Leadership Vacuum MTG Card


Gains advantage by returning commanders to hand, disrupting foes and offering immediate board impact. Instant-speed play provides versatility, but the discard requirement and specific mana cost are notable drawbacks. Exceptional in current meta, especially for blue decks that maximize on bounce and control strategies.
Leadership Vacuum - Commander 2019
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2019-08-23
Set symbol
Set nameCommander 2019
Set codeC19
Number9
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJohan Grenier

Text of card

Target player returns each commander they control from the battlefield to the command zone. Draw a card.

"While they scramble to fill the sudden vacancy at the top, we strike." —Sedris, the Traitor King


Cards like Leadership Vacuum

Leadership Vacuum is an intriguing utility card in the world of MTG, offering a unique approach to addressing opponents’ commanders. It finds some parallel with cards like Aether Gust, as both can temporarily remove threats from the battlefield. Leadership Vacuum ups the ante by targeting commanders specifically, forcing them back into the command zone and stripping away any counters or auras they may have garnered. This can dramatically shift the momentum of a game, particularly in Commander format where a player’s central creature is a core strategy.

When compared to other bounce spells like Unsummon, Leadership Vacuum offers a more focused application yet a broader effect by clearing all commanders irrespective of their type or cost. Unlike Unsummon, which can target any creature but just returns it to hand, the command zone trip that Leadership Vacuum imposes incurs an additional cost for re-casting the commander. Moreover, Leadership Vacuum allows its caster to draw a card, adding a layer of card advantage not present in similar bounce spells.

Overall, Leadership Vacuum stands out as a tactical option especially tailored for Commander games. Its ability to disrupt opponents while replenishing the caster’s hand gives it an edge in this multiplayer, high-stakes format.

Aether Gust - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Aether Gust - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions

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Crystal Spray - MTG Card versions
Hibernation - MTG Card versions
Circular Logic - MTG Card versions
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Archmage's Charm - MTG Card versions
Commander's Insight - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Leadership Vacuum boosts card advantage by returning a target commander to its owner’s hand. This not only can disrupt your opponent’s strategy but also reloads your hand with potential answers or threats, ensuring you stay ahead in resources.

Resource Acceleration: While Leadership Vacuum itself doesn’t create resources directly, bouncing a key piece of your opponent’s board can set them back, effectively giving you a resource lead as you continue to develop your board unhindered.

Instant Speed: The fact that Leadership Vacuum can be cast at instant speed adds a layer of versatility, enabling reactive gameplay. You can respond to your opponent’s moves, protect your own interests, or strategically dismantle an opponent’s plan right before they wish to execute a crucial move.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Leadership Vacuum is the need to discard a card when playing it. For players running low on hand resources, this can pose a challenge, deterring the optimal play of this card in certain situations.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting requirement includes a blue mana cost, which may restrict its inclusion to blue-centric or blue-compatible decks. Players running decks without access to blue mana will find Leadership Vacuum incompatible.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two generic and one blue, Leadership Vacuum has a higher investment for its control effect compared to other bounce spells in the game. Players may opt for alternatives that provide similar results without the same level of resource commitment.


Reasons to Include Leadership Vacuum in Your Collection

Versatility: Leadership Vacuum is a flexible tool in blue-focused decks. As a card that can target commanders, it disrupts opponent strategies and forces re-casting, potentially at a higher mana cost.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes with decks that capitalize on casting spells. Its ability to return a commander to the command zone can be part of a larger control framework or interrupt combos by opposing players.

Meta-Relevance: With many players relying on their commander for pivotal game actions, Leadership Vacuum holds significance in the current meta. Its capability to off-balance an opponent’s tempo can be a game-changer in commander-centric matches.


How to Beat

Leadership Vacuum is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering that can shift the tides of battle by targeting commanders. It not only returns a commander to its owner’s command zone but also wipes clean any existing auras and equipment attached to it. This disruptive play can significantly set back an opponent’s strategy.

When facing Leadership Vacuum, flexibility is key. Having a diverse set of responses in your deck, such as creatures with hexproof or shroud to prevent targetability, or counter spells to negate Leadership Vacuum’s activation can be vital. It’s also practical to maintain a balanced board presence without overly relying on your commander. If your strategy does hinge on your commander, consider cards that grant indestructible or protect from blue spells, as Leadership Vacuum is a blue card.

A strategic approach to mitigate the impact of Leadership Vacuum includes maintaining a pool of mana to recast your commander or keeping alternative win conditions in your arsenal. By diversifying your threats and having backup plans, you’ll be better positioned to overcome the challenge posed by such targeted removal and ensure your path to victory remains unblocked.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of Leadership Vacuum is crucial for MTG players who want to keep their strategy sharp in Commander games. This card’s unique ability to send commanders packing, combined with its card draw perk, offers a disruptive play that can alter the course of the match. While it’s true that it has some limitations, like the discard requirement, the tactical advantage it can provide is worth considering for your deck. Want to deepen your strategic plays and see how Leadership Vacuum can fit into your grand plan? Dive deeper with us and unlock the potential of this intriguing card in your MTG collection.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Leadership Vacuum MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2019, 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 Leadership Vacuum and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Leadership Vacuum has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-08-23 Leadership Vacuum targets the player, not their creatures. A commander with hexproof or protection from blue may be returned this way.
2019-08-23 The “commander tax” increases based on how many times a commander was cast from the command zone, not how many times it was put there instead of being put into another zone. The returned commander will cost more to cast again even though it was put directly into the command zone.
2019-08-23 You’ll draw a card even if the target player controls no commanders as Leadership Vacuum resolves.