Instants staples in Pauper

Name: Instants staples in Pauper
Creator: Land Drop

64 cards played in at least 2% of the 1480 Pauper decks of the last 120 days, in the main deck or in the sideboard. The most played in the main deck: Lightning Bolt (25% of decks).

Official MTGO and magic.gg results and paper tournaments, data provided by TopDeck.gg, updated 28 Oct 2026. How we count

Main deck (40)

#	Card	Type	% of decks	Avg. copies
1	Lightning BoltInstant	Instant	24.6%	3.7
2	CounterspellInstant	Instant	20.3%	3.9
3	Cast DownInstant	Instant	17.2%	2.8
4	DispelInstant	Instant	12.9%	1.8
5	BrainstormInstant	Instant	12.4%	3.6
6	FireblastInstant	Instant	12.4%	2.9
7	Galvanic BlastInstant	Instant	12.0%	3.9
8	Fiery TemperInstant	Instant	11.7%	3.9
9	Thraben CharmInstant	Instant	11.1%	2.5
10	Lava DartInstant	Instant	10.2%	3.9
11	Snuff OutInstant	Instant	9.5%	3.3
12	Eviscerator's InsightInstant	Instant	9.2%	2.6
13	Reckoner's BargainInstant	Instant	8.0%	3.5
14	Prismatic StrandsInstant	Instant	8.0%	3.1
15	Crop RotationInstant	Instant	7.1%	2.4
16	DispatchInstant	Instant	6.9%	3.8
17	Fanatical OfferingInstant	Instant	6.9%	3.4
18	Toxin AnalysisInstant	Instant	6.3%	2.0
19	EphemerateInstant	Instant	5.9%	2.8
20	Suffocating FumesInstant	Instant	5.8%	1.1
21	Cut DownInstant	Instant	4.9%	1.9
22	Thought ScourInstant	Instant	4.8%	4.0
23	SnapInstant	Instant	4.7%	3.0
24	Breath WeaponInstant	Instant	4.7%	1.6
25	Spell PierceInstant	Instant	4.5%	1.9
26	Plunder the TrollshawsInstant	Instant	4.5%	2.7
27	Mental NoteInstant	Instant	4.5%	3.8
28	Weather the StormInstant	Instant	4.1%	2.9
29	Unfathomable TruthsInstant	Instant	4.1%	3.0
30	Pulse of MurasaInstant	Instant	4.0%	1.2
31	Ghostly FlickerInstant	Instant	3.9%	2.2
32	SkredInstant	Instant	3.5%	3.7
33	Ramosian RallyInstant	Instant	3.4%	1.8
34	Guardians' PledgeInstant	Instant	3.2%	2.3
35	Union of the Third PathInstant	Instant	2.9%	1.2
36	ManamorphoseInstant	Instant	2.6%	3.9
37	Lose FocusInstant	Instant	2.1%	1.3
38	Moment's PeaceInstant	Instant	2.1%	2.7
39	Agony WarpInstant	Instant	2.0%	1.1
40	Ride's EndInstant	Instant	2.0%	1.5

% of decks: decks of the format that play it in this part
Avg. copies: among the decks that play it

Sideboard (33)

#	Card	Type	% of decks	Avg. copies
1	HydroblastInstant	Instant	27.9%	3.2
2	PyroblastInstant	Instant	27.8%	3.1
3	Blue Elemental BlastInstant	Instant	25.3%	3.0
4	Red Elemental BlastInstant	Instant	24.2%	2.8
5	Breath WeaponInstant	Instant	19.9%	2.2
6	Cast into the FireInstant	Instant	15.7%	2.6
7	AnnulInstant	Instant	14.9%	3.1
8	Weather the StormInstant	Instant	12.2%	2.9
9	Flaring PainInstant	Instant	11.8%	1.1
10	EnvelopInstant	Instant	11.8%	1.7
11	Thraben CharmInstant	Instant	10.9%	1.9
12	Smash to SmithereensInstant	Instant	8.9%	2.5
13	Steel SabotageInstant	Instant	8.7%	2.4
14	DispelInstant	Instant	7.8%	1.7
15	Searing BlazeInstant	Instant	6.3%	2.2
16	Moment's PeaceInstant	Instant	5.3%	2.3
17	Ancient GrudgeInstant	Instant	4.8%	1.7
18	Gut ShotInstant	Instant	3.7%	2.7
19	Prismatic StrandsInstant	Instant	3.6%	1.6
20	DeglamerInstant	Instant	3.4%	2.6
21	Holy LightInstant	Instant	3.3%	1.9
22	NegateInstant	Instant	3.2%	2.1
23	ElectrickeryInstant	Instant	3.2%	2.0
24	Tamiyo's SafekeepingInstant	Instant	2.9%	2.5
25	Fiery CannonadeInstant	Instant	2.8%	2.1
26	Cast DownInstant	Instant	2.8%	1.9
27	Suffocating FumesInstant	Instant	2.6%	1.5
28	Heritage ReclamationInstant	Instant	2.6%	1.9
29	Siege SmashInstant	Instant	2.6%	2.2
30	Destroy EvilInstant	Instant	2.6%	1.7
31	Unexpected FangsInstant	Instant	2.6%	1.3
32	Snuff OutInstant	Instant	2.3%	2.2
33	Ram ThroughInstant	Instant	2.0%	2.1