Quick Answer

Lightning Coils is a rare Artifact from MRD (MRD) costing {3}. Current price: $0.62 USD. Legal in Modern. Legal in Commander.

Lightning Coils MTG card

Lightning Coils

Artifact

Card Text

Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, put a charge counter on this artifact. At the beginning of your upkeep, if this artifact has five or more charge counters on it, remove all of them from it and create that many 3/1 red Elemental creature tokens with haste. Exile them at the beginning of the next end step.

Card Stats

rare CMC: 3.0 MRD MRD 🎨 Brian Snõddy

Market Prices

TCGPlayer
$0.62
Normal
Buy
TCGPlayer
$3.51
Foil
Buy
Card Kingdom
$0.79
Normal
Buy
Card Kingdom
$2.49
Foil
Buy
Cardmarket
€0.50
Normal
Buy
Cardmarket
€1.71
Foil
Buy
Prices updated: 2025-12-04

Format Legality

Commander Legal
Duel Legal
Legacy Legal
Modern Legal
Oathbreaker Legal
Penny Legal
Predh Legal
Vintage Legal

Similar Cards

Other Printings (2 total)

Community Stats

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Decks Using This Card
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Comments

Often Played With

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lightning Coils? Basics

Lightning Coils is a Artifact card from the Magic: The Gathering trading card game.

Its ability reads: "Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, put a charge counter on this artifact. At the beginning of your upkeep, if this artifact has five or more charge counters on it, remove all of them from it and create that many 3/1 red Elemental creature tokens with haste. Exile them at the beginning of the next end step."

How much mana does Lightning Coils cost to cast? Basics

Lightning Coils has a mana cost of {3}, which equals 3.0 total mana (converted mana cost/mana value).

It is a colorless card and can be cast with any color of mana.

What does mana cost mean in Magic: The Gathering? Basics

Mana cost is the amount and type of mana required to cast a spell in Magic: The Gathering.

Lightning Coils's mana cost of {3} means you need to pay that much mana from your lands or other sources.

Colored symbols (W=White, U=Blue, B=Black, R=Red, G=Green) must be paid with that specific color, while numbers can be paid with any color.

What is converted mana cost (CMC) or mana value? Basics

Converted mana cost (now officially called "mana value") is the total amount of mana in a card's mana cost, regardless of color.

Lightning Coils has a mana value of 3.0. This is important for effects that care about a spell's total cost, like cascade or cards that say "mana value 3 or less."

What is oracle text? Basics

Oracle text is the official, current rules text for a Magic card as maintained by Wizards of the Coast. It supersedes any printed text on older cards.

Lightning Coils's current oracle text is: "Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, put a charge counter on this artifact. At the beginning of your upkeep, if this artifact has five or more charge counters on it, remove all of them from it and create that many 3/1 red Elemental creature tokens with haste. Exile them at the beginning of the next end step."

What is the current price of Lightning Coils? Pricing

The current market price for Lightning Coils is approximately $0.62 USD on TCGPlayer.

A foil copy costs approximately $3.51 USD.

On Cardmarket (Europe), it's approximately €0.5 EUR.

Where can I buy Lightning Coils? Pricing

You can purchase Lightning Coils from major MTG retailers including:

Prices vary by condition and printing. Check multiple sellers to find the best price.

What is the difference between normal and foil cards? Pricing

Foil cards have a shiny, holographic finish that makes them more collectible. They are functionally identical to normal cards but typically cost more due to their rarity and visual appeal.

Lightning Coils normal: $0.62 | foil: $3.51

Is Lightning Coils legal in Standard? Legality

Format legality information for Lightning Coils in Standard is not available.

Standard is a rotating format that only allows cards from the most recent sets.

Is Lightning Coils legal in Modern? Legality

Lightning Coils is Legal in Modern format.

Modern includes all cards printed in a standard-legal set from 8th Edition forward.

Is Lightning Coils legal in Commander (EDH)? Legality

Lightning Coils is Legal in Commander (EDH) format.

Commander is a casual multiplayer format where you build a 100-card singleton deck around a legendary creature.

Is Lightning Coils legal in Pioneer? Legality

Format legality information for Lightning Coils in Pioneer is not available.

Pioneer is a non-rotating format that includes all standard-legal sets from Return to Ravnica forward.

Is Lightning Coils legal in Legacy? Legality

Lightning Coils is Legal in Legacy format.

Legacy allows almost all cards ever printed, with a substantial ban list for balance.

Is Lightning Coils legal in Vintage? Legality

Lightning Coils is Legal in Vintage format.

Vintage is the most permissive format, allowing almost all cards with only a minimal ban list. Some powerful cards are "Restricted" (limited to 1 copy).

Is Lightning Coils legal in Pauper? Legality

Format legality information for Lightning Coils in Pauper is not available.

Pauper only allows cards that have been printed at common rarity in a paper or online set.

What is format legality in MTG? Legality

Format legality indicates which official MTG formats allow a card to be played:

  • Legal: Card is allowed in the format
  • Banned: Card is prohibited from play
  • Restricted: Limited to 1 copy (Vintage only)
  • Not Legal: Card was never part of that format's card pool

Different formats have different banned lists based on power level and game balance.

What set is Lightning Coils from? Details

This printing of Lightning Coils is from MRD (MRD), with collector number 198.

Lightning Coils may also appear in other MTG sets with different art or special treatments.

What is Lightning Coils's rarity? Details

Lightning Coils is a rare card in MRD.

Card rarity affects both availability and price. From rarest to most common: Mythic Rare → Rare → Uncommon → Common.

Who illustrated Lightning Coils? Details

Lightning Coils was illustrated by Brian Snõddy.

Magic: The Gathering features artwork from hundreds of talented artists, and many cards have been reprinted with new art over the years.

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