Lightning Storm — ruling 1

Lightning Storm has an activated ability that can be activated only while the spell is on the stack. Any player may activate that ability. When the ability is activated, it goes on the stack on top of Lightning Storm. When the ability resolves, the Lightning Storm spell is affected.

Lightning Storm — ruling 2

When you cast Lightning Storm, you immediately have a chance to activate its ability since you’ll have priority. If you don’t, and all other players pass, the spell will resolve. You won’t receive priority again — and thus won’t get another chance to activate its ability — unless someone else activates Lightning Storm’s activated ability, casts some other spell, or activates some other ability.

Lightning Storm — ruling 3

After an instance of Lightning Storm’s activated ability resolves, the active player (not Lightning Storm’s controller) receives priority.

Lightning Storm — ruling 4

When Lightning Storm’s activated ability resolves, if there are no other legal targets to choose for the Lightning Storm spell, you must leave the target the same, even if it’s now an illegal target.

Lightning Storm — ruling 5

When Lightning Storm leaves the stack, its charge counters go away.

Lightning Storm : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Lightning Storm 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

Lightning Storm deals X damage to any target, where X is 3 plus the number of charge counters on Lightning Storm. Discard a land card: Put two charge counters on Lightning Storm. You may choose a new target for it. Any player may activate this ability but only if Lightning Storm is on the stack.

How it works : Lightning Storm

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1July 15, 2006· Wizards of the Coast
Lightning Storm has an activated ability that can be activated only while the spell is on the stack. Any player may activate that ability. When the ability is activated, it goes on the stack on top of Lightning Storm. When the ability resolves, the Lightning Storm spell is affected.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2July 15, 2006· Wizards of the Coast
When you cast Lightning Storm, you immediately have a chance to activate its ability since you’ll have priority. If you don’t, and all other players pass, the spell will resolve. You won’t receive priority again — and thus won’t get another chance to activate its ability — unless someone else activates Lightning Storm’s activated ability, casts some other spell, or activates some other ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3July 15, 2006· Wizards of the Coast
After an instance of Lightning Storm’s activated ability resolves, the active player (not Lightning Storm’s controller) receives priority.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4July 15, 2006· Wizards of the Coast
When Lightning Storm’s activated ability resolves, if there are no other legal targets to choose for the Lightning Storm spell, you must leave the target the same, even if it’s now an illegal target.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5July 15, 2006· Wizards of the Coast
When Lightning Storm leaves the stack, its charge counters go away.
No other card is named in this ruling.