Price$0.80 – $623.15
Buy on TCGplayerLightning Bolt
Instant
LegalRemovalEDHREC #155
Lightning Bolt deals 3 damage to any target.
Why is this card good?
Lightning Bolt is the gold standard of efficient red removal — one mana for 3 damage to anything, instant speed, no restrictions. In a format defined by big mana and bigger threats, that flexibility is exactly why it stays relevant.
The 3 damage doesn't kill most commanders, but Bolt isn't really a creature-removal card in EDH. Its value is reach and tempo: finishing opponents in aggressive red decks, killing problematic low-toughness utility creatures (mana dorks, Dockside Extortionist, Esper Sentinel, hatebears), and protecting your board by burning blockers or attackers. It also pings planeswalkers and, crucially, can go to the dome as a finisher in burn or storm-adjacent builds.
Best in: aggressive/spellslinger red decks, low-curve cEDH lists, and any deck wanting cheap interaction against fast combos and mana acceleration.
Skip it if: your deck is grindy, multiplayer-control-oriented, or full of fat creatures — 3 damage rarely matters there, and you'd prefer unconditional removal like Swords or Chaos Warp.
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