Commander Greven il-Vec MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 115
2015-05-06 - Number 88
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Human Warrior |
| Abilities | Fear |
| Power | 7 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
When Commander Greven il-Vec comes into play, sacrifice a creature. Greven cannot be blocked except by artifact creatures and black creatures.
"Rage is the only freedom left me." —Greven *il*-Vec
Cards like Commander Greven il-Vec
Commander Greven il-Vec stands out as a unique creature in the vast roster of MTG cards with its intriguing set of abilities. It bears some resemblance to cards like Avatar of Woe in terms of being a fearsome commander with a high power and toughness. However, Greven’s power comes with a cost, sacrificing a creature to gain life equal to its power and draw cards, which is not a feature seen in Avatar of Woe. This reflects Greven’s aggressive playstyle, exchanging resources for powerful benefits.
Another card that echoes Greven’s formidable presence is Phyrexian Negator, a creature that also offers significant power but at the risk of potential self-damage. Unlike Greven, the Negator can backfire when dealt damage, forcing its controller to sacrifice permanents. Greven, on the other hand, allows a strategic choice on what to sacrifice while cultivating card advantage and life gain. Still, both encourage a risky but high-reward strategy.
While considering other mighty commanders, Tsabo Tavoc provides a direct creature removal ability yet lacks the card draw mechanics that Greven offers. When assessing their tactical values in deck-building, Commander Greven il-Vec offers a compelling blend of aggression, life-gain, and card advantage that caters to players who enjoy a bold, risk-taking strategy in MTG.
Cards similar to Commander Greven il-Vec by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Commander Greven il-Vec stands out by enabling you to potentially draw multiple cards each turn. This effect occurs as Greven eliminates your opponents’ creatures, capitalizing on battlefield events to refill your hand and keep the pressure on.
Resource Acceleration: In the right deck, Greven’s ability to sacrifice another creature can be turned into a resource acceleration strategy. It synergizes with effects that trigger when creatures die, effectively converting creatures into valuable assets such as additional mana or other beneficial effects.
Instant Speed: Greven’s inherent ability does not operate at instant speed, but his impact on the battlefield encourages a playstyle that incorporates instant speed interactions to maximize his potential. This entails playing spells that can manipulate combat or creature availability at instant speed to ensure Greven can attack and trigger his card-drawing ability each turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When summoning Commander Greven il-Vec, you’re obliged to sacrifice another creature, which can set back your board presence significantly, especially if you’re already behind on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: This commander demands a specific combination of black and red mana, which may restrict your ability to smoothly cast it if your mana base is not properly tuned to accommodate such a requirement.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of six mana in total, there are times when deploying Greven might feel slow, especially compared to other creatures or commanders that could have a more immediate impact on the game for a similar or lower mana investment. This can be particularly noticeable in faster-paced games or metas where efficiency is key.
Reasons to Include Commander Greven il-Vec in Your Collection
Versatility: Commander Greven il-Vec offers a unique blend of aggressive stats and an impactful ability to sacrifice creatures for card draw and power boosting. This makes him a flexible option for decks that thrive on high-risk, high-reward strategies.
Combo Potential: This commander’s requirement for sacrificing a creature presents numerous combo opportunities. Pairing him with cards that have death triggers or utilize the graveyard can unlock a well of synergy and tactical plays, enhancing your overall strategy.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where the board state can be crowded and creature removal is key, having a commander that can essentially turn any creature into card advantage is a considerable asset. His ability to become a considerable threat each turn he swings keeps opponents on their toes within the current meta.
How to beat
Commander Greven il-Vec is a powerful force on the battleground of MTG, known for its formidable strength that can quickly overwhelm opponents. This legendary creature shines in decks crafted to leverage its lethal attack power and the life points it can drain from a player. The key to triumphing over Greven il-Vec lies in strategically managing the battlefield and keeping a tight rein on creature control.
A successful strategy includes deploying removal spells efficiently, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, to exile Greven before they can become a significant threat. Having instant-speed removal is crucial as it allows you to wait for your opponent to invest resources into Greven before you eliminate the threat, achieving a resource advantage in the process. Additionally, keeping blockers with high toughness on the field can deter attacks or force unfavorable sacrifices from your opponent.
In essence, maintaining versatile control and being prepared to counteract the advantage Greven il-Vec aims to provide will enable you to navigate past this adversary. It demands a proactive stance and readiness to disrupt your opponent’s plays, ensuring that this fearsome commander does not clinch victory from your grasp.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Commander Greven il-Vec MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Tempest Remastered, 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 Commander Greven il-Vec 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
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Printings
The Commander Greven il-Vec Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Kev Walker.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 115 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 2 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 88 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Commander Greven il-Vec has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |