Vraska's Contempt MTG Card


Exile effect of Vraska’s Contempt neutralizes threats and prevents their recurrence, securing one’s lead. Instant speed allows for tactical plays, disrupting opponents and controlling the game’s tempo. The life gain aspect offers a vital edge, making it a valuable card in tight situations.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Text of card

Exile target creature or planeswalker. You gain 2 life.

It wasn't long before the taverns of High and Dry were full of whispers about the new captain who could turn a person to stone with a glance.


Cards like Vraska's Contempt

Vraska’s Contempt stands out as a versatile removal option in Magic: The Gathering, especially when compared to other spells that exile target creatures or planeswalkers. For instance, consider Hero’s Downfall, which at three mana can also destroy a creature or planeswalker, but it doesn’t exile and lacks the life gain that Vraska’s Contempt offers. The extra two life can be pivotal in tight matchups.

Another comparison is with Anguished Unmaking. While both cards exile, Anguished Unmaking’s broader targeting capacity—with the ability to hit any nonland permanent—comes with a steeper price, costing three life. This makes Vraska’s Contempt a safer pick in situations where preserving life is crucial. Additionally, the instant speed nature of both spells means players can respond swiftly to threats at any time.

Lastly, there’s Utter End, which also exiles any nonland permanent. The trade-off here is mana efficiency, as Utter End costs four mana but doesn’t offer life gain. When it comes down to managing threats and staying ahead in the race for life, Vraska’s Contempt elegantly combines exile and life gain, making it an exceptional choice for players looking to optimize their removal strategies.

Hero's Downfall - MTG Card versions
Anguished Unmaking - MTG Card versions
Utter End - MTG Card versions
Hero's Downfall - MTG Card versions
Anguished Unmaking - MTG Card versions
Utter End - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Vraska's Contempt by color, type and mana cost

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Sewers of Estark - MTG Card versions
Feast or Famine - MTG Card versions
Nocturnal Raid - MTG Card versions
Slaughter - MTG Card versions
Snuff Out - MTG Card versions
Death Bomb - MTG Card versions
Psychotic Haze - MTG Card versions
Insidious Dreams - MTG Card versions
Hagra Mauling // Hagra Broodpit - MTG Card versions
Hostile Negotiations - MTG Card versions
Baleful Mastery - MTG Card versions
Death Pulse - MTG Card versions
Irradiate - MTG Card versions
Burden of Greed - MTG Card versions
Shriveling Rot - MTG Card versions
Hideous Laughter - MTG Card versions
When Fluffy Bunnies Attack - MTG Card versions
Chill to the Bone - MTG Card versions
Tendrils of Corruption - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Trap - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Vraska's Contempt. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
California Dreamin'California Dreamin' Free formSet Roulette Spring 2024
DecklistDecklist Free formSet Roulette Spring 2024
Mono-Black RampMono-Black Ramp GladiatorGladiator Games: We're Back

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vraska’s Contempt offers a potent benefit of providing card advantage through its exile effect. Exiling a target creature or planeswalker can effectively negate any permanents with recurring or on-death abilities, ensuring they don’t come back to haunt you later in the game. This solidifies your position and puts you one step ahead of your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: While Vraska’s Contempt itself isn’t a direct source of resource acceleration, the fact that it is a clean answer to otherwise potentially unstoppable threats accelerates your game plan. By removing key pieces from your opponent’s play, you can more rapidly advance your board state without worrying about major setbacks or having to deal with the same threat twice.

Instant Speed: The instant speed of Vraska’s Contempt is a significant strategic advantage. It allows you to stay flexible during your opponent’s turn. Whether they’re attacking with a menacing creature or activating a planeswalker’s dangerous ability, Vraska’s Contempt lets you respond promptly, ensuring that you maintain control of the pace and flow of the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Though not applicable to Vraska’s Contempt, cards with discard requirements force you to part with valuable resources which can leave you at a disadvantage, especially if your hand is already sparse.

Specific Mana Cost: Vraska’s Contempt demands a particular combination of mana — one black, one colorless, and two of any type. This specificity can sometimes restrict deck-building options and necessitates a well-tuned mana base, especially in multicolored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana, Vraska’s Contempt is an investment. In fast-paced games or matchups where efficiency is paramount, its cost can be a stumbling block compared to lower-cost removal spells, despite its powerful effect.


Reasons to Include Vraska’s Contempt in Your Collection

Versatility: Vraska’s Contempt is a flexible addition to any deck that faces off against creatures or planeswalkers. The ability to exile is crucial, as it bypasses graveyard-related mechanics that many opponents rely on.

Combo Potential: This card’s instant speed allows for unexpected plays, disrupting your opponent’s strategy at critical moments. Additionally, the life gain offers a slight buffer that can be a deciding factor in close matches.

Meta-Relevance: With many decks running powerful creatures and planeswalkers, Vraska’s Contempt answers those threats directly. Its relevance escalates in a meta dominated by such strategies, making it a worthy mainstay in sideboards or even main decks.


How to beat

Vraska’s Contempt presents a unique challenge in the MTG battlefield with its ability to exile target creature or planeswalker while giving its controller a life cushion. This instant speed spell can disrupt your board presence and plans. To navigate around it, consider using cards that grant you hexproof, like Shalai, Voice of Plenty, which shields both you and your other creatures. Timing is also crucial; baiting out removal before playing your key cards can make all the difference. Moreover, resilient creatures that can return from exile or graveyard, such as the Phoenix creatures, minimize the impact Vraska’s Contempt might have. Diversifying your threats ensures you don’t hinge your strategy on a single card and fall victim to such potent removal—it’s about creating a robust game plan against potential disruptions.


BurnMana Recommendations

Magic the Gathering players understand the critical role of strategic card play in tipping the scales of a match. Vraska’s Contempt emerges as a powerful card, delivering the dual benefit of exile and life gain at the clutch instant speed. Equipping your deck with such versatile removal can be a game-changer, particularly in a meta riddled with formidable creatures and planeswalkers. Whether enhancing your collection or refining your competitive edge, considering Vraska’s Contempt’s role in your arsenal is a smart move. Dive deeper with us into strategic deck building and discover how cards like Vraska’s Contempt can secure your victories in the vast MTG universe.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vraska's Contempt MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan and Ixalan Promos, 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 Vraska's Contempt and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vraska's Contempt Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2017-09-29. Illustrated by Clint Cearley.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-09-29IxalanXLN 1292015NormalBlackClint Cearley
22017-09-29Ixalan PromosPXLN 129s2015NormalBlackClint Cearley
32017-09-29Ixalan PromosPXLN 129p2015NormalBlackClint Cearley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vraska's Contempt has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Vraska's Contempt card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2017-09-29 If the target creature or planeswalker is an illegal target by the time Vraska’s Contempt resolves, the entire spell doesn’t resolve. You won’t gain life.
2018-01-19 There are many important moments in the story, but the most crucial—called “story spotlights”—are shown on cards. These cards have the Planeswalker symbol in their text box; this symbol has no effect on gameplay. You can read more about these events in the official Magic fiction at http://www.mtgstory.com.