Vial of Poison MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact
Released	2013-07-19
Set symbol
Set name	Magic 2014
Set code	M14
Number	226
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Franz Vohwinkel

Key Takeaways

Indirect card advantage can be achieved by deterring opponents with the threat of deathtouch.
Flexibility in activation times allows for disruption of opponents’ strategies at critical moments.
Demands careful resource management due to its sacrifice requirement for a one-time effect.

Text of card

, Sacrifice Vial of Poison: Target creature gains deathtouch until end of turn. (Any amount of damage it deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.)

There are worse ways to die, but not many.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Vial of Poison doesn’t directly allow you to draw more cards, it can indirectly lead to card advantage by deterring opponents from attacking with valuable creatures, potentially preventing them from drawing cards via combat damage or other abilities.

Resource Acceleration: Vial of Poison doesn’t offer traditional resource acceleration. However, its low casting cost and ability to threaten creature destruction can save you mana in the long run, as you won’t necessarily have to cast more expensive spells to deal with threats.

Instant Speed: The ability to sacrifice Vial of Poison at instant speed gives you flexibility in responding to threats, allowing you to take out key creatures during combat or in response to an opponent’s spells or abilities, which could disrupt their strategy and preserve your board state.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Vial of Poison asks for a sacrifice beyond its initial casting expense. To leverage its potential, a player must be willing to give up the artifact itself, which can be a steep price when resources are stretched thin or the battlefield position is precarious.

Specific Mana Cost: While the activation cost is generic, the precise nature of needing just one mana to utilize its ability ties up resources that could possibly be directed elsewhere. In games where speed and efficiency are paramount, this can be a subtle yet tangible drawback.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial investment to bring Vial of Poison into play could be considered high when measured against other one-time use options available. Cards in this mana range often provide a more significant immediate impact on the game state, leading some players to overlook the Vial in favor of more impactful choices.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Vial of Poison offers flexibility to your deck by providing an instant-speed option to deter attackers or boost the efficacy of your own creatures during combat.

Combo Potential: This card lends itself to various synergies, especially in decks that revolve around sacrificing permanents for beneficial effects, bolstering both offensive and defensive tactics.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment heavy with creature-dependent strategies, Vial of Poison has potential to throw off an opponent’s game plan, making it a strategic addition to sideboards or main decks alike.

How to beat

The Vial of Poison is a unique artifact within the vast array of cards in Magic: The Gathering. With the simple tap and sacrifice mechanism, it can grant a creature the ability to deal with a pending threat. Understanding the situations when opponents might deploy it against your creatures is crucial. A smart move is to manage your removal spells and creature abilities carefully. It’s essential to be cautious about when you choose to commit your more valuable creatures to the battlefield.

To counteract Vial of Poison, consider using spells that can neutralize artifacts or provide your creatures with indestructible until end of turn. Another strategy is to maintain a balance between playing creatures and holding up mana for instant-speed responses that can disrupt your opponent’s timing, taking advantage of the Vial’s one-time use nature. By keeping these tactics in mind, you can circumvent the detrimental impact that Vial of Poison could have on your game plan.

When you’re mindful of the opponent’s potential to utilize such an artifact, it can inform your strategy, guiding your decisions throughout the game. As a result, you improve your resilience against the sudden demise that Vial of Poison threatens in the hands of a strategic opponent.

Cards like Vial of Poison

Vial of Poison presents a unique approach to board control amongst Magic: The Gathering artifacts. It shares a conceptual kinship with cards like Virulent Swipe, which provides a creature with a similar albeit temporary boost in offensive capabilities. However, Vial of Poison stands out with its ability to not only boost a creature’s damage for a turn but also to grant it deathtouch anytime, thus making any blocker a potential threat.

Assassin’s Blade is another artifact worth mentioning in the context of Vial of Poison. It also confers deathtouch, yet unlike the Vial, it automatically attaches to a creature when it enters the battlefield. The Vial’s flexibility in timing can be advantageous, though it requires manual activation and the sacrifice of the artifact itself to utilize.

Considering the strategic intricacies inherent in MTG, Vial of Poison offers an intriguing option for players who value tactical surprise and direct influence on the board state. Although its contemporaries might provide similar effects, the Vial’s one-time use deathtouch threat can unexpectedly tilt the scales in a tight match.

Cards similar to Vial of Poison by color, type and mana cost

Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions

Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vial of Poison MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2014, 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 Vial of Poison and other MTG cards: