Volt Charge 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
Volt Charge deals 3 damage to any target. Proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
Complete guide
Volt Charge is a versatile red instant that combines direct damage with the powerful Proliferate mechanic. Whether you are boosting your own planeswalkers or poisoning your opponents, this spell provides utility that goes far beyond a simple lightning bolt. Understanding the timing of its effects is key to maximizing your board state.
What It Does
Volt Charge performs two distinct actions in order: it deals 3 damage to any target and then you Proliferate. To Proliferate, you choose any number of players and/or permanents that already have counters and add another counter of each kind already there. This includes +1/+1 counters, loyalty counters on planeswalkers, and even poison counters on players.
How It Resolves Step by Step
First, the 3 damage is dealt to the target. If the target is a permanent, it is marked with damage; if it is a player, their life total is reduced. Second, you choose the permanents and players to Proliferate. Note that you do not choose these targets when casting the spell; you make the choice during resolution. Finally, every chosen object or player receives one additional counter for every type they already possessed.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error occurs when the target of Volt Charge becomes illegal, such as being shuffled away by Chaos Warp or gaining Hexproof. If the target is no longer valid, the entire spell fails to resolve, and you will not get to Proliferate. Additionally, remember that if a permanent has multiple types of counters (like a +1/+1 and a Shield counter), Proliferate gives it one of each; you cannot pick and choose which specific counters to add.
When to Play It
Volt Charge is best played when you can leverage the Proliferate effect to tip the scales. Use it at the end of an opponent's turn to tick up a planeswalker toward an ultimate ability, or use the damage to remove a blocker while simultaneously strengthening your own creatures. Because players cannot respond once you start choosing Proliferate targets, it is a very reliable way to finish off a game.
Interaction examples
Deflecting SwatIf you cast Volt Charge targeting your opponent, they can respond with Deflecting Swat to change the target of the 3 damage to one of your creatures. However, they cannot change who gets to Proliferate. You, as the controller of Volt Charge, still choose which permanents and players receive additional counters when the spell resolves.
Chaos WarpIf you target a creature with Volt Charge and your opponent responds by casting Chaos Warp on that same creature, the creature is shuffled into the library. When Volt Charge attempts to resolve, its only target is gone. Because the target is illegal, the spell is removed from the stack without resolving, and you do not Proliferate.
Suppose you control a planeswalker with 4 loyalty and your opponent is at 3 life. You cast Volt Charge targeting the opponent. The opponent takes 3 damage, dropping to 0 life. Even though the game ends immediately, if it were to continue, you would then choose your planeswalker to Proliferate, moving its loyalty to 5.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Volt Charge
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If a player or permanent has more than one kind of counter on it, and you choose for it to get additional counters, it must get one of each kind of counter it already has. You can't have it get just one kind of counter it already has and not the others.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
To proliferate, you can choose any permanent that has a counter, including ones controlled by opponents. You can choose any player who has a counter, including opponents. You can't choose cards in any zone other than the battlefield, even if they have counters on them.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
You don't have to choose every permanent or player that has a counter, only the ones you want to add another counter to. Since "any number" includes zero, you don't have to choose any permanents at all, and you don't have to choose any players at all.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent ever has both +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters on it at the same time, they're removed in pairs as a state-based action so that the permanent has only one of those kinds of counters on it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
An ability that triggers "Whenever you proliferate" triggers even if you chose no permanents or players while doing so.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
Players can respond to a spell or ability whose effect includes proliferating. Once that spell or ability starts to resolve, however, and its controller chooses which permanents and players will get new counters, it's too late for anyone to respond.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
If the permanent or player is an illegal target when Volt Charge tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won't proliferate.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Volt Charge
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.