Alchemist's Vial MTG Card
2015-07-17 - Number 220
2019-11-07 - Number 1542
2022-12-02 - Number 753
2020-09-26 - Number ORI-220
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
When Alchemist's Vial enters the battlefield, draw a card., , Sacrifice Alchemist's Vial: Target creature can't attack or block this turn.
A weapon best suited for those with good aim and steady hands.
Cards like Alchemist's Vial
Alchemist’s Vial is a unique artifact from the Magic: The Gathering universe that can be compared to other cards serving a similar function of controlling the flow of combat. Its ability to prevent a creature from attacking for a turn when it enters the battlefield is reminiscent of effects found in cards like Blinding Beam, which can also lock down opponents’ creatures, albeit more than one at a cost of extra mana.
Another parallel can be drawn with Icy Manipulator, a classic artifact with the ability to tap a creature, thus denying an attack or block. While Icy Manipulator is reusable and more flexible, Alchemist’s Vial has the added benefit of card draw, a one-time occurrence upon its activation.
Comparatively speaking, Alchemist’s Vial offers a one-off use with the added boon of cycling through your deck, a powerful trade-off for certain strategies. Yet, when evaluating the card in the grand scheme of MTG tactics, its use is situationally beneficial depending on the deck’s goal and the current board state.
Cards similar to Alchemist's Vial by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Alchemist’s Vial, you can incrementally advance your board presence by drawing a card upon its entry, paving the way for a stronger mid to late game.
Resource Acceleration: Although this artifact doesn’t directly ramp up your mana resources, it offers strategic depth. Using the Vial can slow down opponents, effectively giving you a resource edge by hindering their attack plans and providing you with more time to execute your own strategy.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Alchemist’s Vial at instant speed adds a layer of flexibility, allowing you to react to your opponent’s moves. This can disrupt their combat strategies or save you from a critical attack, all without sacrificing the tempo of your own game plan.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Alchemist’s Vial does not have a discard requirement, which means it’s a null point regarding the cons for this card.
Specific Mana Cost: Alchemist’s Vial necessitates a precise mana arrangement for activation, demanding two generic mana, which can be a mild hindrance for decks that operate better with more flexible mana requirements.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Alchemist’s Vial’s ability to make a creature unable to attack or block can be useful, its combined casting and activation cost may be considered steep for the effect it provides—potentially making alternative card choices more appealing for optimizing mana efficiency.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Alchemist’s Vial is an adaptable addition to your MTG arsenal. It has the ability to stymie attackers, potentially saving you from crucial damage, and can also be used simply to draw a card, maintaining card flow in your deck.
Combo Potential: For those looking to build synergies around artifacts, Alchemist’s Vial fits right in. It can be used with cards that trigger upon artifacts entering or leaving the battlefield, providing incremental advantages that can add up over the course of a game.
Meta-Relevance: In a game landscape often dominated by creature-heavy strategies, having Alchemist’s Vial in your collection means you have a tool at your disposal that can disrupt your opponent’s plans and give you the upper hand, especially if the tempo of the game is in your favor.
How to Beat Alchemist’s Vial
Alchemist’s Vial is a unique artifact card in MTG that can influence the pace of the game by dictating combat interactions briefly. When played, it allows a player to draw a card and, more importantly, it can be sacrificed to ensure that a creature cannot attack or block on that turn. This can disrupt opponent strategies, especially those relying on key creatures to deal combat damage or provide crucial blocks.
Countering this artifact effectively requires either a proactive or reactive strategy. Proactively, one can use cards that prevent the casting of artifacts or deplete resources so that the opponent cannot afford to play it. Artifact removal cards, such as Naturalize or Disenchant, can be kept in hand and used reactively to destroy Alchemist’s Vial before its controlling ability is utilized, preventing the tempo loss it is poised to impose.
Decisively dealing with artifacts like Alchemist’s Vial preserves the balance of the battlefield and ensures the continuity of your strategy, allowing you to maintain pressure on your opponent. While not the most formidable of artifacts, understanding how to manage its presence on the board is key to mastering control within the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Alchemist's Vial MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Mystery Booster, 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 Alchemist's Vial and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Alchemist's Vial Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Lindsey Look.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-07-17 | Magic Origins | ORI | 220 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lindsey Look | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1542 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lindsey Look | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | ORI-220 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lindsey Look | ||
| 4 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 753 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lindsey Look |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Alchemist's Vial has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Alchemist's Vial card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-06-22 | Activating the last ability of Alchemist’s Vial targeting a creature that’s already attacking or blocking won’t cause that creature to stop attacking or blocking. It will prevent that creature from attacking or blocking in any additional combat phases the turn may have (although this is unusual). |