Vivien of the Arkbow MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Planeswalker — Vivien |
| Released | 2018-07-13 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Core Set 2019 |
| Set code | M19 |
| Loyalty | 5 |
| Number | 301 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Magali Villeneuve |
Key Takeaways
- Card advantage from library access keeps Vivien’s users ahead with a constant creature presence.
- Resource acceleration with Vivien allows for more on-field creatures without depleting your hand.
- Instant speed ability grants flexibility and surprise, countering opponent strategies effectively.
Text of card
+2: Put two +1/+1 counters on up to one target creature. −3: Target creature you control deals damage equal to its power to target creature you don't control. −9: Creatures you control get +4/+4 and gain trample until end of turn.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Vivien of the Arkbow shines by enabling players to consistently access creatures from their library, thereby ensuring a steady stream of threats on the board. This ability is essential in matches where maintaining card advantage can tilt the game in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: This planeswalker has the capability to ramp up your resources significantly. By allowing you to play additional creatures from your deck, you effectively accelerate the number of resources at your disposal without expending extra cards from your hand.
Instant Speed: Vivien’s power to cast creature spells as though they had flash adds a layer of unpredictability and flexibility. This means you can adapt to the board state and opponent’s actions in real-time, catching them off guard and capitalizing on the element of surprise to swing the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One hurdle for players using Vivien of the Arkbow is the necessity to discard a card to activate certain abilities. This can pose a strategic setback, especially when you’re running short on hand cards and need to maintain a healthy card advantage against your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: Vivien’s casting cost demands specific mana types, green and generic, which might not seamlessly fit into multi-colored or colorless decks. Players might find it challenging to meet the mana cost in a timely manner, consequently delaying the deployment of Vivien’s capabilities on the battlefield.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite the potent abilities that Vivien brings to the table, her casting cost is on the higher end of the spectrum for planeswalkers. This may deter players from including her in decks that prioritize low-cost spells for a quicker gameplay tempo.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Vivien of the Arkbow is a flexible card, seamlessly integrating into creature-heavy decks or those that capitalize on activated abilities.
Combo Potential: This card can serve as a key piece in synergistic builds, enabling powerful interactions with creatures that have enter the battlefield effects or those that benefit from her buffing abilities.
Meta-Relevance: In an ever-evolving game, Vivien of the Arkbow holds her ground, providing strategic advantage particularly in metas where creature-based tactics prevail.
How to beat
Vivien of the Arkbow is a unique character card that can be both a formidable opponent and an ally on the MTG battlefield. With the capacity to summon creatures from the top of your library, Vivien requires a strategic approach to overcome. The key is disrupting her ability to manipulate the library and creature play. Hand disruption spells or effects that exile cards from the opponent’s hand can significantly reduce Vivien’s impact, as she thrives on a synergistic hand and creature presence.
Moreover, board wipes are highly effective against Vivien’s strategy of maintaining a creature-based board presence. Consistent removal of creatures can leave Vivien without the necessary arsenal to control the game. Control decks that can consistently handle creatures or enchantments can keep Vivien in check. Alternatively, going underneath with an aggressive, swift strategy can pressure a Vivien player before they stabilize. Finally, countering her when cast or using instant-speed removal when she attempts to use her abilities can efficiently neutralize her before she becomes too much of an issue for your game plan.
Understanding her mechanics and staying one step ahead of her library manipulation and creature plays is the way to assert dominance over Vivien of the Arkbow in the world of MTG. With careful planning and the right set of cards, ensuring she does not tip the scales in your opponent’s favor is entirely achievable.
Cards like Vivien of the Arkbow
Vivien of the Arkbow has positioned itself in the pantheon of MTG as a dynamic planeswalker card. What sets it apart from its contemporaries like Garruk Wildspeaker is its strong focus on creature-based strategies, which is essential for players looking to pump their creatures with more power. Garruk does offer this support, yet he brings an additional layer with his ability to untap lands, giving players a different kind of resource advantage.
Other planeswalkers like Domri, Chaos Bringer resonate with Vivien’s creature-centric abilities. Domri also assists creatures by adding power and enabling riot, but lacks Vivien’s direct interaction with the creature cards in one’s library. Vivien lets players dig for more creatures, potentially streamlining the deck’s performance. Ajani Unyielding is also worth mentioning, as he similarly grants card advantage by revealing cards off the top of the deck but is more focused on a variety of permanent types, not just creatures.
When analyzing the capability to enhance creature performance in the game, Vivien of the Arkbow shows particular promise for those invested in creature-oriented decks and their swift augmentation, establishing its unique charm within MTG’s diverse range of planeswalker cards.
Cards similar to Vivien of the Arkbow by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Vivien of the Arkbow MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019, 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 Vivien of the Arkbow and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Vivien of the Arkbow has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Vivien of the Arkbow card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-07-13 | If either creature is an illegal target as Vivien’s second ability tries to resolve, the creature you control won’t deal damage. |
| 2018-07-13 | Vivien’s last ability affects only creatures you control at the time it resolves. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn won’t get +4/+4 or gain trample. |
