Puncture Bolt

Instant, 1R (2)

Puncture Bolt deals 1 damage to target creature. Put a -1/-1 counter on that creature.

Cinder pyromancers measure their success by counting their enemies' smoking holes.

Illus. Franz Vohwinkel

Gatherer Card Rulings?, Legality?

• 5/1/2008: Puncture Bolt will resolve fully (and give the creature a -1/-1 counter) even if the 1 damage would be enough to destroy it. (This would matter if a 3/3 creature with persist had already been dealt 2 damage, for example.)
• 5/1/2008: If you target a creature with 2 toughness, Puncture Bolt deals 1 damage to it, then puts a -1/-1 counter on it, which reduces it to 1 toughness. The creature will be destroyed as a result of lethal damage. Regeneration could save it.
• 5/1/2008: If you target a creature with 1 toughness, Puncture Bolt deals 1 damage to it, then puts a -1/-1 counter on it, which reduces it to 0 toughness. The creature will be put into its owner's graveyard as a result of having 0 toughness. Regeneration can't save it.

• Legal in Vintage (Type 1)
• Legal in Legacy (Type 1.5)
• Legal in Classic (MTGO)
• Legal in Commander
• Legal in Modern