MTG Top 10: Burn Spells | Magic: the Gathering | Episode 112

[@gerritbrock9467]

Oh wow a top 9 worse lightning bolts ;)

[@TheRealmDrifter]

9:46 "You can't always expect lightning bolt." ...unless you're a bird...

[@unwillingconduit7108]

Wack

[@Xepscern]

Gee I wonder if Bolt is number 1

[@NizzahonMagic]

So suspenseful, right?

[@Xepscern]

Nizzahon Magic I am not done yet but I am gonna guess it has the highest score of any card... ever EDIT: Meh, losing to just Thoughtseize is still amazing.

[@puttputt524]

My first deck was 20 mountains, 37 lightning bolts, a lava axe, a raging goblin and a goblin grenade. Life is hard when you are the only person who really knows how to play magic.

[@eliaswolter2955]

Make a List About top ten cards with the Most Points

[@sewershaman3280]

wouldn't basic lands make up half that top 10 though?

[@wp6007]

Just go on edhrec real quick

[@thanalincoln]

You mean... top ten cards?

[@darylchiu9030]

Lightning Bolt will always be the most iconic red spell in the game. ^_^

[@pphyjynx8217]

it's the most iconic card in the game's history IMO, yeah Black Lotus is expensive, but everyone's played with or against a lightning bolt and loved it anyway.

[@HazmanFTW]

That, or Shivan Dragon

[@FalseOracle617]

@@pphyjynx8217 Agree.

[@youknowwhatsreallysofunny]

A special mention to Shrapnel Blast, one of my favourite burn spells.

[@muzunomi]

Do top ten power 9 ;)

[@BarginsGalore]

In order 10 time twister 9 mox emerald 8 mox pearl 7 mox ruby 6 sol ring 5 mox jet 4 mox sapphire 3 time walk 2 ancestral recal 1 black lotus

[@KabukiKid]

Actually, it would be a sort of interesting list to speculate on what should be the 10th Power card. I'd imagine the tops would be Sol Ring or Library of Alexandria.

[@atmahope5541]

You must be a joy irl.

[@ricklawrence2515]

Library of Alexandria

[@SeanHrecho]

@@KabukiKid Yawgmoth's Will

[@Ijustcomment010]

There’s a reason why the term “bolt” or “lightning bolt” is literally used in ANY card game setting to reference ANY time a source would deal three damage

[@pphyjynx8217]

Burn is used in Yugioh, not Bolt.

[@swahilimaster]

PP Hyjynx name a card in yugioh that deals 3 damage

[@pphyjynx8217]

swahilimaster that is irrelevant, he claimed that all card games use the term "bolt" to refer to any card dealing damage, and really only MTG uses that term to refer to damage.

[@allylikescyndaquil]

That's not what he said. He said it's used any time a card "would deal three damage", which it is in the games where cards dealing 3 damage is not a laughably small number (as in, not yugioh)

[@tygonmaster]

I would say 3 damage translated to Yugioh is like dealing 500 damage, something like a billion cards do.

[@sybmike]

Given how dominant it was in the early years, I expected Fireball / Disintegrate to make the list.

[@WillArtie]

Can't believe lightening got ya while you were doing it's score! That's freaky as. Thanks again Doc!

[@atticusbliss4298]

TBH, I'm kinda surprised that thoughtseize is ahead of this in points.

[@RespectYourViews]

"If your deck is running red in it and lighting bolt is legal you should probably be playing four of them" And if your deck is not running red you should consider running red so you can add in four lightning bolts. Edit: I and I'm sure others would be interested to see the full list of cards that earned at least 1 point if you were able to post them in the description. I've noticed you've replied to comments asking about particular cards and at least some of us could be trained to just look in the description.

[@NizzahonMagic]

Part of the reason I don't do that is because while I am doing the research and it is clear the threshold to make the list is really high, I start skipping cards with very few points. I could do it with the ones that are close though

[@RespectYourViews]

That makes sense, i wondered about that. The one's that are close are probably the ones people are most interested in anyway.

[@SuperNorstShow]

Kind of surprised to not see Boros Charm or Lava Spike. I knew Bump in the Night wouldnt make the cut but it is a favorite of mine.

[@NizzahonMagic]

Boros Charm had 45 points. Lava Spike had 23.

[@schwarzerritter5724]

Lava Spike is only useful in burn decks. The lack of versatility keeps it out of the Top 10.

[@ShiivaWilding]

My favourite burn spell is and will always be Banefire, purely because I ran it in a ramp style green/red deck and even if I was drawing nothing but land, I could still wipe out huge threats or burn my opponent out for well over 20 damage with Zendikar Resurgent doubling my mana. Caused a lot of arguments that card... and in keeping with the Bane theme, my new mono-green runs Heroes Bane to similar arguments! Goodness me, do I love me some double mana!

[@NicoBleackley]

ShiivaWilding been running a Red/Green with the main goal being to load up a massive Banefire blast lately in arena. feels so good lol

[@atlys258]

Great list, but I'm kind of surprised Magma Jet didn't make the cut as it is pretty powerful at 2 damage & scry 2 for 2 at instant speed allowing for great flexibility and deck manipulation.

[@SomersBugtopia]

Magma Jet is sweet

[@TheShinyFeraligatr]

I don’t think it sees much Modern play and it probably didn’t see an absurd amount of Extended play, so it’d have to rely on a Standard that was almost entirely Raffinity for most of its tenure, or Theros Standard, where it admittedly probably has a few points in.

[@atlys258]

Mattman324 True, I kind of forgot its only been truly printed in Fifth Dawn and Theros.. Considering Scry is evergreen, I would be very happy if they brought it back for M19 and/or Ravnica. 😁😁😁

[@oom-3262]

I honestly thougt lava spike was going to be here

[@NizzahonMagic]

Only 23 points.

[@jamaigar]

Nizzahon Magic and chain lightning?

[@schwarzerritter5724]

OOM- 32 Lava Spike is only useful in burn decks that try to win exclusively with burn damage, while the other spells can be played in a wide variety of decks. Plus the lack of reprints means it has not been in Standard for a long time.

[@oom-3262]

Schwarzer Ritter you have a point, but it is rather extremely efficient. I also thought about rift Bolt btw.

[@schwarzerritter5724]

OOM- 32 No doubt it is efficient. But if versatility is enough to push Fire/Ice into the top 10, the lack of it is enough to keep Lava Spike out of it. The same with Rift Bolt. More versatile than Lava Spike, but not being an instant keeps it out of the Top 10.

[@darkdave1998]

I think there are some who deserve a honorable mention, like the one with the time counter

[@proscapedesigns]

Thank you @Nizzahon! Your number 9 was fire... i didnt know it was a heavily played card and i had 2 foils from UMA that were just laying around in bulk! Its a 40.00 card apparently. I wouldnt have known if it werent for you!

[@meryatathagres1998]

Fireblast should've gotten at least a honorable mention. Ball lightning too actually. Those were good days. :)

[@GumballMachinery]

I agree! Fireblast is hands down one of my favorite cards in legacy and pauper burn. Nothing feels quite as good as two bolts straight into a fireblast. 10 damage with just two lands is crazy!

[@darkmatter32x]

I just realised, the original artist for the bolt passed away. Casting bolt gives me that sad sense.

[@Kreshrin]

Top Ten Abnormal counters (Like -0/-2 or +1/+2)

[@MaestroAlvis]

Captain Ashur what about +1/+0?

[@Melvinvanharn]

I personally have probably kept myself in more games by getting two for one with Arc Trails. I also LOVED Arc Lightning around Saga/Masque Block. What I keep forgetting for these videos is that he's using constructed data to make his choices, so even though Fireball is a super iconic card, it doesn't make the list.

[@joejaboy]

Nitpick on the Pillar of Flame entry: you said it dealt with creatures that have "persist" (which returns a creature to the battlefield with -1/-1 counter if it died without one) which is most certainly true, but in standard and block when Pillar was printed, the primary revival keyword was "undying" (which returns a creature to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter if it died without one). Persist is more common in Modern though, which you did mention.

[@NizzahonMagic]

Ah yeah, I did mean Undying. Similar mechanics.

[@cooldes4593]

"Aggro or Control, if your deck is running Red and Lightning bolt is legal, you should probrably be running 4" Wow i never realized how format warping lightning bolt was until you said that. I always knew it was the best burn spell but i thought "well it still just isnt that strong. Its only 3 damage" in my mind other colors were doing much more like white getting swords and path to deal with any creature even indestructable, black getting thoughtseize to take any card from your hand, etc. But bolt is so flexible. So versatile that i understand why wizards wont print it, and why 3 damage nowadays is 2 or 3 mana.

[@leebard9335]

It's similar to how Counterspell is iconic, because it's the perfect version. The only things cheaper have huge weaknesses (Mana Tithe) or if they cost the same, only counter specific card types or work under specific circumstances.

[@peachydls341]

Smh If I had a nickel every time Goblin Grenade saved me.

[@puttputt524]

As good as goblin grenade is, I prefer goblin piledriver + fling... then a grenade.

[@GONZUdAce11]

I don't understand why searing blaze hasn't seen much play, it's an awesome card!

[@NizzahonMagic]

It has seen a lot, this list is just stacked.

[@gond9166]

gonzalo Zuñiga cuz the guy who made this list knows nothing of Red burn. And he got schooled in the comment section.

[@slamphibian6736]

@@gond9166 Came back to this old video for curiosity's sake and have been reading the comments and I can't seemed to find where he got "owned" in the comments could you help me?

[@watertreatmentsolutions]

You are the man Nizzahon.

[@avijeu3]

No Fireblast? SMH that card helped me finish so many games back in 1996-97 when visions was still in standard....Ugh showing my age lol. But Fireblast was the truth

[@brentsims6218]

That's what I was thinking... Love that card. Maybe it will make "top 10 salt inducing cards" because, man, people *hate* being suddenly dead...

[@jackpabich763]

Will older videos ever be revisited to see where cards have moved since that time?

[@NizzahonMagic]

Yup!

[@jackpabich763]

Awesome! I can't wait!

[@CaioMarcosMalheirosAlves]

really expected to see fireblast somewhere

[@schlockfather]

It's my favorite burn spell.

[@schlockfather]

It really defines the "going all out" perspective of red burn.

[@ramirgeddon]

fireblast and pyrokinesis

[@GumballMachinery]

Same! Hands down one of my favorite cards in legacy and pauper burn. Nothing feels quite as good as two bolts straight into a fireblast. 10 damage with just two lands and all at instant speed is incredible!

[@oxpolitik]

The amount of time you put into the production of these is not lost on me, Doctor 'Hon.

[@NizzahonMagic]

There was extra time this time too, thanks to the lightning!

[@ikepetro6263]

I'm actually curious what the top 10 modal cards would be. Charms seem prevalent in standard and some of these spells even see quite a lot of play in eternal formats.

[@madisonking8057]

How many of those cards were errata'd to include planeswalkers?

[@bladerz1191]

Lightening strike won't rotate out of standard because it's being reprinted in M19.

[@NizzahonMagic]

Same for Shock. Revealed after I made this.

[@TheGloriousLobsterEmperor]

TOP 10 VINTAGE CARDS! MAKE IT SO!

[@tygonmaster]

So....just a top 10 of the Power 9?

[@Krajcik1964]

@@tygonmaster Sort of. Perhaps not Library of Alexandria. Not saying the card is bad, just that i'd rather play Sol Ring, Demonic Tutor, Necropotence or Vampiric Tutor over it.

[@KT-dq6wv]

3:34 You cant put fire//ice on isochron scepter. The converted manacost is 4, even though individual parts are 2cmc.

[@KT-dq6wv]

Ruling on Isochron: 4/18/2017 The converted mana cost of a split card is determined by the combined mana cost of its two halves. When you activate the second ability, you may choose to cast either half of the split card, but you may not cast both halves. You could imprint wax//wane for example

[@NizzahonMagic]

That is true now, but only since 2017.

[@chrisschweitzer1161]

Because of the Cascade mechanic a lot of the CMC rules were changed.

[@jaredt2590]

Dealing 3 damage on turn 2 is really good. The other player might have a creature with 2/3 on the second turn. I've always put incinerate in my burn decks.

[@Agarwaen00]

Surprised Skred didn't make the list. That card made people use snowlands. Guess only one printing in Coldsnap didn't give the card much time to shine in standard.

[@brianhahn6785]

Great list but fireblast will always hold a special place for me

[@sephimaru2198]

10:40 Hah, ironic. By the way, did you also include burn-creatures in this list? Like Firebrand Archer?

[@Finngrinder]

Eidolon

[@Casey-cy6ph]

Top 10 burn spells: *looks up modern burn* there we go

[@computersocsci]

Haha I love that story about your power going out 😂

[@omarortiz9660]

i know this is about points and at the end the cheaper the cost the better the card is, bit i must say i love Burn At The Stake. Can kill in a blink

[@cowjuicethepallytank]

What about fireball with channel fireball shenanigans?

[@spearhead2054]

Did you already do a best/worst modal spells? Would like to see that in the near future.

[@NizzahonMagic]

Nope! It is one I plan to do though

[@CascadeHope]

Is Fire//Ice still being used? I know they recently (2017) changed the split card rule to "The converted mana cost of a split card is determined by the combined mana cost of its two halves." So is it still used outside of Isochron Scepter decks?

[@NizzahonMagic]

It is being used in Eternal formats. The scepter thing doesn't work now, but that was really only something that went on in Extended like 10 years ago.

[@CascadeHope]

Ah. Okay. Haven't played in Eternal formats in quite a while, so wasn't up to speed with it. Thanks!

[@marpj6138]

Has "Destructive Revelry " not elegible since it cant target the face, even tho it will always cause damage to the player if resolves? Because I believe it would be in the list if it has

[@ChinoMR2]

i really like your top 10 videos. gj

[@chrisschweitzer1161]

#1 was no supprise but there were alot of others i expected to see. No Boros Charm, Chain Lightning, Fireblast, Flame Rift, Rift Bolt, or Price of Progress.

[@jamesdemyan9054]

No love for chain lightening?

[@NizzahonMagic]

Nope, not enough points!

[@tygonmaster]

Chain Lightning is basically only good in formats where better burn is banned. Nizza said in another comment that it only has 13 points, so it did not even come close to making the list.

[@Finngrinder]

@@tygonmaster It's just in every Legacy Burn Deck and around since 94

[@tygonmaster]

@@Finngrinder yeah and the deck it's in don't perform well so it doesn't have enough points

[@nickbalmes6640]

What a surprising top 1 :)

[@bolassnowman7429]

Where by chance are you getting your information for fire and ice being able to cast with isochron scepter? Everything that I am finding is the two combined sides equal the total converted Mana cost therefore Sceptre can I use it. Was this an old rule? Did something change? Or am I not finding what you found?

[@bolassnowman7429]

After doing a bunch more research it was an old rule that you could do that. Nowadays it does not work the same

[@NizzahonMagic]

Yep the rule change is pretty recent, newer than this video.

[@chelupian7254]

Have you done the shard/wedge color scheme top 10s?

[@coreyberg7823]

Boros charm?

[@SpitefulAZ]

Lighting bolt would make a good card to be in the top power ten cards. Maybe #10.

[@HughManatea]

From a Forked Bolt to a Lightning bolt.

[@tron_the7the9]

Galvanic blast is a slightly worse shock at it's worst because it can't target Planeswalkers

[@shelbyramin1376]

Imagine a world where you could kick shock for 4 colorless mana and deal double damage. Introducing burst lightning!

[@rafaelramosmu5934]

Oh god i remember lightning Helix AND lightning Bolt AND Path todo Exile AND searing blazer in my decir wtf

[@addisonjones2712]

I'm kinda surprised that these are all fixed cost. Where did fireball and banefire place?

[@PastaFaz00L]

Nothing ends games like fireblast

[@tygonmaster]

Except Lightning Bolt.

[@PastaFaz00L]

tygonmaster Bolt is always king, but it's the 2 mountain sacrifice outta nowhere when you're tapped out that's just brutal

[@tygonmaster]

Antonio R Yeah, it is 4 burst damage, but the flexibility of Bolt to hit Planeswalkers, creatures, or players and the fact that if it is countered you are only out of 1 mana makes it OP as hell. Being down two mountains the rest of the game if you get countered (have fun against blue decks... ;) ) basically makes Fireblast an all-in card only good in the most aggressive of decks. Bolt pretty much can go in ANY deck, control, combo, midrange, aggro. Bolt does it all. Pretty much its ONLY downside is it does not exile and that is only relevant against a few decks.

[@magwaaf]

I wonder if this needs an update

[@slycooperscane]

Kind of a fun observation the top 6 burn spells are all lightning based.

[@rogerballoujr.6244]

I'm totally not surprised that Lightning Bolt was number 1 but where was Chain Lightning on this list?

[@NizzahonMagic]

Nowhere close with only 13 points. Unfortunately for it, Lightning Bolt is legal everywhere and just way better.

[@rogerballoujr.6244]

Fair enough...a shame though as imo besides Lightning Bolt it is the strongest burn spell...I imagine being legal at the same time like you said didn't help it though as I remember when I started playing that Legends was really expensive at 35 bucks a pack back then.

[@KabukiKid]

Do you remember having to get boxes of Italian Legends, since it was pretty much the only way to get those cards without spending an arm and a leg? Ah... I wish I bought more now, though. heh

[@gond9166]

Nizzahon Magic that's not the point. The name of the video is " top 10 burn cards in red" so it doesn't matter if the cards are legal in standard etc. It's supposed to be a list of "The best burn cards" regardless of format.

[@KabukiKid]

His system is to give it points based on use in the Pro Tour and the likes. Specifically the professional competitive circuit. That's how he grades them. There are, obviously, great cards that miss the list because they didn't get enough play in professional contests... they just don't show on these lists because of his points system.

[@chrisne1080]

Lol IRL lightning bolt. That’s too funny

[@wp6007]

What about Boros charm?

[@Jonasz314]

Could you do a Top 10 of "Standard" over the past two month? And adjust the score based on the time it's been legal, probably as a log function since straight up linear would be too harsh for old cards. I'm just curious to see how many points a card like Goblin Chainwhirler or Teferi have racked up since becoming legal. It's ok for a card to be good, but 4x in nearly every top8 deck, that's way over the top.

[@jdust4]

I'm surprised Rift Bolt didn't make the list.

[@NizzahonMagic]

It had 36 points.

[@SeviathTheHumanDrago]

What about heat wave? Deal x amount of damage to Target creature?

[@NizzahonMagic]

It doesn't damage players so it wasn't eligible for this list. Even if it was, it has 0 points.

[@alaraplatt8104]

rip to the Fire // Ice + Isochron Scepter combo

[@Beefman.0]

Okey, I get that this is based on points, but isn’t galvanic blast just a better shock? So shouldn’t it be placed higher than it?

[@snakeman830]

Luke Beef Really can't be due to Shock getting far more chances at Standard. Were it only on eternal formats, I could see Galvanic Blast overtaking Shock in time.

[@Beefman.0]

snakeman830 understandable Have a great day

[@Beefman.0]

snakeman830 same goes for abrade being better than soaring spear, or any of the 1R lightning bolts

[@NizzahonMagic]

Abrade can't hit players, so not a perfect comparison

[@Beefman.0]

Nizzahon Magic oh sorry, I guess I kinda glanced over that... I’ve bamboozled myself

[@KabukiKid]

Fun use for Chain Lightning... shooting your own Stuffy Doll repeatedly. I think I did 12 points to an opponent once with one. ;-)

[@RagsLighthouses]

Kinda... Shocked... to not see chain lightning on here at all

[@vipper57779]

Strike is being reprinted in core btw so its still not about to rotate lol

[@slayerofmankind]

I'm surprised chain lighting isnt on your list or even fireball

[@NizzahonMagic]

Chain Lightning has only 13 points, it is overshadowed by Lightning Bolt in basically every format. Fireball has 44 points, so it didn't miss by much.

[@slayerofmankind]

Nizzahon Magic well ok great work still

[@KabukiKid]

Chain Lightning is a great one... used next to Lightning Bolt, of course. ;-) I have a deck that uses Chain Lightnings very effectively. :-)

[@Jonasz314]

I was surprised to not see Boros Charm anywhere. It's very solid in Naya Burn, but maybe too fringe to make top 10?

[@Benkenobi8118]

What about Kindle?

[@leebard9335]

No Crackling Doom?

[@sirschmoppy]

Top 10 1 drops would be a neat video

[@NizzahonMagic]

Yeah it will happen one day

[@ParadoxBassCube]

You should, at some point, make a video about how much these lists have changed since then.

[@NizzahonMagic]

Yeah there are several early lists that cold use updates, like Top 10 Planeswalkers and Top 10 Dragons. At some point I might make that a separate weekly series.

[@HeadCannon1776]

Chain lightning, lava spike ?

[@Necrotorium888]

Lava coil? Chain lightning?

[@Grenzkalle]

Why are "Lightning Strike" and "Incinerate" are not ranked in one position - They are practically identical!? (Despite your point system.)

[@movezig5]

AKA, Lightning Bolt and the top 9 other best burn spells.

[@erolgunen818]

Where is Searing Blaze? That spell is nice too

[@Vario69]

I would expect lightning bolt to have more points from vintage :/

[@gabrielransford2003]

Surprised blazing salvo didn't make the list

[@juju2421]

In cube draft, I actually rate Arc Trail slightly above Lightning Bolt.

[@kuvaytcev]

no Electrolyze? :(

[@stormcrow1685]

Александр Кувайцев I was also really expecting that one :/

[@moshpitjo1146]

no rift bolt?

[@magnight767]

you: working on statistics for lightning bolt world: casts Lightning bolt and kills your power you shoulda invested in some health increases spells or give your house's power immunity to red spells or prepared a counter spell man, i don't know what to say.

[@Necrotorium888]

Price of progress????

[@boopbop6717]

what about skewer the critics, bolt if you hit spectacle

[@NizzahonMagic]

1) This video was posted way before that card existed. 2) It still wouldn't quite make this list, but it is getting close!

[@Jason-iy9yc]

What about fireblast

[@Valech0]

Rift bolt?

[@jasonhoughton5752]

Ok so how bout top 10 draw spells

[@Krajcik1964]

The list effectively stops at Contract from Below. Everything else just lacks luster.

[@hyoroemonmeto6874]

Pog

[@hyoroemonmeto6874]

Pog

[@ThorsShadow]

@@Krajcik1964 Contract is banned, though, as it is an Ante card and you know how Nizzahon's scoring system works.

[@dolanpls3330]

So 8 cards that aren't as good as acenstrall recall or brainstorm? Lol

[@gabrielkay6866]

Fire/Ice wouldn't be able to imprint on Isochron Scepter, the cmc of the card is 4

[@russellclement6633]

True since 2017 rule change on split cards. But it seems the card's gotten its success from '05-'12, where its cmc would've still counted as "2" for either choice back then.

[@NizzahonMagic]

Yeah that was an Extended deck, long before that ruling.

[@gabrielkay6866]

Even with the current ruling, the stick is my favorite card ^°^

[@russellclement6633]

Oh, there are SO many great instant 1-2 drops to abuse w/ it. I personally enjoy "sticking" other people by "Swerve"ing or "Redirect"ing their own spells to 'un'intended targets.

[@CrimsonHiroX07]

We all know bolt is first, but the real question is, which bolt..... not really.... there's no question which bolt it is... Also, where does chain lightning and lava spike fall(roughtly) on the list??

[@BarginsGalore]

I think punishing fire should be on here but I know it probably won’t