YomYestreen]

You are both awesome.

[@yikesmoment9862]

Nimaite same dude

[@aorusaki]

Welcome!!!

[@Coryn02]

That's me as well. Only I had to overcome so much more inertia before my friends finally convinced me to try Arena. Loving it so far, I hope to buy physical cards soon.

[@ulises87g4]

I taught a few coworkers how to play with aether revolt decks, and I was watching them play against each other, and one coworker was at 2 life with a strong board presence. The other coworker, on the backfoot, draws for turn, he's eyes light up, and he says "shock your creature". I start laughing, as he proceeds to lose. I tell him what the correct play was, and we make fun of him to this day. Yea, its a story about shock, not bolt, but we can substitute the two pretty easily in this scenario.

[@RhysticStudies]

hahah. oh man, the good ole days of learning how to play.

[@Turtis]

my friend put 4 bolts, thermo-alchemists, and 4 guttersnipes in his deck he’s not my friend anymore

[@branhan215124]

11:15 Look at the way he shuffles that hand, he knew right there- he knew he had won.

[@serpounceiii8813]

You should have seen the face my opponent made when he realise he had to counterspell a bolt I casted and targeted to myself to not lose the game

[@RhysticStudies]

hahahahaha. Death's Shadow?

[@serpounceiii8813]

TheMagicManSam yes, a pair of them :)

[@staciefreshener4032]

Yes ! " target " is what I like over " you , your opponent " etc. This makes lots of options if you are loosing the game , you can bolt yourself ! ( should be legal for now ) this way you loose the game but it's a different way or in win ways , you can use " draw cards " to your opponent for milling. or black's draw cards using to loose life opponent etc being able to harm your own creature , cards and yourself is a great option when you can either use them in a more combo ways , or loose in a way you haven't lost before. Magic !

[@zythum4886]

Banning Lightning Bolt would be like banning a piece of chess

[@jeannebouwman1970]

Queen op please nerf

[@cavemantero]

agreed...shock just doesn't cut it.

[@soup8786]

@@cavemantero it really does lol

[@timothymclean]

That analogy is terrible. Chess and MtG are both games, but they have nothing else in common. "Ban" can have no meaning in chess, because you don't get to choose your pieces. Lightning Bolt is iconic, and cards like it are a critical part of its gameplay, but Lightning Bolt itself is no more integral to MtG than any other card. I get what you're getting at, but...you expressed it poorly.

[@joshnorman3110]

@@timothymclean I think that's the joke

[@DuncanEllis]

I'm too new a player to have had Bolt in standard during my time, but my Bolt story is that I built a RG pauper Infect deck specifically because then I could justify buying a playset of Lightning Bolt for it. Amazing card. Often shocking.

[@ianmcabee8036]

Duncan Ellis I see what you did

[@Squireissocoolie]

I'm not sure if it has become official lingo yet, but when referring to Scavenging Ooze, players at my LGS just call him "Scooze."

[@ianmcabee8036]

Squire Lujan me to

[@Srcsqwrn]

I think Scooze has been around for quite a long time, personally.

[@tempestandacomputer6951]

Its there. People use it.

[@gordonlekfors2708]

it has existed a long time, it just sounds a bit silly.

[@nebulouskikiimperitoroftea9221]

So i asked my wife and mother-in-law (non-mtg players) what Lightning Bolt does and they said it damages/kills something. So yea, pretty spot on

[@Microphunktv-jb3kj]

in Estonia Bolt drives you around the city and brings you food. :D

[@fiduwarrior]

As a Yugioh player this is incredible in how it highlights the difference between both games' approach to burn damage. Excellent video!

[@coolkidsclub9943]

@Harold Treml In Yu-Gi-Oh burn is only a problem if you can literally FTK with it on turn 1. If you can deal over 8000 burn damage (all life) within the first turn consistently, you've basically got an unbeatable deck. Otherwise burn is there just to finish someone off inconsistently and not such a good thing.

[@wally99szarek]

Yugioh didn't have a competitive approach to burn damage

[@rowboatmiami]

I was playing a game of Commander with my friends one time and one guy had a Nicol Bolas Arisen as his commander. He had just been targeted by the other guy with a hail mary attack. I was at some low amount of health, and he was about to nuke my entire library next turn with his nicol bolas's final ability. He had 6 health left. The only card in my hand was a Repeated Reverberation. I drew my next card, praying for a Lightning Bolt. I freaked out when it actually was Bolt. I played Repeated Reverberation and won that game. It was my first game getting back into Magic after about 10 years of not playing. At that moment, Lightning Bolt was officially my favorite card.

[@nsnick199]

You can tell Lightning Bolt is iconic because it's 2 min in and I'm slightly angry you're not showing that sweet Christopher Rush art.

[@nicobandit8604]

the card is so iconic my lgs is named after it, and almost as old as it

[@RhysticStudies]

really?! where are you located? do they have a website?

[@toastman3421]

Gabe Carter-Caseley Similarly, I have a mtg focused store called Snapcasters near me. Though they're only a couple years old.

[@OnePointSafety]

N Kraus store near me is called storm crow lol

[@YomYestreen]

TuNDrAsPalace now that's my kind of place!

[@zedekuszule963]

N Kraus Snapcasters, gaming and espresso? I play there too

[@Verlisify]

The Bolt reprint flavor text is JUST SO GOOD

[@atlys258]

The flavor text on the M10 Bolt gets me every time. Ok, so I've watched this video and the Seb vid dozens of times each, they're just that damn good. I think they might actually be my 2 favorite pieces of content on all of KZbin.

[@Nateson]

incredible. I loved the comparison between the real world and the mythical world- it's a cool factor to think about. A gateway to familiarize players. They won't feel as lost in the new mythical world they enter with phenomenons that occur in our everyday lives. Fantasitc video Sam.

[@tornado65hundo]

Has Wizards of the Coast hit you up? If not they should because your cerebral analysis and reflective nostalgia would seriously add something to the current state of mtg. Sure, they have people who write articles about similar ideas, but too often they come off as bland and/or disingenuous. WotC aside, I love your content. It makes me remember why I fell in love with mtg in the first place. More please

[@jojorigler9414]

Your card studies are so great and are exactly what I've been looking for on KZbin a singular topic of a specific piece of magic is so informative and fun to watch! Thank you

[@christophervergerio5443]

Jack Rigler you right

[@noahgolden6258]

17 min video we're in for quite the treat.

[@clauderodrigue6461]

Buddy you've never made a bad video

[@ELFanatic]

fact

[@gordonlekfors2708]

wrong. he has.

[@elipetrou9308]

He confessed to making a bad video at one point

[@Taur0cks]

You make me love the game even more. You teach me to never forget that behind the competitive aspect, there is always the fun, the story and the amazing background that are inherent to Magic. I tend to overlook it way too often, and it gives me chills everytime when you succeed to open my eyes on the most unique and beautiful game that has ever been made. Your work is amazing. Lightning storm of emotions here... and you didn't go easy on the charge counters.

[@Aquvious1]

I appreciate your choice in music.

[@mrivera6975]

"I'm gonna hit you with a lightening bolt" "Yeah. I'm gonna helix your Planeswalker" "I'll hit your commander with a bolt" Yeah. it checks out. Magic has warped my English.

[@GGun1t]

Your videos are remarkable. Stumbled upon your channel a little over a month ago, and gotta say: one of the best Mtg channels out there. Thanks for the awesome quality of content :)

[@gaiusjuliuspleaser]

Bolt was the very first spell I ever cast when first learning Magic. I won that first game with another Bolt, been hooked ever since.

[@granteklund9943]

The shorthand for scavenging ooze is "scooze". That seems pretty concise and recognizable to me but It is a combination of two words to create a non-word so I guess I can see where you're coming from.

[@RhysticStudies]

"scoozin' for a bruisin'" is my shorthand when I cast it in cube.

[@Lowkey-NoPressure]

That it may be, but it doesn't come close to approaching the more 'hallowed' nicknames. MTG players think up cute nicknames for EVERYTHING; they can't *all* be ubiquitously recognized like 'bolt.' So while yeah scavenging ooze has a nickname, it's not in the 'pantheon,' so to speak

[@gordonlekfors2708]

if you're an incel, then yes, scooze makes sense to say.

AMAZING!! Congratulations for the partnership. You deserve it a lot!!

[@RhysticStudies]

muito obrigado! I appreciate your support amigo.

[@themuffindragon]

Another great video Sam! I'm not sure which series I like better to be honest, these "history" lessons are so entertaining but the artist spotlights are also great.

[@insanecrusties]

This waa the first video of yours that I watched several years ago, and revisiting it always fills me with nostalgia and joy. Thank you for everything you've created.

[@snowhusk]

I'm so glad I found your channel, dude. Exceptional content as always, really shows how deep the game itself and appreciation of it can run

[@GigaBoost]

As a very casual magic fan (used to buy cards as a teen, recently play some of the PC games) but a diehard CCG/card gaming enthusiast I LOVE this series (ie Card Studies). Massive props for consistently showing the cards you are talking about on screen, it really helps a lot. I wouldn't have known what "bolt the bird" meant if I hadn't watched your previous videos - but you explain it really well and show the appropriate cards on screen so it's easy for someone who is not hugely into magic to keep up. I've seen other videos like this one regarding MTG and other card games that feel really exclusionary to non-core fans (and new players) by referencing things that are obvious to you as a long time player but inexplicable to outsiders very casually. I'm also positively surprised that I learned the origin of the term Mill/Milling in this video. Of course I know what it entails, but I didn't know the term came from that one specific card which created the short-hand of Mill Deck/Strategy for emptying an opponents deck. I assume that the card created the term and wasn't in common use before at least. Maybe it was just a clever name for a card for an already extant term/strategy? But I assume not. If anyone knows, feel free to reply! Saves me the Google :) Thanks again for the excellent series TMMSam. (If I ever get my economy in order) I'd be happy to contribute to a patreon or similar to support more content like this!

[@GigaBoost]

I should also mention the production value of the videos! Very good voice over, good choice in music and simple yet pleasant animations and transitions!

[@justjoe8397]

It was pretty cool coming from other TCG's that use the term 'mill' in the same context to find it originated from Millstone, a card as old as Magic itself. Wouldn't mind seeing a video on the card actually.

[@AIMLESS-NAMELESS]

Watching your videos always puts me into a certain cycle. 1) watch a Rhystic vid 2) see pro tour coverage in vid 3) after vid watch about 1-2 pt finals 4) be sad that they no longer do them 5) be sad I’m not good at 60 card 6) build a commander deck and crush timmys at my lgs

[@theetiologist9539]

This is by far your best video. I love this one so much; you mix the competitive scene with the art, and the history of the card, and you really get down to what it means to magic overall all in one video.

[@motmontheinternet]

"40 bolts and 20 mountains in a 60 card deck" I thought the 4 card limit was created at the same time decks were increased form 40 to 60 cards.

[@luckylooch9696]

My best combo I've managed to pull is Endstep Bolt, Bolt. My Mainphase Bolt, Snap, Bolt.

[@charlotte-hanson]

You have some of the best Magic content on this site and I always get super pumped when I see you've uploaded. Keep it up, man

[@pali6]

I just discovered your channel and I am blown away. This is insanely well made, both in presentation and in content. Thank you.

[@ElitePuncher665]

With the mention of card names becoming a word to describe its use, has Fatal Push become so ubiquitous within Standard and Modern that it has reached that level in a mere 6 months, or is it just not close enough yet?

[@RhysticStudies]

I can easily see a future in which "Push" becomes shorthand.

[@RacinZilla003]

TheMagicManSam My playgroup and I already use the shorthand

[@warpdrivefueledbyinsomnia8165]

I think it's the only card with "push" in the name as of yet. That being said, since Fatal Push is so awesome, I'd have a hard time believing another "push" card could topple it. This could be another case were future cards are a variation on the theme.

[@liamrobinson2249]

Liam Brown look a liam

[@MrBastille14]

Every time I cast Fatal Push I start singing Salt-N-Pepa's 'Push it'. It's become a habit. 'I push the (x)' is gaining traction though.

[@ShadyHitchhiker]

I thought this would be about the Disney film Bolt, which I was curious to see an analysis on; but the actual content was a nice surprise for someone with only a passing knowledge of magic. Only feedback I can give is to maybe explain the other cards you reference a little better as I didn't know what almost any of the cards do that you didn't explain

[@fienddube]

Outstanding. This is some of the finest, most creative and well-rendered magic content I’ve ever come across.

[@lucaselvis01]

Your videos are some of the most special things I have ever seen. Thank you. Not ever stop the soundtrack thing.

[@psifinch8434]

I won a game once on turn 1 by bolting my opponents Llanowar elves with them tilting and scooping xD

[@jakelunn9917]

my favorite card since the day I started playing

[@ashtonscott4778]

Dude, how you make such entertaining videos about one card is beyond me. Your production is excellent and I love you for making these. 💛

[@Dommshorty]

This is my favourite video I've ever watched. I've been a live for quite a while, and have watched many, many videos in that while, but this is honestly the most polished thing I've ever seen. You go, Sam.

[@oceanman6066]

These videos are art.

[@cameronbrake8215]

I can't place it, but there's something here that feels undeniably sad. A sort of sweet-sad. And it's not just in this piece. I feel it in The Menace and some of the artist deep dives, too. Maybe I'm just projecting. Or maybe...maybe we're all that sparkmage, hoping to feel something we'd never thought to see again. I don't know what it is, but I know it matters. Please don't stop making this sort of work. It's vital. And please stop bolting my birds.

[@guilhermegirelli9955]

Dude, I've just loved the way your videos are edited. Keep doing that... the information comes softly and clean. Congrats

[@slufurah1019]

Love all of your card studies, keep um coming can't wait for the next one!

[@RyanGuard_]

Well, this convinced me. I'm playing Burn in Modern.

[@happyd5192]

Lighting bolt's nice and all, but we all know who's really coming back for iconic masters... Please Wizards, PLEASE. PLEASE GIVE ME BACK MY HOMARIDS. THEY'RE AN ICON TO ME DAMMIT.

[@gustavowadaslopes2479]

Limmited

[@YomYestreen]

Ah yes, the fabled "Power Eleven" - original Dual Lands plus Homarid.

[@sigmaprojects]

Well all know the true power that was locked away was banding.

[@joshuawilliams994]

Ah yes, may Camel be number 13

[@bblaze4348]

Love this. You're videos really cover every aspect of what makes Magic so great. Keep up the amazing work.

[@Unforgiven11]

Your content is unbelievably well produced. Very well thought out and articulated, nothing but respect for you dude

[@JD-td8kl]

Beautiful video. Your work is much appreciated. Ever considered doing one for Bob?

[@royh8528]

"How did Bolt win that game?" "It was just too fast, man."

[@JaydenCruickshank]

Your videos are so poetic and nostalgia inducing, I absolutely love them

[@Navyma18]

Man, your videos are possibly my favorite magic content in existence. Just perfect.

[@IsaacEternal]

I actually cried during this video. It was so amazing.

[@josephperry3700]

The flavor text ❤

[@onewholeegg]

17 MINUTE VIDEO hell yeah

[@lyanderthegreat663]

Your videos are a cut above the norm man. Very well put together. You deserve more praise.

[@mysticalpotato447]

Undeniably one of my favourite channels. Amazing.

[@cmdrjanjalani]

Fun thing to do: copy paste this video's link and find the secret word.

[@pluviaaeternum]

I cried.

[@lucablankenship9247]

I have to say, this editing is AMAZING. I could watch this video all day

[@diegogallardo3156]

I don't even play magic and i've already watched almost all these videos. What an amazing producer.

[@RhysticStudies]

that's a high compliment: thank you. my next video is specifically aimed for you and others who don't play the game!

[@WilhelmScreamer]

Scars block has a lot of creatures with big butts, and bolt is the reason it happened Be careful when you wish for it to return

[@gustavowadaslopes2479]

Yes, but interestingly enough, big buts and board stalls actually make some formats better, since there's a big strugle and some nice clash of power

[@WilhelmScreamer]

Board stalls from creatures having too much toughness can lead to miserable games where no player can attack profitably. If a format is too aggressive, it at least means games are ending.

[@olaf.forkbeard]

Gustavo Wadas Lopes To each own. I prefer clean boards, and complicated stacks.

[@kingpopaul]

Why is bolt iconic? Because it's direct and efficient but mostly because it's undercosted and not banned.. Blue and black were banned red is not as broken, so on the relative scale it went under the radar. Black, blue, white and green gave potential but red gave you an effective step to victory if not countered. Having a way to close the gap so quickly and for cheap is basically setting your opponent to 17 from the start ( if you only draw one bolt). + the reprints and demand for slightly op cards makes it iconic.

[@AlexBalhatchet]

Fantastic as always Sam, thanks for all your well constructed and excellently researched videos! You rock!

[@sheesh8831]

I can't stop watching these card studies!! they are so amazing :)

[@braydenc1791]

White should’ve have something like “create 3 1/1s”

[@ZachAttack6089]

For one mana that's waaaaay more broken than 3 damage.

[@Torvald80]

I started playing during Visions. There was no net-decking or spoilers. Most people didn't even have card lists for sets that had been out for years. It was a big moment for me when I realized that Bolt was a good card. It couldn't kill Serra Angel after all! Before then, my burn deck was packed full of Fireballs and Disintegrates. After Weatherlight came along I added Bosium Strip to the deck. So to make a Fireball deal 3 from the graveyard you needed to spend 7 mana. Bolt was, of course, awesome in that deck. I can still remember a time in a multiplayer game, the first time someone attacked me, I went EOT triple bolt to the face, untap, triple bolt to the face. It was great.

[@FishStyx]

just discovered this guy and I'm in love with his quirkiness and his little ending blurbs.

[@Silverpicker]

Big fan, man. I really like what you do. You've got great rhythm and you know how to build drama really well. Great job

[@TheMCGamer2012]

My favorite bolt is still the clean M11 without flavor text. Although the text is cool/a bit of history, the art is more pronounced without it I think.

[@LinkEX]

Since Dominaria, I'm now waiting for a clean reprint with the updated wording. Because with that, it's again more close to the original Alpha wording: Lightning Bolt deals 3 damage to any target. Compared to Alpha's: Lightning Bolt does 3 damage to one target.

[@DrunkenManic]

I'd be heartbroken if they banned bolt in modern.

[@talkingsink200]

Kevin Tran I'd cry, if that happened is have to start mainboarding skull crack in my zoo. That just ain't right.

[@gustavowadaslopes2479]

Probably not. It's good, but is far from a design fail, a card a deck revolves around or anything that may one day come to a ban.

[@oORoOFLOo]

If Bolt is OP I don't wanna know what Death and Goyf are.

[@pdot2901]

Pretty sure that they'd ban Push before they ban Bolt.

[@koichidignitythief7429]

I'd be happy because it means half of the people would have to use use a deck that doesn't spam bolt

[@smashog7500]

Instantly subbed. Awesome video, your voice is animated which is so nice, and the quality of your work is clearly represented. Thankyou for being you.

[@christopherpumphrey7023]

These videos are incredibly well put together and narrated. Just found this channel and would like to say thanks for your time and effort.

[@LottieSquidHugs]

rip bolt in IM

[@Bulhakas]

"Rewinding the clocks back again..." - needs more redundancy.

[@0Whitelottus0]

That M10 flavor text always brings tears to my eyes... it's so beautiful... thanks for this awesome video

[@juliobbeltran]

These history videos are incredible, makes me want to know even more about Magic than just playing the game

[@treasureberry7154]

This is why death's Shadow is amazing. It has turned modern into a format that isn't a bolt format!

[@Ninjahankin]

I think lightning bolt creates a fundamental problem in magic. If a player had a choice to pick lightning bolt, lighting strike, and shock, the player is obviously gonna pick lighting bolt because its 100% better than the other 2. But if lighting bolt was a sorcery speed spell, now what would the player choose? A weak 1 mana fast spell? a strong 1 mana slow spell? or a 2 mana strong fast spell? Building decks should be about having choices but lighting bolt eliminates all aspects of that so all other burn spells will go to the garbage bin while nothing but bolt will see play (unless its a burn deck of course).

[@CyniSchism96]

IMO the 1 mana for 3 damage aspect of bolt would still outweigh the negative of being slow. though its likely that lightning strike would have been printed at instant speed to balance it out with bolt being a sorcery.

[@biggestnerdhere5719]

Finnaly you uploaded, I have been waiting. Nice video as always

[@KhanGarth]

if youre not running 4 Bolt, youre doing it wrong.

[@henrymildenstein81]

Not in this modern meta

[@KhanGarth]

Henry Mildenstein yeah I don't always either it's just a thing people say

[@nathanhill4810]

just awesome. thanks for the thoughtful introspective look at an awesome card.

[@TheySaidWeSaid]

Fantastic work as always Sam. Can't wait for the next card in the series. Congratulations on The Cars Kingdom partnership also.

[@Black7apex23]

The way you present this material is Hauntingly beautiful. Thank you for your amazing research and presentation.

[@philiphunt-bull5817]

There is so much in this vid I dont understand, but I still somehow enjoy it.