Electrolyze 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.
Official card text
Electrolyze deals 2 damage divided as you choose among one or two targets. Draw a card.
Complete guide
Electrolyze is a classic Izzet instant that perfectly encapsulates the efficiency of blue and red magic. By combining targeted damage with card advantage, it serves as a versatile tool for maintaining board control while keeping your hand full.
Dividing the Damage
When you cast Electrolyze, you must choose your targets and how the 2 damage is divided immediately. You have two options: deal 2 damage to a single target or deal 1 damage to each of two separate targets. You cannot choose zero targets, and if you choose two targets, each must be assigned at least 1 damage.
Resolving the Spell
Upon resolution, Electrolyze checks its targets. If you chose two targets and one is no longer legal, the remaining legal target still receives exactly the amount of damage you assigned during casting (1 damage). If all chosen targets become illegal before resolution, the entire spell is removed from the stack, meaning no damage is dealt and you do not draw a card.
When to Cast
This spell is most effective when used to pick off small creatures with 1 toughness or to finish off a weakened planeswalker while cycling through your deck. Because it is an instant, it is an excellent response to an opponent's combat tricks or end-of-turn maneuvers.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is assuming that if one target disappears, the remaining damage 'rolls over' to the other target. This is not the case; the division is locked in at the moment of casting. Another mistake is forgetting that the card draw only happens if at least one target remains legal when the spell resolves.
Interaction examples
Izzet PolarizerWhen your Izzet Polarizer dies, you can conjure Electrolyze directly into your hand. This allows you to surprise your opponent by having a removal and draw spell ready even if your hand was previously empty of interaction.
Chaos WarpIf you target two creatures with Electrolyze and an opponent uses Chaos Warp to remove one of them, Electrolyze will still resolve. It deals 1 damage to the remaining creature and you draw a card. However, if they Warp the only target you selected, Electrolyze fails to resolve and you do not draw.
CounterspellIf you cast Electrolyze and your opponent responds with Counterspell, the entire spell is countered. You will not deal any damage and you will not get to draw a card, resulting in a loss of card parity for you.
IonizeIn a stack battle, you might cast Electrolyze to kill a small threat. If your opponent tries to protect it with a spell, you can use Ionize to counter their protection, ensuring your Electrolyze resolves, deals its damage, and draws you into more answers.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Electrolyze
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You divide the damage as you cast Electrolyze, not as it resolves. Each target must be assigned at least 1 damage. In other words, as you cast Electrolyze, you choose whether to have it deal 2 damage to a single target, or deal 1 damage to each of two targets.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If Electrolyze targets two creatures and one becomes an illegal target, the remaining target is dealt 1 damage, not 2. You'll still draw a card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If all chosen targets are illegal as Electrolyze tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. No damage will be dealt and you won't draw a card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Interactions with other cards
These cards' text mentions Electrolyze.
Related cards and tokens
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Electrolyze
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.