| Set: |  Blackrock Mountain |
|---|---|
| Type: | Spell |
| Spell school: | Fire |
| Class: |  Shaman |
| Rarity: |  Rare |
| Cost: | 2  |
| Abilities: | Deal damage |
| Wiki tags: | Mana-related, Overload-related, Targeted |
| Artist: | Zoltan Boros |
Chocolate lava cake is shockingly delicious.
Lava Shock is a rare shaman spell card, from the Blackrock Mountain set.
How to get
Two copies of regular Lava Shock are obtained by completing the shaman Class Challenge in Blackrock Mountain, unlocked upon completing the Molten Core wing.
As a Wild-format card, both regular and golden versions of Lava Shock can also be crafted for the following amounts:
| Card | Crafting cost | Disenchanting |
|---|---|---|
| Lava Shock | 100 | 20 |
| Golden Lava Shock | 800 | 100 |
Notes
- This spell has two steps:
- First it deals damage, queuing and resolving all on-damage triggers;
- Then, it unlocks (and refills) all your Overloaded Mana Crystals (increasing your current available mana accordingly) and removes any pending Overload for the next turn.[1]
- Lava Shock only clears Overload which was already in place before Lava Shock was played: any Overload incurred after playing Lava Shock will not be affected.[2][3]
- Since the text of a spell takes effect only after its mana cost has been paid, Overloaded mana can prevent a player from casting Lava Shock even if the effect of the spell would have freed up enough mana to pay its cost.[4]
Strategy
Lava Shock is most effective when combined with multiple cards with Overload. For a list, see Overload.
For example, playing 
Lightning Storm and 
Crackle, followed the next turn by Doomhammer and Lava Shock, will result in Lava Shock effectively granting the player 5 additional mana, and dealing 2 damage. Given Lava Shock's base cost of 2 mana, playing it with at least 2 Overload in place effectively makes it a 0 mana card. With more than 2 Overload, it acts to grant the player additional mana. For example, with 3 Overload, its overall mana cost is comparable to 
The Coin; or with 4 Overload, to pre-nerf Innervate. However, Lava Shock also deals 2 targeted damage, providing additional value.
The Overload-countering effect of Lava Shock can also be effective strategically, such as in combination with Neptulon. Neptulon's Overload is designed to prevent the player from making the most of the Murloc minions granted by its Battlecry. Lava Shock can allow the player to overcome this restriction, and take advantage of the new cards with a full 10 mana the next turn, providing a significant tempo advantage. This card can also be used in decks based around Malygos and Ancestor's Call for additional burst damage.
Lore
While there is no World of Warcraft spell named Lava Shock, shamans have access to a range of 'shocks', including Frost Shock and Earth Shock, which have already been added to Hearthstone.
Lava Shock does feature minorly as an NPC ability in Warlords of Draenor, appropriately found during the Operator Thogar fight in Blackrock Foundry. However, this Lava Shock is wielded by Blackrock orcs, potentially against the Dark Iron dwarves, as shown on the Hearthstone card's art.
In Hearthstone
- If you manage to take the heat and survive a few drinks at the
Coren Direbrew, make sure you stroll steadily along the stone paths that connect the city. Those paths are all that separate you from a dip in a molten volcanic river! Shamans can harness the essence of lava in order to melt away their Overload problems. How refreshing![5]
Gallery
  Lava Shock, full art |
  Lava Shock in the Blackrock Mountain trailer, with a purple 'epic' gem. |
Patch changes
- Patch 2.4.0.8311 (2015-03-31): Added.
References
- ↑ Ben Brode on Twitter. (2015-03-10).
- ↑ Ben Brode on Twitter. (2015-03-10).
- ↑ Ben Brode on Twitter. (2015-03-10).
- ↑ Ben Brode on Twitter. (2015-03-10).
- ↑ Blackrock Mountain – Delving into Blackrock Depths. (2015-03-10).