Patron of the Vein MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Vampire Shaman
Abilities Flying
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Patron of the Vein grants you a tactical advantage by combining creature removal with vampire empowerment.
  2. Instant speed abilities of the card ensure immediate impact and game-changing battlefield presence.
  3. The card’s specific mana cost and high casting price can limit its integration and timing in gameplay.

Text of card

Flying When Patron of the Vein enters the battlefield, destroy target creature an opponent controls. Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, exile it and put a +1/+1 counter on each Vampire you control.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Patron of the Vein not only serves as a menacing creature on the battlefield but also provides a favorable shift in card economics by allowing you to remove an opponent’s creature permanently when it or another vampire you control deals a fatal blow. This can effectively thin your opponent’s forces while maintaining your own.

Resource Acceleration: While it may not produce additional mana or tokens, the presence of Patron of the Vein accelerates your resource potential by empowering your other vampires. Each time you eliminate an opponent’s creature, your bloodthirsty allies grow stronger. That incremental advantage can rapidly tilt the resource balance in your favor.

Instant Speed: This creature brings an immediate impact upon entering the battlefield, thanks to its ability to exile creatures at the moment of destruction. The ability to alter the state of the battlefield at instant-like speed whenever a vampire you control dispatches a foe makes Patron of the Vein a formidable card in any vampire-centric strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Patron of the Vein notably lacks a self-contained means of generating vampire tokens or putting vampires into play. This deficiency may oblige players to discard extra cards from their hand to maintain synergy and take full advantage of the card’s abilities.

Specific Mana Cost: Tailored for inclusion in black-focused or multicolor vampire decks, Patron of the Vein commands a specific mana requirement, predominantly black mana, which may not seamlessly integrate into more diverse or color-fluid deck constructions.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a relatively high summoning cost that requires six mana, including one black, this card enters the battlefield later than many of its undead counterparts. In fast-paced games, its late arrival may hinder its effectiveness or cause it to be a lesser priority in deckbuilding strategies where speed is essential.


Reasons to Include Patron of the Vein in Your Collection

Versatility: Patron of the Vein proves to be a flexible addition to your arsenal, easily sliding into vampire-themed or graveyard-centric decks. Its creature removal aspect combined with a buff for your team makes it potent across multiple board states.

Combo Potential: This vampire proves its worth by enabling lethal combinations. When it destroys a creature, not only does it put a +1/+1 counter on each vampire you control, but it also purges that creature card from the game, disrupting your opponent’s graveyard strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In a gaming environment where creatures rule, Patron of the Vein shines as a counterbalance. Its enter-the-battlefield effect can be a game-changer against creature-heavy decks and, as the meta shifts, its inherent creature control remains perpetually relevant.


How to beat

Overcoming the challenge posed by Patron of the Vein in Magic: The Gathering can be a nuanced affair. As a card that significantly alters the board state with its vampire synergies and removal properties, finding its weak spots is key. Cards that counter creature spells are a direct method to prevent its entrance on the battlefield. Spell Pierce or Counterspell, for instance, serve as a cost-effective barrier against this formidable vampire.

Additionally, graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace can quell the potency of Patron of the Vein’s ability to exile creatures and boost its power. Preventing creatures from hitting the graveyard in the first place makes Patron of the Vein’s impact far less intimidating. Strategies that focus on non-creature spells also inherently sidestep the advantages Patron of the Vein provides to vampire tribal decks, steering the gameplay toward environments where it can’t flex its muscles.

To summarize, though Patron of the Vein can be a central figure in vampire decks, it’s not without answers. Through timely counterspells, graveyard interference, or a strategy pivot to non-creature based tactics, this commanding creature can be defanged, ensuring your deck’s survival against its bloodthirsty influence.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the depths of MTG brings us to recognize the strategic elegance of Patron of the Vein. As we’ve dissected its pros and cons, and seen it compared to its vampiric peers, the card’s value in specific deck archetypes cannot be understated. Tailoring your battle plan to include such a versatile creature offers you an edge that could define match outcomes. As you look to refine your gameplay and deck construction, consider how this card’s abilities align with your strategy. For players keen on maximizing their vampire decks’ potential, we encourage you to explore further insights and enhance your collection with impactful cards like Patron of the Vein.


Cards like Patron of the Vein

Patron of the Vein stands out in the myriad of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering as a powerful option for vampire-themed decks. This creature card has a strong impact on gameplay by providing both creature removal and a buff mechanism with its when-it-enters-the-battlefield effect and ongoing ability. Comparable cards would include Bloodline Keeper, another vampire with an ability to strengthen your vampire army, albeit without the removal aspect that Patron of the Vein offers.

When considering Malakir Bloodwitch, you have a vampire with protection from white and the ability to cause a life swing. However, it lacks the direct creature control that Patron of the Vein ensures upon its arrival and through the demise of other creatures. Anowon, the Ruin Sage also forces opponents to sacrifice creatures, but only during your upkeep and without the added benefit of buffing your own team.

Overall, Patron of the Vein’s unique combination of removal and team enhancement through buffing vampire creatures distinguishes it as a singular choice, particularly in commander formats where its repeatable effects can dominate the battlefield and secure a game for vampire-centric strategies.

Malakir Bloodwitch - MTG Card versions
Anowon, the Ruin Sage - MTG Card versions
Malakir Bloodwitch - Zendikar (ZEN)
Anowon, the Ruin Sage - Worldwake (WWK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Patron of the Vein MTG card by a specific set like Treasure Chest and Commander 2017, 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 Patron of the Vein and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Patron of the Vein Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-11-16 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by Tommy Arnold.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 657272015normalblackTommy Arnold
22017-08-25Commander 2017C17 202015normalblackTommy Arnold
32021-11-19Crimson Vow CommanderVOC 1352015normalblackTommy Arnold
42023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 2072015normalblackTommy Arnold

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Patron of the Vein has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2017-08-25 Destroying a creature with Patron of the Vein's first ability causes its last ability to trigger if Patron of the Vein is still on the battlefield.
2017-08-25 If Patron of the Vein and a creature an opponent controls die simultaneously (perhaps because they fought or were in combat together), Patron of the Vein's last ability triggers, but Patron of the Vein won't be on the battlefield as that ability resolves. It can't be saved by the +1/+1 counter that would have been put on it. The same is true of any other Vampires you control that die at the same time. Your remaining Vampires will each get a +1/+1 counter.
2017-08-25 Patron of the Vein's last ability puts a +1/+1 counter on each Vampire you control, including itself, even if the creature that died can't be exiled (most likely because it was a token).

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