Touch of Vitae MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	1995-06-03
Set symbol
Set name	Ice Age
Set code	ICE
Number	271
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Allen Williams

Key Takeaways

Touch of Vitae enables instant creature untapping and haste, setting up strategic plays and surprise attacks.
While powerful, Touch of Vitae’s card cost and green mana requirement can limit its deck compatibility.
The card’s abilities are potent for combos and tempo, but can be countered by removal or board wipes.

Text of card

Target creature may untap one additional time this turn. That creature may attack or use abilities that require oc T as part of the activation cost this turn. Draw a card at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Touch of Vitae enables a creature to untap and gain haste until end of turn. This utility can potentially lead to unexpected card draw or other advantages if that creature has a tap ability that yields additional cards or effects.

Resource Acceleration: By giving a creature haste, Touch of Vitae can accelerate your board presence, allowing newly summoned creatures or those immobilized by summoning sickness to contribute immediately, which can translate to faster resource utilization and overwhelming your opponent.

Instant Speed: The capacity to cast Touch of Vitae at instant speed makes it exceptionally versatile. It allows players to react to the dynamic game state, untapping a creature for a surprise block or enabling a powerful tap ability at the most opportune moment, often during the opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Touch of Vitae grants haste to a creature, having to throw away another card from your hand can be a tough toll, particularly when your hand size is dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: The green mana symbol in its cost pigeonholes it into green-centric decks, making it less flexible for those looking to sprinkle it into a multicolored mix.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Spending three mana to give a single creature haste and untap it can be seen as steep, especially when there are spells out there that either cost less or offer more bang for your buck at the same price point.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Touch of Vitae is a unique card that can serve multiple roles in your deck. With its ability to untap creatures, it enhances both offensive and defensive strategies, making it a useful tool in a wide range of situations.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with creatures that have tap abilities or with cards that benefit from creatures becoming tapped or untapped. It can be a key component in combos that aim to create an endless loop of creature abilities.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where games can be swiftly decided by tempo swings, Touch of Vitae offers a low-cost option to catch opponents off-guard or to outpace them by reusing your own creatures’ abilities. It’s well-suited for decks that aim to maintain pressure or need to react swiftly to changing board states.

How to beat

Touch of Vitae is a unique card found in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, because it allows creatures to untap and gain the ability to block an additional time during a turn. To outmaneuver this effect, players may consider using instant-speed removal spells. These can efficiently eliminate the creature before the Touch of Vitae’s ability resolves or when it’s declared as an attacker or blocker.

Counterspells offer another robust strategy against Touch of Vitae by preventing it from ever hitting the battlefield. Board wipes could be the most comprehensive response, clearing all creatures and nullifying the advantages that Touch of Vitae could provide. Using these tactics can ensure that the brief acceleration and combat advantages provided by Touch of Vitae do not turn the tide of the battlefield against you.

Ultimately, staying aware of the mana your opponent has available and preparing for the surprising resurgence of creatures with Touch of Vitae ensures that you maintain control of the game’s pace and flow.

Cards like Touch of Vitae

Touch of Vitae occupies a unique position in Magic: The Gathering as it provides creatures with the potent combination of haste and the ability to untap during the next turn’s end step. In close comparison, there’s Rush of Adrenaline. This card, while also low-cost and providing a temporary speed boost through granting haste, comes without the added untapping benefit of Touch of Vitae.

Tempo-wise, we have the classical Giant’s Ire, another card delivering a temporary stat boost; however, it lacks the ability to influence multiple turns and does not enable surprise blocking or additional uses of tap abilities like Touch of Vitae does. Unearth stands as a relevant alternative, offering a return from the graveyard to the battlefield with haste, yet again it is limited by not affecting creatures already in play and not having the untap feature that gives Touch of Vitae its extended impact.

The strategic implications of Touch of Vitae extend well beyond a one-time speed enhancement. It allows for versatile moves like enabling a creature to attack and then be ready to block on the next turn, showing its distinct advantage within the realm of Magic: The Gathering’s temporary buff cards.

Cards similar to Touch of Vitae by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Touch of Vitae MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age, 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 Touch of Vitae and other MTG cards: