Electrostatic Field 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
Defender Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, this creature deals 1 damage to each opponent.
Complete guide
Electrostatic Field is a reliable red defender that turns every spell in your arsenal into direct damage. By sitting on the battlefield and shocking your opponents for every instant or sorcery, it transforms a defensive position into a ticking clock for your rivals.
What it Does
Electrostatic Field is a creature with Defender, meaning it cannot attack. Its primary utility comes from its triggered ability: every time you cast an instant or sorcery spell, the Field deals 1 damage to each opponent. This effect happens automatically and targets all opponents simultaneously, making it especially potent in multiplayer formats.
Step-by-Step Resolution
When you cast an instant or sorcery, the spell is placed on the stack. Before that spell resolves, Electrostatic Field's ability triggers and is placed on top of the stack. The damage is dealt first. Even if your opponent counters your original spell, the 1 damage from the Field has already triggered and will still resolve unless the ability itself is countered.
Common Mistakes
Players often forget that the damage is dealt upon 'casting' the spell, not when the spell resolves. Additionally, in team formats like Two-Headed Giant, the Field deals 1 damage to each opponent individually. Since the opposing team shares a life total, they will lose a total of 2 life per trigger.
When to Play It
This card belongs in 'Spellslinger' decks where you plan to cast multiple low-cost spells in a single turn. It acts as a bridge, blocking early aggressive creatures with its high toughness while providing a win condition that ignores the combat phase entirely.
Interaction examples
Ornithopter of ParadiseWith Electrostatic Field on the board, you tap Ornithopter of Paradise for one Red mana. You use this mana to help pay for a cheap instant like Shock. The moment you finish casting Shock, Electrostatic Field triggers, dealing 1 damage to your opponent before Shock even hits its target.
Professional Face-BreakerIf you have Professional Face-Breaker on the battlefield, you might hope to get Treasure tokens from Electrostatic Field's damage. However, Professional Face-Breaker requires 'combat damage' to trigger. Since Electrostatic Field has Defender and its ability deals non-combat damage, it will not trigger the Face-Breaker's Treasure-generating ability.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Electrostatic Field
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
In a Two-Headed Giant game, Electrostatic Field's triggered ability causes the opposing team to lose 2 life.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Electrostatic Field's triggered ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Worldfire + Electrostatic Field + Fork
- 1Cast Worldfire.
- 2Electrostatic Field triggers.
- 3Holding priority, cast Fork targeting Worldfire.
- 4Resolve the copy of Worldfire, exiling all permanents and cards from players' hands and setting all player's life totals to one.
- 5Resolve the Electrostatic Field trigger, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Electrostatic Field
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.