Vineshaper Mystic MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Merfolk Shaman |
| Released | 2017-09-29 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ixalan |
| Set code | XLN |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 214 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Kieran Yanner |
Key Takeaways
- Vineshaper Mystic provides consistent battlefield advantage through durable +1/+1 counters on creatures.
- Its ability to interact with instant speed spells adds strategic depth to any MTG gameplay.
- Mana cost and setup requirements may limit Vineshaper Mystic’s versatility in some MTG decks.
Text of card
When Vineshaper Mystic enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on each of up to two target Merfolk you control.
She has never touched a loom, yet the tapestries she weaves are vast and beautiful.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Vineshaper Mystic offers value by setting up multiple creatures for increased effectiveness. The counters distributed by the Vineshaper Mystic persist through the game, which can translate into a consistent advantage on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: By immediately enhancing creatures with additional +1/+1 counters, Vineshaper Mystic can accelerate the strength of your board presence. This increased power can lead to quicker victories, as the affected creatures become tougher to deal with sooner.
Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Vineshaper Mystic interacts favourably with instant speed spells and abilities in your deck. It sets the stage for combat tricks and synergizes with flash creatures or spells that interact with +1/+1 counters, adding a layer of strategic depth to your gameplay.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Vineshaper Mystic doesn’t directly require a card to be discarded, it necessitates having other Merfolk or +1/+1 counters in play to fully utilize its ability, which can be a subtle form of resource restriction.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Vineshaper Mystic includes both green and blue mana, which pigeonholes it into two-color decks and can be a hindrance in formats that favor mono-color or three and more color variations.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a three-mana investment, Vineshaper Mystic might not always represent the best value, especially when considering other creatures in its mana range that can potentially offer immediate impact or more versatile abilities.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Vineshaper Mystic is a flexible addition to decks that focus on +1/+1 counter strategies, thanks to its ability to distribute counters upon entering the battlefield. It seamlessly slots into Merfolk tribal decks as well as counter-centric builds across various formats.
Combo Potential: The card’s ability to spread out counters can be pivotal in combination with cards that capitalize on creatures with +1/+1 counters. Whether it’s enhancing the power of creatures with modular abilities or enabling synergy with proliferate mechanics, it offers multiple combo avenues in gameplay.
Meta-Relevance: As metas that favor creature-based strategies ebb and flow, Vineshaper Mystic remains relevant. It boosts the resilience and power of your board, helping you adapt and thrive in metas where creature presence is critical for victory. Its utility in fostering potent creatures can be a game-changer, giving you the edge you need in creature-dominated matches.
How to Beat
Vineshaper Mystic is a creature card that brings a unique dynamic to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Its strength comes from its ability to distribute +1/+1 counters among creatures you control as it enters the battlefield, effectively bolstering your board presence. This can turn the tide in a game, especially if you are playing a deck with a merfolk theme or one that relies heavily on +1/+1 counters to proliferate and dominate.
To counteract the Vineshaper Mystic’s impact, one effective strategy is to limit its counter distribution. This can be achieved through removal spells or abilities that can neutralize the Mystic before its ability triggers, such as with a quick Shock or Fatal Push. In addition, running counterspells like Essence Scatter can block the Mystic’s cast altogether. If Vineshaper Mystic does resolve, you might consider board wipes like Wrath of God to reset the creature advantage it helped build. Remember, the key is to mitigate the Mystic’s influence early or control the board state to prevent those counters from giving your opponent an insurmountable advantage.
Addressing Vineshaper Mystic directly or disrupting your opponent’s larger game plan can ensure that even if the Mystic hits the board, its impact remains minimal, preserving your chances of claiming victory.
Cards like Vineshaper Mystic
Within the intricate dynamics of Magic: The Gathering, Vineshaper Mystic emerges as a noteworthy contributor in the realm of creature-based strategies. It finds its parallels in cards like Armorcraft Judge, which also capitalizes on +1/+1 counters but instead rewards players with card draw proportional to those counters. Vineshaper Mystic rather focuses on distributing counters among creatures upon its entry to the battlefield, offering immediate board presence enhancement.
Merfolk Branchwalker shares the Merfolk synergy, unveiling the top card of the library and potentially gaining a counter or drawing a card, depending on the card type revealed. While Branchwalker provides potential deck filtering benefits, Vineshaper Mystic ensures a more consistent application of counters. Lastly, consider the Jade Bearer, another Merfolk that puts a +1/+1 counter on another creature when it enters the battlefield if you control another Merfolk, echoing the tribal synergy that Vineshaper Mystic supports.
Comparing these cards underscores Vineshaper Mystic’s role in bolstering alley creatures — a tactical advantage for any deck seeking to solidify its presence through enhanced creature stats.
Cards similar to Vineshaper Mystic by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Vineshaper Mystic MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan, 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 Vineshaper Mystic 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Vineshaper Mystic has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Vineshaper Mystic card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-09-29 | Vineshaper Mystic can be the target of its own ability. |
| 2017-09-29 | You can’t target the same Merfolk twice to have it receive two +1/+1 counters. |
