Rending Volley MTG Card


Targeted destruction at instant speed disrupts opponent strategies during critical turns. Its uncounterable nature ensures removal against blue or white creatures is guaranteed. Whether in your main deck or sideboard, Rending Volley is a tactical game changer.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Text of card

Rending Volley can't be countered by spells or abilities. Rending Volley deals 4 damage to target white or blue creature.

The sky offers few hiding places.


Cards like Rending Volley

Rending Volley is a specialized removal tool within the vast array of removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. This card is often compared to others like Red Elemental Blast or Pyroblast, which can also target blue spells or blue permanents. However, Rending Volley has an uncounterable feature, guaranteeing its effect even against decks with heavy counter-magic presence.

Another similar spell to consider is Fry. This card can deal with creatures or planeswalkers that are white or blue, offering a broader range of targets, with the added perk of dealing 5 damage. Despite that, Rending Volley’s lower mana cost gives it an edge in faster-paced games, where efficiency is key. Then there’s Combust, which shares the uncounterable aspect and can deal with white and blue creatures without the damage being prevented. Its flexibility in being able to target white creatures makes it a contender, but the increased cost and the specific damage requirement give Rending Volley a unique position.

Upon evaluation, Rending Volley shakes up the meta, finely situated in Magic: The Gathering’s suite of direct damage spells, with its niche uncounterable quality and cost effectiveness for dealing with blue threats.

Red Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Pyroblast - MTG Card versions
Fry - MTG Card versions
Combust - MTG Card versions
Red Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Pyroblast - MTG Card versions
Fry - MTG Card versions
Combust - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Rending Volley by color, type and mana cost

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March of Reckless Joy - MTG Card versions
Burst Lightning - MTG Card versions
Fever Charm - MTG Card versions
False Orders - MTG Card versions
Chaoslace - MTG Card versions
Red Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Tunnel - MTG Card versions
Artifact Blast - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Active Volcano - MTG Card versions
Shock - MTG Card versions
Panic - MTG Card versions
Vertigo - MTG Card versions
Telim'Tor's Edict - MTG Card versions
Hearth Charm - MTG Card versions
Pyroblast - MTG Card versions
Fighting Chance - MTG Card versions
Shower of Sparks - MTG Card versions
Heat Ray - MTG Card versions
Overload - MTG Card versions
March of Reckless Joy - MTG Card versions
Burst Lightning - MTG Card versions
Fever Charm - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Rending Volley. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
All Other DecklistsAll Other Decklists PioneerRakdos BurnNRG Series $5,000 Trial - Madison, Wisconsin (Pioneer)
DecklistDecklist PioneerBoros ConvokeNRG Series $5,000 Trial - Madison, Wisconsin (Pioneer)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Rending Volley doesn’t draw you cards, it offers a virtual card advantage by efficiently dealing with high-value targets, such as creatures with protection from a specific color, ensuring you’re not outpaced in creature-on-creature matchups.

Resource Acceleration: Though it does not directly provide resource acceleration, Rending Volley’s low mana cost allows for a minimal investment when responding to threats. This enables you to allocate resources elsewhere, maintaining the tempo vital for victory.

Instant Speed: The instant speed of Rending Volley gives you the flexibility to dispatch creatures during your opponent’s turn, potentially disrupting their strategy. Ideal for intercepting pivotal plays, it keeps the opponent guessing and preserves your board state.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike other cards that might provide utility or advantage without additional costs, Rending Volley does not entail such trade-offs. As a non-factor in its usage, players don’t have to worry about losing hand advantage when deploying this spell.

Specific Mana Cost: Rending Volley requires red mana to cast, which commits it unequivocally to red or multi-colored decks. Players exclusively running other colors cannot benefit from this sniper-like spell unless they adapt their mana base accordingly.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Rending Volley’s mana cost is relatively low at a single red mana, its niche application against only blue or white creatures may feel costly compared to more versatile removal spells within the same mana range.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Rending Volley is a flexible sideboard option that fits seamlessly into most red-centric strategies. Its ability to unconditionally destroy key blue or white creatures at instant speed allows for surprising and crucial plays.

Combo Potential: This spell is often a trump card against decks that rely on pivotal creatures like Deceiver Exarch or Baneslayer Angel. By disrupting these combos or threats efficiently, Rending Volley ensures your strategic plays go uninterrupted.

Meta-Relevance: In a landscape dominated by blue Delver decks or white-based aggro and midrange, Rending Volley serves as a tailored answer. Its specificity and low mana cost mean it excels as a sideboard card in a meta brimming with formidable blue or white creatures.


How to beat

Rending Volley is a potent weapon in any player’s arsenal when facing decks heavy on white or blue creatures. Its undeniable advantage lies in its uncounterable nature and low mana cost, allowing you to remove key threats swiftly and without fear of rebuttal. Nevertheless, facing this card isn’t hopeless; flexibility in deck design and strategic play are your best defenses. Consider diversifying your creature’s color identity to mitigate Rending Volley’s impact, steering clear of relying solely on white or blue creatures. In addition, incorporating instant-speed hexproof granting spells or cards that can grant protection to a creature type can counteract the destructive power of Rending Volley.

Proactive measures can also tip the scales in your favor. Running counterspells to intercept other threats can alleviate the pressure and maintaining a reserve of creatures to play post-Rending Volley helps recover from any potential setbacks. Ultimately, being aware of Rending Volley in your opponent’s meta allows for appropriate sideboarding and planning, turning a potential game-ender into a manageable hurdle within the ever-evolving landscape of Magic: The Gathering.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rending Volley MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Explorer Anthology 2, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Rending Volley and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rending Volley Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2022-12-13. Illustrated by Lucas Graciano.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-03-27Dragons of TarkirDTK 1502015NormalBlackLucas Graciano
22022-12-13Explorer Anthology 2EA2 142015NormalBlackLucas Graciano

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rending Volley has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
BrawlLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal