Vivien, Arkbow Ranger MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Mythic
Type	Legendary Planeswalker — Vivien
Released	2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set name	Core Set 2020
Set code	M20
Loyalty	4
Number	199
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Yongjae Choi

Key Takeaways

Vivien’s ability to search for creatures offers more than standard card draw, potentially adding multiple threats to your hand.
Her +1 grants counters and trample, pressing an advantage, while her -3 deals with threats at a moment’s notice.
Three green mana symbols mean commitment, potentially restricting her to mono-green or well-fixed multicolor decks.

Text of card

+1: Distribute two +1/+1 counters among up to two target creatures. They gain trample until end of turn. −3: Target creature you control deals damage equal to its power to target creature or planeswalker. −5: You may choose a creature card you own from outside the game, reveal it, and put it into your hand.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vivien, Arkbow Ranger, provides a unique edge by allowing you to dig deeper into your deck with her -5 ability. This lets you seek out creatures with a total power of 10 or less, far surpassing a single card draw and potentially turning the tide of the game by adding several formidable creatures to your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Through her +1 ability, Vivien offers an immediate boost to your creatures, giving them not just +1/+1 counters but also the potential to trample over your opponent’s defenses. This efficient use of resources empowers your existing board and can lead to accelerated victory conditions.

Instant Speed: While Vivien herself doesn’t operate at instant speed, she equips your creatures with instant-like abilities. By granting them the ability to fight target creature your opponent controls as part of her +1, she effectively allows you to remove threats on-demand, akin to instant-speed interaction.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Vivien, Arkbow Ranger doesn’t directly require discarding, utilizing her -5 loyalty ability effectively necessitates having a creature card in hand, which can feel like a discard if you’re short on creatures.

Specific Mana Cost: Vivien demands a specific mana setup of three green symbols, making it a heavy commitment in multi-colored decks and potentially restricting her to mono-green or decks with abundant mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial loyalty cost of four mana, including triple green, there are scenarios where the mana could be allocated to other versatile planeswalkers or impactful creatures that provide immediate board presence or advantage.

Reasons to Include Vivien, Arkbow Ranger in Your Collection

Versatility: Vivien, Arkbow Ranger is an adaptable powerhouse capable of fitting into various green-centric and multi-colored decks. With the ability to boost your creatures’ stats, provide trample, and its unique creature tutoring ability, it allows for a broad range of strategic plays to adapt to different in-game scenarios.

Combo Potential: The versatility of Vivien extends to its combo capability. It can work effectively with cards that benefit from counters, such as those with proliferate or evolve mechanics. This synergy can create devastating effects on the battlefield and turn the tide of any match.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creatures play a significant role, Vivien, Arkbow Ranger’s skills can be critical. Her abilities to interact with and enhance creatures on the board make her relevant in various matchups, ensuring that she can be a formidable presence in your lineup against multiple deck archetypes.

How to Beat

Vivien, Arkbow Ranger is a formidable Planeswalker card that can enhance creatures with +1/+1 counters, seek out creatures from your library, and deal direct damage with its loyalty abilities. To counteract Vivien’s impact on the battlefield, consider using instant-speed removal spells that can target Planeswalkers, such as Hero’s Downfall or Bedevil. These allow you to respond to her casting before she can use any of her powerful abilities.

Another strategy is to apply pressure early in the game. Aggressive decks can often outpace the mana investment needed to play and utilize Vivien, forcing the opponent to choose between developing their board or casting their Planeswalker. If Vivien does enter the battlefield, ensure that you have enough creatures or damage dealing spells at your disposal to remove her swiftly before she can create a significant advantage or find the right creature with her minus ability.

Utilizing enchantment-based removal like Banishing Light can also provide a more permanent solution, as they don’t only remove Vivien for a turn but can lock her away as long as the enchantment remains on the field. In any case, fast and decisive action is key to defeating the Arkbow Ranger’s varied and potent abilities.

Cards like Vivien, Arkbow Ranger

Vivien, Arkbow Ranger offers MTG players a commanding presence on the battlefield, much like other planeswalkers such as Garruk, Cursed Huntsman. Vivien’s strength lies in her ability to distribute +1/+1 counters among creatures, akin to the boosting effect provided by Nissa, Who Shakes the World. However, Vivien stands out with her ultimate ability that presents an emblem with the power to grant creatures you control trample and indestructible, which is not seen in Nissa’s range of abilities.

Another card worth mentioning is Ajani, the Greathearted. While Ajani similarly provides a buff to creatures with +1/+1 counters and has a supportive role for creature-based strategies, he lacks Vivien’s versatility in hunting down enemy creatures. Vivien’s direct removal potential through her -3 ability sets her apart from Ajani, demonstrating her role as a ranger. In addition, while Ajani focuses on a wider gain of life and support for loyalty abilities, Vivien hones in on the aggression and adaptability essential for green-based decks.

Assessing the unique traits against other planeswalkers, Vivien, Arkbow Ranger carves a distinct niche in the MTG ecosystem with her synthesis of creature enhancement and strategic elimination, cementing her as a formidable choice for any deck looking to harness the raw power of the wilds.

Garruk, Cursed Huntsman - MTG Card versions

Nissa, Who Shakes the World - MTG Card versions

Ajani, the Greathearted - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vivien, Arkbow Ranger MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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, Arkbow Ranger and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vivien, Arkbow Ranger 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, Arkbow Ranger card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2019-07-12	If either target is an illegal target as Vivien’s second ability tries to resolve, the creature you control won’t deal damage.
2019-07-12	If one of the two target creatures becomes an illegal target in response to Vivien’s first ability, the +1/+1 counter that would have been put on that creature is lost. It can’t be put on the legal target.
2019-07-12	In a casual game, a card you choose from outside the game comes from your personal collection. In a tournament event, a card you choose from outside the game must come from your sideboard. You may look at your sideboard at any time.
2019-07-12	You can activate Vivien’s first ability without choosing any target creatures. The counters won’t be put on anything. This is a change from previous rules regarding distributing counters.
2019-07-12	You choose how the counters will be distributed as you activate Vivien’s first ability. Each target creature must be assigned at least one counter. This means that you can’t put two counters on one creature but give two creatures trample.