Vigor Mortis MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Vigor Mortis enhances board state by efficiently returning creatures from graveyards.
  2. Despite its mana specifics, it elevates graveyard-themed decks with robust combo plays.
  3. Countermeasures like graveyard purging can effectively disrupt Vigor Mortis strategies.

Text of card

Return target creature card from your graveyard to play. If was spent to play Vigor Mortis, that creature comes into play with a +1/+1 counter on it.

After fear and weakness rot away, that which remains is stronger than its living form.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vigor Mortis offers an excellent way to get the upper hand in a match by returning a creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. This not only increases your board presence but also optimizes your deck’s potential without losing hand resources.

Resource Acceleration: With Vigor Mortis, efficiency comes to the forefront. The ability to reanimate a powerful creature can be a game-changer, allowing for significant resource acceleration, as you effectively bypass the mana cost of casting that creature from your hand.

Instant Speed: The reanimation effect of Vigor Mortis comes at sorcery speed, but the impact it creates on the board state is immediate and can catch your opponents off guard, setting the pace of the game in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To cast Vigor Mortis, you’re required to discard a card, which can be a strategic setback if your hand size is critical for gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: Vigor Mortis has a particular mana cost that includes both black and green, potentially restricting its compatibility with a wider range of decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that might be considered steep by some, there are alternative reanimation spells that could be more cost-effective for bringing creatures back from the graveyard.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Vigor Mortis isn’t just a simple reanimation spell. Its ability to fit into various Black and Green deck archetypes makes it a staple for any graveyard-themed strategy or decks that capitalize on creature play.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, this spell can resurrect key creatures, setting off a chain of synergistic events. By targeting creatures with enter-the-battlefield effects or those that interact with the graveyard, Vigor Mortis becomes a powerful combo enabler.

Meta-Relevance: As meta shifts tend to favor graveyard manipulation, including Vigor Mortis in your collection ensures you have a relevant card that can pivot your strategy, combating or aligning with current trends.


How to beat

Vigor Mortis is a card with the ability to return creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield, presenting a unique hurdle in Magic: The Gathering. To counteract this card effectively, players should consider strategies that purge the graveyard or exile cards before they can be resurrected. Graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can be game-changers, preventing Vigor Mortis and similar reanimation spells from changing the course of play.

An alternative tactic is to utilize counter spells, such as Negate or Dovin’s Veto, directly disrupting Vigor Mortis as it is cast. These instants are crucial for maintaining control over the match. Also, keeping a watchful eye on the opponent’s mana pool and the types of creatures they are targeting with Vigor Mortis can guide you on when to best play your disruption or removal cards.

Ultimately, understanding and anticipating the use of reanimation spells in your opponent’s strategy is vital. By preparing your deck with the right countermeasures, you can create a hurdle that makes casting Vigor Mortis a daunting task for your opponent, potentially safeguarding your lead and increasing your chances of victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the intricate strategies of MTG is an ever-evolving adventure, and Vigor Mortis brings a unique touch to your gameplay. As you balance the pros and cons of including this card in your arsenal, remember that the dynamic world of MTG deckbuilding is all about adaptation and precision. Whether it enhances your graveyard-themed deck, helps you capitalize on creature synergies, or you’re just looking to outmaneuver the shifting meta, Vigor Mortis has a place in your card collection. Elevate your knowledge, refine your deck, and harness the power of strategic reanimation by diving deeper into the potential of Vigor Mortis with us. The road to victory begins with understanding each card’s role—let’s embark on that journey together.


Cards like Vigor Mortis

Vigor Mortis stands out in the world of reanimation spells within Magic: The Gathering. This card notably returns a creature card from a graveyard to the battlefield. Cards like Zombify share this resurrection ability, but lack Vigor Mortis’s potential to surprise opponents with an extra +1/+1 counter if {G} was spent to cast it. This subtle twist adds strategic depth and potential power.

Unearth is a noteworthy comparison, with a lower cost and the ability to bring creatures back quickly at instant speed. However, Unearth’s fleeting effect only lasts for a turn and excludes larger creatures due to its mana value restriction. Rise from the Grave is another similar spell, which also turns the reanimated creature into a black Zombie in addition to its original colors and types. While this can serve as an advantage in zombie-centric decks, the absence of the +1/+1 bonus offered by Vigor Mortis makes it a less appealing choice for more general plays.

Ultimately, the added value of a potential +1/+1 counter and the flexibility of being a multicolor spell allows Vigor Mortis to occupy a unique niche within MTG’s reanimation repertoire, providing both value and versatility.

Zombify - MTG Card versions
Unearth - MTG Card versions
Rise from the Grave - MTG Card versions
Zombify - Odyssey (ODY)
Unearth - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Rise from the Grave - Wizards Play Network 2009 (PWP09)

Cards similar to Vigor Mortis by color, type and mana cost

Blex, Vexing Pest // Search for Blex - MTG Card versions
Culling Ritual - MTG Card versions
Rolling Spoil - MTG Card versions
Drain the Well - MTG Card versions
Jarad's Orders - MTG Card versions
Hazardous Conditions - MTG Card versions
Driven // Despair - MTG Card versions
Undercity Uprising - MTG Card versions
Rise of the Witch-king - MTG Card versions
Blex, Vexing Pest // Search for Blex - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)
Culling Ritual - Commander Masters (CMM)
Rolling Spoil - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Drain the Well - Eventide (EVE)
Jarad's Orders - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Hazardous Conditions - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
Driven // Despair - Amonkhet Remastered (AKR)
Undercity Uprising - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Rise of the Witch-king - The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth (LTR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vigor Mortis MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds and Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari, 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 Vigor Mortis and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vigor Mortis Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2018-11-02. Illustrated by Dan Scott.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-10-07Ravnica: City of GuildsRAV 1112003normalblackDan Scott
22012-09-07Duel Decks: Izzet vs. GolgariDDJ 742003normalblackDan Scott
32018-11-02GRN Guild KitGK1 542015normalblackDan Scott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vigor Mortis has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Vigor Mortis card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2005-10-01 The +1/+1 counter from this ability is in addition to any other counters the creature enters the battlefield with.

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