Vow of Duty MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Key Takeaways

  1. Vow of Duty transforms creatures into robust defenders, impacting player strategy and board control.
  2. A versatile enchantment, designed for defensive play and remaining relevant in various MTG metagames.
  3. While offering solid defense, it requires careful deck inclusion to avoid potential mana inefficiency.

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +2/+2, has vigilance, and can't attack you or a planeswalker you control.

"I prefer loyalty to be a matter of respect, not of magic. But one does what one must." —Kaalia of the Vast


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vow of Duty can turn any creature into a significant blocking force, effectively neutralizing opposing threats and helping maintain card advantage on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or acceleration, attaching Vow of Duty to a powerful creature of your own can accelerate your game plan by safeguarding your life total, leaving resources free for offensive strategies.

Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Vow of Duty can be cast at the end of an opponent’s turn using flash-enabled mechanics, allowing it to surprise attackers and maximize tactical flexibility.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Vow of Duty doesn’t directly require you to discard a card, it does not provide card advantage either, which means that playing it could be a loss in momentum when you’re looking for more impactful draw options.

Specific Mana Cost: Vow of Duty requires white mana, making it less versatile in multicolored decks that might have a more restrictive mana base or require efficient color balancing to function optimally.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana for an enchantment that only provides a modest buff and a vow mechanic, there are instances where the cost outweighs its utility, especially in faster-paced games where tempo is crucial.


Reasons to Include Vow of Duty in Your Collection

Versatility: Vow of Duty can be a flexible addition to any deck that seeks to fortify its creatures. This enchantment can turn any creature into a formidable blocker, making it a particularly good fit for defensive strategies or decks looking to stall the board while setting up their win condition.

Combo Potential: This card can work wonders with cards that have tap abilities or those that benefit from vigilance. It can also be part of combos that involve enchantment synergies, such as cards that allow you to draw when you cast an enchantment or creatures that get benefits from being enchanted.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame with aggressive strategies, Vow of Duty can provide a necessary boost in defense, giving you the edge by neutralizing threats and maintaining board presence. It’s especially useful in Commander where political moves matter, and where you can enchant an opponent’s creature to ensure it can’t attack you.


How to beat

Vow of Duty may not be the most formidable enchantment you’ll encounter on the battlefield, but it can certainly create an impasse when it buffs opposing creatures with its notable ability. This white aura grants substantial toughness and vigilance, turning even the most harmless creature into a stalwart defender. To effectively neutralize the advantage Vow of Duty provides, consider removal spells that can target enchantments directly, like Disenchant or Krosan Grip. These will allow you to bypass the enhanced creature’s defenses and remove the buff permanently.

Alternatively, board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the playing field, nullifying efficacy of singular enchantments like Vow of Duty. Also, keep in mind that Vow of Duty can be an obstacle, but it doesn’t inherently protect creatures from being targeted or deal with multiple threats at once. Therefore, deploying a strategy that applies pressure through multiple avenues can overwhelm a Vow of Duty-enhanced creature. Lastly, using cards that can bypass creatures in combat, such as those with flying or unblockable abilities, renders Vow of Duty’s enhancements moot, as your attacks sail over or slip past the bolstered defenses.

When playing against Vow of Duty, the key is to maintain flexibility in your responses, preserving your resources for pivotal moments, and understanding the importance of timing in dealing with enhanced creatures.


BurnMana Recommendations

Immersing yourself in the world of MTG comes with the thrill of discovering how each card can optimize your deck’s performance. Vow of Duty may present a few challenges, yet it embodies a unique ability to transform any creature into an architectural pillar of defense. If your strategy revolves around endurance and patience, this enchant could be a cornerstone in your collection. It’s about finding the right pieces to complement your game plan and turning potential setbacks into tactical advantages. Ready to reinforce your deck with strategic choices? Dive deeper with us and uncover ways to make Vow of Duty a formidable asset in your MTG arsenal.


Cards like Vow of Duty

Vow of Duty fits neatly into the enchantment category in Magic: The Gathering, aligning closely with cards that augment creatures. It shares several traits with Vow of Flight, which also boosts the power of creatures, but with a focus on granting flying rather than just a defensive increase. Vow of Duty fortifies a single creature with a significant toughness boost, providing a stable defensive advantage.

Another enchantment, Vow of Wildness, prompts a comparison as well. It grants not just a power boost but also trample, transforming an ordinary creature into a more formidable threat. Vow of Wildness contrasts with Vow of Duty which purposefully omits the offensive enhancement, instead of ensuring the creature becomes a robust shield on the battlefield. Finally, Vow of Malice can be considered a relative with its grant of intimidation and slight power bump. But unlike Vow of Duty, it leans towards an aggressive strategy as well as defense.

Comparing these vows points out Vow of Duty’s unique position as a primarily defensive upgrade. Its provision of a toughness increase without promoting offense makes it particularly valuable for players looking to fortify their defensive line rather than intensify attacks.

Vow of Flight - MTG Card versions
Vow of Wildness - MTG Card versions
Vow of Malice - MTG Card versions
Vow of Flight - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Vow of Wildness - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Vow of Malice - Commander 2011 (CMD)

Cards similar to Vow of Duty by color, type and mana cost

Damping Field - MTG Card versions
Farmstead - MTG Card versions
Fortified Area - MTG Card versions
Cooperation - MTG Card versions
Noble Steeds - MTG Card versions
Aura of Silence - MTG Card versions
Empyrial Armor - MTG Card versions
Pariah - MTG Card versions
Cessation - MTG Card versions
Arrest - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Samite Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Tattoo Ward - MTG Card versions
Sparring Regimen - MTG Card versions
Shielded by Faith - MTG Card versions
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Sandskin - MTG Card versions
Cage of Hands - MTG Card versions
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions
Damping Field - Antiquities (ATQ)
Farmstead - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Fortified Area - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Cooperation - Ice Age (ICE)
Noble Steeds - Alliances (ALL)
Aura of Silence - The List (PLST)
Empyrial Armor - Weatherlight (WTH)
Pariah - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Cessation - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Arrest - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Glorious Anthem - Core Set 2021 Promos (PM21)
Samite Sanctuary - Prophecy (PCY)
Tattoo Ward - Odyssey (ODY)
Sparring Regimen - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)
Shielded by Faith - Signature Spellbook: Gideon (SS2)
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Oblivion Ring - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
Sandskin - Onslaught (ONS)
Cage of Hands - Commander Legends (CMR)
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - The List (PLST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vow of Duty MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2011 and Conspiracy, 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 Vow of Duty and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vow of Duty Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 2011-06-17 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by Wayne Reynolds.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 362003normalblackWayne Reynolds
22014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 872003normalblackWayne Reynolds
32015-11-13Commander 2015C15 842015normalblackWayne Reynolds
42015-11-18Legendary Cube Prize PackPZ1 152015normalblackWayne Reynolds
52017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 292015normalblackWayne Reynolds
62017-11-24Explorers of IxalanE02 62015normalblackWayne Reynolds
72020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 542015normalblackWayne Reynolds
82021-04-23Commander 2021C21 1102015normalblackWayne Reynolds
92022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 212015normalblackWayne Reynolds
102024-02-09Murders at Karlov Manor CommanderMKC 892015normalblackWayne Reynolds

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vow of Duty has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

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