Lotus Vale MTG Card
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Land |
| Released | 1997-06-09 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Weatherlight |
| Set code | WTH |
| Number | 165 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | John Avon |
Text of card
When Lotus Vale comes into play, sacrifice two untapped lands or bury Lotus Vale. oc T: Add three mana of any one color to your mana pool.
At what price beauty?
Cards like Lotus Vale
Lotus Vale holds a unique position within the realm of land cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relative is Scorched Ruins, which also sacrifices lands upon entry but generates two colorless mana. While Lotus Vale offers three mana of any single color, this flexibility comes at the cost of forfeiting two untapped lands. Scorched Ruins lacks color versatility but doesn’t specify the lands need to be untapped, which can be a lesser setback in certain scenarios.
In terms of mana generation, we can’t overlook the iconic Lotus Field. Much like Lotus Vale, Lotus Field provides three mana of any color but comes with hexproof, shielding it from targeting spells and abilities. It asks for the same two land sacrifices without the restriction of them being untapped, giving it an edge in some deck strategies. Then there’s the classic card, Black Lotus, which creates three mana of any color once and then it’s gone, where Lotus Vale continues to provide resources throughout the game.
When analyzing these alternatives, Lotus Vale stands out for decks that capitalize on land utility and high mana curve spells. Its ability to be a recurrent source of any color mana makes it a compelling choice for MTG players looking to optimize their land base.
Cards similar to Lotus Vale by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Lotus Vale, despite its initial sacrifice requirement, provides an immense advantage as it enables access to three mana of any one color. This can be pivotal in casting high-impact spells earlier in the game or fueling powerful multi-color cards with demanding mana costs.
Resource Acceleration: As a land, Lotus Vale bypasses the once-per-turn restriction of playing lands, offering an immediate boost in mana resources when replacing other lands. This kind of acceleration propels you ahead of your opponents by allowing more expensive and influential cards to be played ahead of curve.
Instant Speed: While Lotus Vale itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the significant mana it provides unfurls the potential of your hand, allowing you to react at instant speed with spells that previously would have been out of reach until your next turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To bring Lotus Vale into play without it instantly being sacrificed, players must discard two untapped lands. This demand for additional resources can be quite taxing, especially in the early game when land count is crucial for building a stable mana base.
Specific Mana Cost: Although Lotus Vale offers a diverse range of mana upon tapping, it requires a heavy upfront investment. Landing it on the battlefield demands that you already have, and are willing to forfeit, two additional lands, which may delay or disrupt other strategic plays.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating Lotus Vale against other land cards that may not offer as varied mana but come with less stringent conditions, the cost-benefit analysis can often lean towards those alternatives. Despite its potential for strong mana generation, the immediate sacrifice of valuable lands can place players at a significant disadvantage.
Reasons to Include Lotus Vale in Your Collection
Versatility: Lotus Vale is a unique land card with the ability to generate three mana of any one color, offering a high degree of flexibility for various mana-intensive strategies. It’s a powerful enabler in decks that want to cast high-cost spells ahead of curve.
Combo Potential: While it comes with the initial downside of sacrificing two untapped lands, savvy players can leverage this for combos or synergies with land recursion tactics. It works exceptionally well in strategies that capitalize on returning lands from the graveyard to the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where players can afford the setup cost, Lotus Vale can be an essential piece. Its potential for explosive plays fits well in metas that aren’t dominated by aggressive, low-curve strategies, allowing its user to harness a significant mana advantage.
How to beat
Lotus Vale holds a unique place among land cards in Magic: The Gathering. As a powerful source of mana acceleration, it can provide a significant advantage by granting access to three mana of any one color. However, like all cards with great power, it comes with a notable drawback – the requirement to sacrifice two untapped lands when it comes into play. If you cannot meet this condition, Lotus Vale itself must be sacrificed.
Overcoming the challenge of Lotus Vale demands strategic deck building and play. Land destruction strategies can be effective, disrupting the mana base before the Vale can be activated. Cards that force opponents to sacrifice permanents can also be influential, as timing them right can strip away the Vale or the lands needed to utilize it. Another angle of attack lies in proactive countermeasures such as enchantments that restrict players from searching their libraries, thus mitigating the impact of this potent land.
Ultimately, while Lotus Vale can be a game-changer in the right deck, understanding its weaknesses and preparing your deck with adequate responses is key to turning the tide against such a powerful asset on the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lotus Vale MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight, 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 Lotus Vale and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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 Lotus Vale has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lotus Vale card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-04-01 | If you don’t sacrifice the lands, Lotus Vale never enters the battlefield — it goes directly to your graveyard. |