While Concussive Bolt can be an extremely powerful card, it is by no means a bomb. My definition of a bomb is any card that can effect a major, game-changing influence on the board state, _independent of any other card_. These are cards like ‘Wrath’ effects, creatures that win games by themselves (I once won a game having played only four Mountains and a Kargan Dragonlord), or anything that generates massive card advantage. Sunblast Angel is a situational bomb-it does require a certain board state to be most effective, but a 4/5 flyer will win games by itself. Bolt, on the other hand, requires a very specific board state-one easily disrupted by an opponent-to be effective at all.

:p

Was the ‘strictly better’ comment meant as a joke? It’s been something of a gruesome encore lately…

I disagree! Opening bombs is nice, but simple cards, like a concussive bolt are huge bombs in proper decks. And, of course, mulliganing is less important if you don’t splash too much.

I agree! Mulliganing is easily one of the most advanced skills in Magic-especially after certain recent rules changes >.> However, I disagree with you about bombs; Admittedly, they don’t usually take much finesse to cast, but a skilled player will be able to affect the game state over time to better accommodate their few powerful cards (this is one of the basic tenets of control philosophy).

Additionally, making the right decisions in picking and splashing bombs is a skill in itself. For example: in the most recent Limited Resources, Marshall and Ryan play a third color for Sunblast Angel. Now, some of my colleagues would be uncomfortable with that, but I feel that M&R explained their reasoning very well: they considered their mana needs against the potential of the Angel, and decided the juice (risk) was worth the squeeze (reward).

Also, I’ve a soft spot for Infect

The splash raises the value of good mulligan skills, which is my undoing. It seems like you don’t share my failing. I’d go so far as to say this format is largely about opening bombs and mulliganing wisely. No skill, and the hardest skill in magic to master.