Vannifar, Evolved Enigma MTG Card


Vannifar excels at card advantage, pulling creatures directly into play for ongoing board control. Resource acceleration is Vannifar’s edge, placing costly creatures early for a dominant position. While not instant speed, Vannifar’s end-turn activations offer strategic flexibility, enhancing overall tactics.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Elf Ooze Wizard
Abilities Cloak
Power 3
Toughness 4

Text of card

At the beginning of combat on your turn, choose one — • Cloak a card from your hand. • Put a +1/+1 counter on each colorless creature you control.


Cards like Vannifar, Evolved Enigma

Vannifar, Evolved Enigma occupies a unique space in MTG as a creature-based conversion engine. Birthing Pod is a clear predecessor, allowing for the transformation of creatures on the battlefield through a sacrifice mechanic. Where Vannifar steps up is that she is a creature herself, enabling a dynamic presence on the board that Birthing Pod – as an artifact – lacks.

Neoform offers a similar sacrifice-and-search ability, albeit as a one-time-use spell. Neoform’s scalability is limited when contrasted with Vannifar’s repeatable use each turn. Prime Speaker Zegana, another Simic guild leader, also plays into the creature-centric utility theme, though Zegana’s focus embraces card draw upon her entrance rather than the search and deploy strategy that Vannifar provides.

While there are several cards which share the concept of exchanging creatures, Vannifar’s blend of continuous creature upgrade potential and immediate board impact places her in a solid position within the creature-conversion hierarchy in MTG. Plus, her ability to activate this effect at no mana cost each turn sets her apart, providing tremendous value and strategic depth within the game’s ecosystem.

Birthing Pod - MTG Card versions
Neoform - MTG Card versions
Prime Speaker Zegana - MTG Card versions
Birthing Pod - MTG Card versions
Neoform - MTG Card versions
Prime Speaker Zegana - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Vannifar, Evolved Enigma by color, type and mana cost

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Adrix and Nev, Twincasters - MTG Card versions
Parcelbeast - MTG Card versions
Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix - MTG Card versions
Omnibian - MTG Card versions
Mystic Snake - MTG Card versions
Grazing Kelpie - MTG Card versions
Swirling Spriggan - MTG Card versions
Jungle Barrier - MTG Card versions
Fathom Mage - MTG Card versions
Horizon Chimera - MTG Card versions
Patagia Viper - MTG Card versions
Ezuri, Claw of Progress - MTG Card versions
Altered Ego - MTG Card versions
Rashmi, Eternities Crafter - MTG Card versions
Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle - MTG Card versions
Master Biomancer - MTG Card versions
Frilled Mystic - MTG Card versions
Zegana, Utopian Speaker - MTG Card versions
Sharktocrab - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Vannifar, Evolved Enigma. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
DecklistDecklist Free formUOL MKM Sealed League
StiflenoughtStiflenought LegacyStiflenoughtLegacy Challenge 32 2024-03-30
Bant MidrangeBant Midrange LegacyStiflenoughtCharlotte Legacy League Season 1 Week 12
Five-Color CreativityFive-Color Creativity StandardThe Pizza Box Open: Standard
Four-color Some Brand of CerealFour-color Some Brand of Cereal GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 09 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vannifar, Evolved Enigma is a powerful tool for gaining card advantage on the battleground. Its ability to sacrifice a creature to summon another directly from your library not only thins your deck, increasing the quality of your draws but also places a creature into play ready to act. By continually upgrading your creatures, you maintain a strong hand and board presence throughout the game.

Resource Acceleration: Vannifar’s ability to cheat creatures onto the battlefield bypasses traditional casting costs and accelerates your resource development. As a result, you can deploy high-cost creatures earlier in the game than usual, which can decisively tilt the scales in your favor.

Instant Speed: Although Vannifar herself does not operate at instant speed, her ability weaves perfectly into strategies that do. End-of-turn activations allow you to adapt to the ever-changing game state, keeping opponents guessing and providing you with a strategic edge. Being able to develop your board on the end step before your turn gives you an almost pseudo-instant speed element to your strategy, which can profoundly impact the flow of the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Vannifar, Evolved Enigma requires a sacrifice as part of her activation cost. This can be a detriment to your board presence, forcing you to give up valuable creatures to fuel her ability.

Specific Mana Cost: Her summoning cost demands both green and blue mana, making her a less flexible option for multicolored decks that may not always have the right mana combination at the needed time.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two that are colored-specific, Vannifar can be a bit steep compared to other options in the creature toolbox strategy, potentially slowing down your game tempo.


Reasons to Include Vannifar, Evolved Enigma in Your Collection

Versatility: Vannifar, Evolved Enigma is a dynamic inclusion, capable of adapting to various deck builds. Its ability to transform creatures into new threats on the fly means it can serve multiple roles depending on the state of play.

Combo Potential: With Vannifar, the potential to craft intricate combos is at your fingertips. Its signature ability to sacrifice a creature to search for another with a higher mana cost can lead to powerful chain reactions that can outmaneuver opponents.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to react to various board states and its application in creature-based strategies, Vannifar can be a game-changer in a meta that favors evolving tactics and creature synergies.


How to beat

Vannifar, Evolved Enigma is an intriguing commander in MTG famous for her ability to cheat creatures onto the battlefield. This can quickly turn the tide of a game if left unchecked. Effectively countering Vannifar involves inhibiting her ability to activate or neutralizing the creatures she may summon. Removal spells like Path to Exile or Rapid Hybridization can eliminate her before any creature swaps happen. Similarly, instant-speed interaction, such as countering creature spells or using flash creatures to disrupt the opponent’s board during their turn, enhances your resilience against Vannifar’s strategy.

Another tactic is employing cards that limit the opponent’s ability to use activated abilities, such as Cursed Totem or Linvala, Keeper of Silence. Should Vannifar already have a presence on the board, board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the playing field. Preventative measures, such as preemptively exiling the key creatures from the opponent’s deck with cards like Surgical Extraction, also diminish the chances of Vannifar’s deck reaching its full potential. Managing the battlefield and remaining vigilant against combo sequences are imperative when facing this potent and potentially game-ending threat.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vannifar, Evolved Enigma MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor and Murders at Karlov Manor, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Vannifar, Evolved Enigma and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vannifar, Evolved Enigma Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2024-02-09 and 2024-02-10. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12024-02-09Murders at Karlov ManorMKM 3732015NormalBlackJack Hughes
22024-02-09Murders at Karlov ManorMKM 3892015NormalBlackJack Hughes
32024-02-09Murders at Karlov ManorMKM 2412015NormalBlackUriah Voth
42024-02-09Murders at Karlov ManorMKM 3232015NormalBlackOlena Richards
52024-02-10Murders at Karlov Manor PromosPMKM 241p2015NormalBlackUriah Voth
62024-02-10Murders at Karlov Manor PromosPMKM 241s2015NormalBlackUriah Voth

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vannifar, Evolved Enigma has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
StandardbrawlLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal