Lava Spike 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
Lava Spike deals 3 damage to target player or planeswalker.
Complete guide
Lava Spike is a quintessential piece of red burn decks, offering a highly efficient way to chip away at your opponent's life total. Though its effect is straightforward, its status as an Arcane spell adds unique synergy and depth to your gameplay. Understanding when and how to deploy this sorcery is key to maximizing your aggressive strategy.
What It Does
Lava Spike is a Sorcery that deals 3 damage to a target player or a target planeswalker for just one red mana. Notably, it has the Arcane subtype; while 'Arcane' itself doesn't grant any special powers, it allows the card to interact with 'Splice onto Arcane' abilities and other effects that trigger specifically when you cast Arcane spells.
How It Resolves
When you cast Lava Spike, you must choose a valid target immediately—either an opponent or a planeswalker they control. As a Sorcery, you can only cast it during your main phase while the stack is empty. If the target becomes illegal before resolution (for instance, if a player gains Hexproof), the entire spell is removed from the stack and deals no damage. If the target remains legal, the spell resolves, dealing 3 damage and then going to your graveyard.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is trying to target a creature with Lava Spike; unlike Lightning Bolt, this spell is strictly limited to players and planeswalkers. Additionally, players sometimes forget that it is a Sorcery, attempting to cast it during an opponent's turn or in response to a spell. Always remember that its timing is restricted to your own turn.
When to Play It
Lava Spike is best used early to apply pressure or late to finish off a weakened opponent. Because it cannot hit creatures, you should prioritize using it when you don't need to interact with the board and simply want to decrease your opponent's life total as fast as possible.
Interaction examples
On turn one, you play a Mountain and cast Lava Spike targeting your opponent. The spell resolves, your opponent's life total drops from 20 to 17, and Lava Spike is placed in your graveyard.
Faithless LootingIf you need to find more damage, you can cast Faithless Looting to draw two cards. If you draw a Lava Spike, you can then spend one red mana to cast it, dealing 3 damage to a planeswalker your opponent controls.
VandalblastYour opponent has an Ensnaring Bridge preventing you from attacking. You cast Vandalblast to destroy the artifact, then follow up with Lava Spike to deal damage directly to the player now that their defenses are lowered.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Lava Spike
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Arcane is a spell subtype that has no inherent rules meaning. It may be referenced by effects from other cards.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Izzet Guildmage + Lava Spike + Desperate Ritual
- 1Cast Lava Spike by paying
and choosing to pay 
and reveal Desperate Ritual from your hand, adding Desperate Ritual's effects onto Lava Spike, with Lava Spike targeting an opponent. - 2Cast Desperate Ritual by paying , adding .
- 3Activate Izzet Guildmage's second ability by paying
, copying Lava Spike, targeting an opponent. - 4Resolve the copy of Lava Spike, adding and dealing three damage to an opponent.
- 5Repeat from step 4.
Mirror Sheen + Lava Spike + Desperate Ritual
- 1Cast Lava Spike, targeting yourself.
- 2Splice Desperate Ritual onto Lava Spike.
- 3Hold priority and activate Mirror Sheen, targeting Lava Spike.
- 4Have the copy of Lava Spike target another player.
- 5Resolve the copy of Lava Spike.
- 6Using the RRR from the copy of Lava Spike's text from Desperate Ritual, activate Mirror Sheen, targeting Lava Spike.
- 7Repeat.
- 8Cast Lava Spike by paying its mana cost, targeting yourself.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Lava Spike
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.