Vorpal Sword MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip

Key Takeaways

  1. Equipping Vorpal Sword can quickly turn creatures into substantial threats with game-ending potential.
  2. Low equip cost allows for early game use and the ultimate ability offers an alternate win condition.
  3. Constant board presence demands strategic play from opponents, adding depth to the game.

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +2/+0 and has deathtouch. : Until end of turn, Vorpal Sword gains "Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, that player loses the game." Equip


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vorpal Sword offers a significant boost to your creature’s power, turning any threat into a potential game-ender. With its ability to grant deathtouch, even the smallest creature becomes a lethal force, effectively influencing your opponent’s blocking decisions and potentially swinging the momentum of the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: The equip cost is relatively low, enabling quicker utilization in the early game. Notably, Vorpal Sword’s ultimate ability can be a game-winner. Although the activation cost is high, in the right deck, it can serve as a resource acceleration toward an instant win condition, given the adequate accumulation of mana resources.

Instant Speed: While Vorpal Sword itself does not function at instant speed, its mere presence on the board is a constant threat that must be respected. Opponents must always consider the potentially catastrophic consequence of an unblocked attacker, providing a psychological edge and strategic depth that can influence the pace and outcomes of matches.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Vorpal Sword requires discarding a card to utilize its full potential. While equipping it gives any creature a threat of instant death to opponents with its deathtouch, the discard cost can deplete your hand, leaving you at a disadvantage if your resources are already running low.

Specific Mana Cost: Vorpal Sword demands a tight mana cost, consisting of one black mana and one generic mana for its initial casting. This particular cost can constrain its inclusion, favoring black-dominated or multicolor decks with reliable mana fixing capabilities, and may slightly limit its versatility in others.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The activation cost to unlock the Vorpal Sword’s lethal ability is a hefty amount of mana, clocking in at eight mana total, including six black. This high cost can be impractical in many game situations, as investing that amount of mana into one ability leaves less available for other spells and actions within the same turn.


Reasons to Include Vorpal Sword in Your Collection

Versatility: Vorpal Sword offers a flexible equipment option for creature-based decks. It can be attached to any creature, giving it a chance to deal lethal damage with its deathtouch ability and potentially changing the tide of combat in your favor.

Combo Potential: This card holds potential for explosive plays, especially within decks featuring creatures with double-strike or those that can easily amass enough mana. Its game-ending activated ability can close out a match if left unchecked.

Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment that rewards aggressive tactics, Vorpal Sword can reinforce a strategy that aims to quickly diminish an opponent’s life total. Its presence can force opponents to play more defensively, altering their plans and giving you a strategic edge.


How to beat

A solid strategy in the gameplay of Magic the Gathering involves facing down powerful artifacts like Vorpal Sword. This equipment card can be daunting, thanks to its potential for granting deathtouch and its lethal activated ability. To counteract Vorpal Sword, it’s crucial to keep removal spells at the ready. Cards like Disenchant or Nature’s Claim can dismantle the Sword before its lethal ability becomes a threat. Artifact removals such as Abrade or even versatile options like Assassin’s Trophy provide flexibility in dealing with it, whether it’s attached to a creature or lying in wait. A well-timed piece of removal can not only save a player from imminent doom but also shift the momentum of the game. Furthermore, instant speed interaction allows a player to wait for the opportune moment, potentially causing the opponent to invest considerable resources into the Sword’s abilities before having their efforts nullified. Overall, preparedness and precise timing are key to overcoming the challenge posed by Vorpal Sword in your Magic the Gathering encounters.


BurnMana Recommendations

Arming your creatures with Vorpal Sword transforms them into formidable opponents on the battlefield. Its deathtouch capability makes even the humblest creature a significant threat, while the ultimate ability stands as a beacon for game-ending scenarios. However, its full potential shines in robust mana decks or strategies prioritizing aggressive play. If you wish to add a tactical edge to your MTG deck or are looking to enforce a powerful control over the game, consider making Vorpal Sword a part of your arsenal. To learn more about this and other dynamic gameplay strategies, connect with us and optimize your path to victory in the world of MTG.


Cards like Vorpal Sword

Vorpal Sword is a unique artifact in the world of Magic: The Gathering, granting equipped creatures the potential for lethal damage with its infamous ability. When compared to other equipment cards like Grafted Exoskeleton, Vorpal Sword stands out with its manageable casting and equip costs. Grafted Exoskeleton offers infect as a win condition but comes with the risk of detaching and sacrificing the artifact when the creature leaves play.

Moving to Grafted Wargear, it provides a significant power boost to creatures with no equip cost. Despite this efficiency, it lacks the game-ending capability that the activated ability of Vorpal Sword holds. O-Naginata is another similar equipment, offering a substantial power boost and trample. However, it requires the creature to already have high power, restricting its flexibility unlike Vorpal Sword’s universally beneficial enhancement.

Conclusively, while there are several equipment cards sharing traits with Vorpal Sword, the direct path it carves towards victory with its lethal and cost-effective abilities positions it uniquely in deck-building strategies for players seeking decisive game ends.

Grafted Exoskeleton - MTG Card versions
Grafted Wargear - MTG Card versions
O-Naginata - MTG Card versions
Grafted Exoskeleton - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Grafted Wargear - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
O-Naginata - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)

Cards similar to Vorpal Sword by color, type and mana cost

Egon, God of Death // Throne of Death - MTG Card versions
Sphere of Annihilation - MTG Card versions
Necrogen Spellbomb - MTG Card versions
Executioner's Capsule - MTG Card versions
Vector Asp - MTG Card versions
Nihil Spellbomb - MTG Card versions
Hex Parasite - MTG Card versions
Augmenting Automaton - MTG Card versions
Corrupted Key - MTG Card versions
Witch's Cauldron - MTG Card versions
Mind Carver - MTG Card versions
Bag of Devouring - MTG Card versions
Reaper's Talisman - MTG Card versions
Blood Fountain - MTG Card versions
Clay Revenant - MTG Card versions
Vat of Rebirth - MTG Card versions
Dross Skullbomb - MTG Card versions
Bloodthorn Flail - MTG Card versions
Lead Pipe - MTG Card versions
Egon, God of Death // Throne of Death - Kaldheim Promos (PKHM)
Sphere of Annihilation - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Necrogen Spellbomb - Mirrodin (MRD)
Executioner's Capsule - The Brothers' War Commander (BRC)
Vector Asp - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Nihil Spellbomb - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Hex Parasite - New Phyrexia (NPH)
Augmenting Automaton - Aether Revolt (AER)
Corrupted Key - Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021 (CMB2)
Witch's Cauldron - Commander Masters (CMM)
Mind Carver - Zendikar Rising (ZNR)
Bag of Devouring - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Reaper's Talisman - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
Blood Fountain - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Clay Revenant - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Vat of Rebirth - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)
Dross Skullbomb - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)
Bloodthorn Flail - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan (LCI)
Lead Pipe - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vorpal Sword MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online 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 Vorpal Sword and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vorpal Sword Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 927102015normalblackCaio Monteiro
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 927142015normalblackAlessandra Pisano
32021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 1242015normalblackCaio Monteiro
42021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 124p2015normalblackCaio Monteiro
52021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 124s2015normalblackCaio Monteiro
62021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 3772015normalblackCaio Monteiro
72021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 124a2015normalblackCaio Monteiro
82021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 3962015normalblackAlessandra Pisano

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vorpal Sword has restrictions

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

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