Vampire Slayer MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 43
2022-01-28 - Number 310
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Card advantage through self-replacement, Vampire Slayer bolsters board presence while aiding in acquiring tactical superiority.
- At instant speed, it offers flexibility and surprise play, giving players a chance to shift the game’s momentum.
- Vampire Slayer’s resource acceleration can ramp up mana, speeding up your gameplay and bringing threats earlier.
Text of card
Whenever Vampire Slayer deals damage to a Vampire, destroy that creature.
When Kaya saved her village, Berit realized even vampires could be killed. When she brought one down herself, she realized she had found her calling.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Vampire Slayer offers a unique blend of board presence and card utility. By enabling players to replace themselves upon use, it serves not only as a creature on the battlefield but can also draw you into more advantageous positions as the match progresses.
Resource Acceleration: This card synergizes well with decks that benefit from sacrificial mechanics, giving you an edge by possibly ramping up your mana pool. It acts as a catalyst, potentially bringing your heftier threats to the fray much sooner than your opponent expects.
Instant Speed: Its ability to be cast at instant speed is a noteworthy feature. This quality provides a strategic advantage, allowing you to respond to threats immediately or alter the state of the game without having to wait for your own turn. The surprise element can lead to significant shifts in momentum, providing a tactical edge over adversaries.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Vampire Slayer’s discard condition can be a major downside, notably when your hand is either resource-rich or you’re strategically planning for future turns. Letting go of a potential game-changer can cost you the match, especially if you’re pressed to trigger Vampire Slayer’s ability.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Vampire Slayer comes with a color commitment that could constrain deck-building options. Being tailored for a specific mana pool, it requires consideration within mana fixing, which might not align well with more flexible or varied mana base decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though Vampire Slayer might offer beneficial traits for vampire-centric strategies, its efficiency is questionable when aligned against other creature options within the same mana range. Players might find alternatives that provide more immediate board presence or come equipped with lower summoning costs.
Reasons to Include Vampire Slayer in Your Collection
Versatility: Vampire Slayer offers flexibility in a variety of deck builds, excelling in those that prioritize creature control while also contributing to life gain strategies.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with decks that capitalize on destruction effects or life-based triggers, enabling powerful combinations in gameplay.
Meta-Relevance: As creature-heavy lineups persist in the meta, including an efficient removal option like Vampire Slayer can decisively shift the tide of battle in your favor.
How to beat
Vampire Slayer has emerged as a popular threat in the world of Magic: The Gathering, a card known for its prowess against vampire decks and adding a challenging layer for opponents. While it may seem daunting at first, with the right strategy, you can overcome this card and maintain dominance on the battlefield. To beat Vampire Slayer, it’s essential to minimize its impact. This means focusing on creature removal spells that can bypass its abilities or using mass removal spells to clear the board entirely. Cards like Doom Blade or Fatal Push are effective for targeting it directly, thereby nullifying its relevance in the game.
Additionally, you can outmaneuver Vampire Slayer by shifting your deck’s strategy away from creature-based approaches towards non-creature spells, thus reducing its capability to influence the game. Counterspells and enchantments like Pacifism also work to paralyze Vampire Slayer, preventing it from affecting your gameplay. Adapting your gameplay and keeping a versatile deck are your best tactics against this card, ensuring that even the most potent vampire hunters can be outplayed.
Ultimately, countering Vampire Slayer is about anticipation and adaptation. By understanding the card’s strengths and potential weaknesses, players can construct a plan to counteract and maintain the upper hand in their Magic: The Gathering matches.
Cards like Vampire Slayer
Vampire Slayer enters the realm of creature removal with a specific focus on a popular tribe in Magic: The Gathering. This card parallels Go for the Throat, which also targets creatures for elimination, excluding artifact creatures compared to Vampire Slayer’s vampire exclusivity. While Go for the Throat’s wider applicability offers broader versatility, Vampire Slayer shines in tribal matchups, where pinpointing the vampire threat is crucial.
Another related spell is Deathmark, which is narrower still in its scope, targeting only green or white creatures. The choice between these spells comes down to the expected meta; in a vampire-heavy environment, Vampire Slayer has the advantage, but against a broader creature base, Go for the Throat or Deathmark might be better suited. Ultimate Price is also worth mentioning, destroying monocolored creatures at the same low cost, granting it a middle ground between Vampire Slayer’s specialized use and Go for the Throat’s general utility.
On the whole, Vampire Slayer offers strategic players a tool expressly designed for vampire-infested metagames, exemplifying how specialized removal can be essential in tailored deck construction and realizing board control within MTG’s diverse ecosystem.
Cards similar to Vampire Slayer by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Vampire Slayer MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Vampire Slayer 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
Printings
The Vampire Slayer Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Tomas Duchek.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 43 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tomas Duchek | |
| 2 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 310 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tomas Duchek |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Vampire Slayer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |