Chain Lightning is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
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Official card text
Chain Lightning deals 3 damage to any target. Then that player or that permanent's controller may pay. If the player does, they may copy this spell and may choose a new target for that copy.
How it works : Chain Lightning
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
As Chain Lightning resolves, either the original or one of the copies, the targeted player or the controller of the targeted permanent may copy it. The copy has the same text, target, and color as the resolving spell, though the player creating the copy may choose a new target for it. Once that copy is created (or not), the Chain Lightning finishes resolving and leaves the stack.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
The player putting the copy of the spell on the stack controls that copy.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The copy of Chain Lightning is created on the stack, so it's not cast. Abilities that trigger when a player casts a spell won't trigger. Players may respond to that spell before it resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If the targeted player or permanent is an illegal target as Chain Lightning tries to resolve, the spell doesn't resolve and none of its effects happen. It can't be copied.
No other card is named in this ruling.
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Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
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#1
Smaug the Impenetrable + Chain Lightning
Infinite Treasure tokensInfinite colored manaInfinite magecraft triggersInfinite artifact ETB
- 1Cast Chain Lightning by paying , dealing 3 damage to Smaug, Then, choose to pay to copy Chain Lightning, with the copy targeting Smaug.
- 2Smaug triggers, creating three Treasure tokens.
- 3Holding priority, activate two Treasures by tapping and sacrificing them, adding .
- 4Resolve Chain Lightning, dealing 3 damage to Smaug, Then, choose to pay to copy Chain Lightning, with the copy targeting Smaug.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
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#2
Brash Taunter + Storm-Kiln Artist + Chain Lightning + Cursed Mirror
Infinite artifact ETBInfinite artifact LTBInfinite damageInfinite magecraft triggers
- 1Cast Cursed Mirror by paying
, choosing to have it enter the battlefield as a copy of Storm-Kiln Artist until end of turn. - 2Cast Chain Lightning by paying , targeting Brash Taunter.
- 3Storm-Kiln Artist and Cursed Mirror each trigger, creating two Treasure tokens.
- 4Activate both Treasure tokens by tapping and sacrificing them, adding .
- 5Resolve Chain Lightning, dealing 3 damage to Brash Taunter, and causing you to pay to copy Chain Lightning, targeting Brash Taunter.
- 6Brash Taunter, Storm-Kiln Artist, and Cursed Mirror each trigger.
- 7Resolve the Brash Taunter trigger, dealing 3 damage to an opponent.
- 8Resolve the Storm-Kiln Artist and Cursed Mirror triggers, creating two Treasure tokens.
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#3
Brash Taunter + Storm-Kiln Artist + Chain Lightning + Goldspan Dragon
Infinite artifact ETBInfinite artifact LTBInfinite damageInfinite magecraft triggers
- 1Cast Chain Lightning by paying , targeting Brash Taunter.
- 2Storm-Kiln Artist triggers, creating a Treasure token.
- 3Activate the Treasure token by tapping and sacrificing it, adding .
- 4Resolve Chain Lightning, dealing 3 damage to Brash Taunter, and causing you to pay to copy Chain Lightning, targeting Brash Taunter.
- 5Brash Taunter and Storm-Kiln Artist each trigger.
- 6Resolve the Brash Taunter trigger, dealing 3 damage to an opponent.
- 7Resolve the Storm-Kiln Artist trigger, creating a Treasure token.
- 8Repeat from step 3.
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#4
Raphael, Ninja Destroyer + Chain Lightning
Infinite red mana
- 1Cast Chain Lightning by paying , dealing 3 damage to Raphael and then causing you to pay to copy Chain Lightning, with the copy targeting Raphael.
- 2Raphael triggers, adding .
- 3Resolve the Chain Lightning copy, dealing 3 damage to Raphael and then causing you to pay to copy Chain Lightning, with the copy targeting Raphael.
- 4Repeat from step 2.
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#5
Brash Taunter + Storm-Kiln Artist + Chain Lightning + Xorn
Infinite artifact ETBInfinite artifact LTBInfinite damageInfinite magecraft triggers
- 1Cast Chain Lightning by paying , targeting Brash Taunter.
- 2Storm-Kiln Artist triggers, creating two Treasure tokens.
- 3Activate both Treasure tokens by tapping and sacrificing them, adding .
- 4Resolve Chain Lightning, dealing 3 damage to Brash Taunter, and causing you to pay to copy Chain Lightning, targeting Brash Taunter.
- 5Brash Taunter and Storm-Kiln Artist each trigger.
- 6Resolve the Brash Taunter trigger, dealing 3 damage to an opponent.
- 7Resolve the Storm-Kiln Artist trigger, creating two Treasure tokens.
- 8Repeat from step 3.
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#6
Brash Taunter + Storm-Kiln Artist + Chain Lightning + Mirage Mirror
Infinite artifact ETBInfinite artifact LTBInfinite damageInfinite magecraft triggers
- 1Activate Mirage Mirror by paying , causing it to become a copy of Storm-Kiln Artist until end of turn.
- 2Cast Chain Lightning by paying , targeting Brash Taunter.
- 3Storm-Kiln Artist and Mirage Mirror each trigger, creating two Treasure tokens.
- 4Activate both Treasure tokens by tapping and sacrificing them, adding .
- 5Resolve Chain Lightning, dealing 3 damage to Brash Taunter, and causing you to pay to copy Chain Lightning, targeting Brash Taunter.
- 6Brash Taunter, Storm-Kiln Artist, and Mirage Mirror each trigger.
- 7Resolve the Brash Taunter trigger, dealing 3 damage to an opponent.
- 8Resolve the Storm-Kiln Artist and Mirage Mirror triggers, creating two Treasure tokens.
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#7
Jolene, the Plunder Queen + Brash Taunter + Storm-Kiln Artist + Chain Lightning
Infinite artifact ETBInfinite artifact LTBInfinite damageInfinite magecraft triggers
- 1Cast Chain Lightning by paying , targeting Brash Taunter.
- 2Storm-Kiln Artist triggers, creating two Treasure tokens.
- 3Activate both Treasure tokens by tapping and sacrificing them, adding .
- 4Resolve Chain Lightning, dealing 3 damage to Brash Taunter, and causing you to pay to copy Chain Lightning, targeting Brash Taunter.
- 5Brash Taunter and Storm-Kiln Artist each trigger.
- 6Resolve the Brash Taunter trigger, dealing 3 damage to an opponent.
- 7Resolve the Storm-Kiln Artist trigger, creating two Treasure tokens.
- 8Repeat from step 3.
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#8
Vigor + Crystalline Crawler + Chain Lightning
Infinite colored manaInfinite magecraft triggersInfinite storm countInfinite +1/+1 counters on creatures you control
- 1Cast Chain Lightning by paying , targeting Crystalline Crawler.
- 2Resolve Chain Lightning, putting three +1/+1 counters on Crystalline Crawler due to Vigor and choosing to pay to create a copy of Chain Lightning targeting Crystalline Crawler.
- 3Holding priority, activate Crystalline Crawler's first ability twice by removing two +1/+1 counters from it, adding .
- 4Repeat from step 2.
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Legal formats
historictimelessgladiatorlegacypaupervintagecommanderoathbreakerbrawlcompetitivebrawlpaupercommanderduelpredhtlr
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Meta decks with Chain Lightning
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.