Facevaulter MTG Card
2007-10-12 - Number 111
2013-06-07 - Number 85
2021-08-26 - Number 326
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Goblin Warrior |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
, Sacrifice a Goblin: Facevaulter gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
Boggarts get so excited when they find something new to smash that they really don't notice who gets underfoot.
Cards like Facevaulter
In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Facevaulter presents an interesting dynamic as a cheap, aggressive creature. While similar to other inexpensive creatures that grow in power, like Carrion Feeder, Facevaulter differentiates itself with its unique ability to sacrifice a Goblin to boost its strength. In contrast, Carrion Feeder can sacrifice any creature, offering a more versatile option but without the tribal synergy.
Mogg Raider and Goblin Sledder also share similarities with Facevaulter, granting the potential for a surprise increase in power. However, Facevaulter’s forced tribal aspect limits its versatility compared to these cards that can sacrifice any creature for the same effect. On the other side, Skirk Prospector offers a different utility by generating mana rather than combat strength, prioritizing ramping capabilities over direct aggression.
Assessing Facevaulter alongside its counterparts, it holds a distinct place in goblin-themed decks within MTG. Its ability to boost itself significantly can lead to formidable combat scenarios, especially when combined with an army of goblins. The card exemplifies the aggressive nature of goblin strategies, comfortably finding its niche in decks designed around this tribe.
Cards similar to Facevaulter by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Facevaulter offers a strategic benefit as it enables you to potentially leverage your unused Goblin tokens or other creatures to outmaneuver opponents, creating openings to considerably improve your board position.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, Facevaulter can be a form of resource acceleration due to its synergistic interactions within a Goblin deck. Sacrificing a creature can be turned into an aggressive move, adding pressure and speed to your game plan.
Instant Speed: Facevaulter itself may not operate at instant speed, but its activated ability can be used at any time you could cast an instant. This flexibility allows for mid-combat tricks and surprise boosts in power, making it a versatile tool for responding to an ever-changing battlefield.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Leveraging Facevaulter to its full potential often involves sacrificing a Goblin creature. This requirement can be a hindrance when your battlefield presence is scarce or when sacrificing a creature does not align with your strategic game plan, depleting your resources rather than gaining an advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Facevaulter’s need for black mana makes it less versatile in multi-colored Goblin decks. This limitation means players have to make sure they have the right mana sources available, which can be particularly challenging in the early game or in decks that are not primarily black.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its activated ability costing a single black mana each time it’s used, the total mana investment in maximizing Facevaulter’s potential can escalate quickly. In contrast, some other MTG cards may offer more efficient and impactful uses of your mana, especially in a deck that seeks to outnumber and rush opponents with a multitude of creatures.
Reasons to Include Facevaulter in Your Collection
Versatility: Facevaulter offers dynamic gameplay across various deck types with its ability to work both as an early game aggressor and a late-game tactical piece. Its capability to sacrifice creatures can be integrated into strategies that benefit from creature death triggers.
Combo Potential: As it synergizes well with decks that generate a wide board presence or token strategies, Facevaulter can become a cornerstone for clever combos, leveraging the sacrificed creatures for bigger plays and maintaining a strong board state.
Meta-Relevance: In environments dominated by creature-based strategies, Facevaulter shines by providing an advantage through its sacrifice mechanism, disrupting the opponent’s plans, and interacting with popular meta cards that focus on creature count and synergy.
How to beat Facevaulter
Within the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, Facevaulter emerges as a unique goblin card with built-in versatility. It’s a low-cost creature that affords the player the potential for instant power boosts by sacrificing other goblins. When you’re staring across the battlefield at a Facevaulter, it’s crucial to understand how to effectively neutralize this threat.
To counteract Facevaulter’s advantage, one strategic approach centers around limiting the number of goblins on the opponent’s side. Board clear spells are particularly efficacious in this context, as they can remove multiple threats in one fell swoop, thereby mitigating Facevaulter’s ability to gain strength. Another tactic is to target Facevaulter with removal spells before your opponent has the opportunity to sacrifice a goblin and buff its power, especially since it lacks built-in protection.
Overall, the key to triumph over a Facevaulter is to maintain control of the board and to dismantle the synergies it relies on. By preventing the swarm of goblins or by strategically removing the card before it becomes a larger threat, you stand a much better chance of maintaining domination in the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Facevaulter MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn and Modern Masters, 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 Facevaulter 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
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Facevaulter Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2007-10-12 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Wayne Reynolds.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007-10-12 | Lorwyn | LRW | 111 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 2 | 2013-06-07 | Modern Masters | MMA | 85 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 3 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 326 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Facevaulter has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |