Description change: Quotation marks were added on the start and end of its description.
Strategies
With
Despite only have 1, Lightning Reed can be devastating if used correctly. If you play it between 2 zombies, Lightning Reed is able to hurt, and possibly destroy both zombies and damage the zombie hero. If you play it in the middle of 3 zombies, Lightning Reed does damage to all of them. However, since Splash Damage is fixed, you cannot increase its Splash Damage even if you boost its strength. Lightning Reed can also be played on the aquatic lane, which makes it safer from non-Sneaky or Beastly zombie heroes, such as Rustbolt, Professor Brainstorm, and Z-Mech.
Ironically, despite having the Amphibious trait, Lightning Reed is more effective when played next to the aquatic lane, since it can hit the Amphibious zombie and have its Splash Damage activated to its full potential at the same time, while you have one less lane for Splash Damage to take effect if played on the aquatic lane. This only applies if the aquatic lane is the fifth lane in the field and Lightning Reed's strength is unboosted.
Against
It can be countered by Rolling Stone, or any strength-reducing card such as Nibble or Template:PvZHLink. Zombies with the Armored trait can easily nullify Lightning Reed's Splash Damage. The Chickening and Bungee Plumber can also destroy it easily.
Lightning Reed on the advertisement for the Nightcap Ally Pack
Lightning Reed's silhouette
The player receiving Lightning Reed from a Premium Pack
Trivia
It can played on water in this game, but it cannot be planted on water in Plants vs. Zombies 2.
The glow for it is reversed in this game. In Plants vs. Zombies 2, it has a white inside with a cyan glow, but in this game, it has a cyan inside with a white glow.
The "shock value" mentioned in its description is a portmanteau on the words "shock," or commonly known as an electric shock, the physiological reaction or injury caused by electric current passing through the body, and "shock value," the potential of an action or media to provoke a sharp negative reaction of disgust, shock, anger, fear, or similar emotions.
Unlike in Plants vs. Zombies 2, it can not destroy Template:PvZHLink in one attack.
It, Template:PvZHLink and Template:PvZHLink are the only plants to return from Wild West in Plants vs. Zombies 2.
Smarty class. It costs 2
to play, and has 1
/2
. It has the Amphibious and Splash Damage 1 traits, and does not have any abilities.
Sneaky or 
Beastly zombie heroes, such as Rustbolt, Professor Brainstorm, and Z-Mech.
Armored trait can easily nullify Lightning Reed's Splash Damage. The Chickening and Bungee Plumber can also destroy it easily.
Kabloom
Mega-Grow
Smarty
Solar