Knowledge Vault MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. Knowledge Vault promises card advantage with a three-card potential draw when conditions are right.
  2. Convertible to emergency mana, it enhances strategic play with instant-speed activation.
  3. Balancing its utility, the Vault demands specific mana commitment and a discard to activate.

Text of card

oc T: Take a card from your library without looking at it and place it face down under Knowledge Vault. Sacrifice Knowledge Vault to discard entire hand and take the cards under the vault into your hand. If Knowledge Vault leaves play, put all cards under it in your graveyard.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Knowledge Vault offers the ability to draw three cards after the right conditions are met, providing a substantial increase in resources and options for any MTG player looking to stay ahead in the game.

Resource Acceleration: This artifact can be used as a source of emergency mana supply. Once sacrificed, it can provide a quick burst of card draws, effectively converting it into potential for further plays, which can be crucial in tight situations.

Instant Speed: The utility of Knowledge Vault is enhanced by its ability to be activated at instant speed, allowing for strategic depth and surprise factor. Players can choose the optimal time to utilize the Vault, such as in response to an opponent’s actions or after their turn has ended to maximize the element of surprise and disrupt their strategies.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Knowledge Vault necessitates the player to discard a card in order to activate its ability. This trade-off can leave players at a significant disadvantage, especially when their hand is already depleted or if the discarded card is crucial to their game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: To utilize Knowledge Vault effectively, a player must invest two colorless and two blue mana. This specific requirement can be restrictive, as it demands a commitment to blue mana sources, potentially making the card less flexible for decks that are not heavily blue.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Knowledge Vault may be considered costly considering the immediate impact it has on the game. Other cards in the same mana range might offer players more direct influence on the board or a better cost-to-benefit ratio, potentially rendering Knowledge Vault a less optimal choice in a tightly curated deck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Knowledge Vault can be a versatile addition to any deck that thrives on card advantage and surprise element. Its ability to store cards for later use means you can prepare for various board states and opponent strategies without overcommitting resources early on.

Combo Potential: Knowledge Vault’s capability to release a flurry of cards at the right moment allows for powerful combinations. Whether you’re looking to combo out for a win or create a cascading series of plays, this card can be the linchpin of an intricate strategy.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where games tend to go long or card advantage is paramount, Knowledge Vault’s unique mechanics can tip the scales in your favor. It can catch unprepared opponents off guard and pivot the game to your advantage, making it a smart pick for decks that aim to outlast the competition.


How to beat Knowledge Vault

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Knowledge Vault offers a unique way to potentially draw three cards. However, realizing the card’s full advantage hinges on a turn-by-turn strategy. To navigate around Knowledge Vault, players should focus on direct removal or disenchantment abilities. Cards like Disenchant or Nature’s Claim can dismantle the Vault efficiently, ensuring that the opponent doesn’t capitalize on its potential card advantage.

Another valid approach involves pressuring opponents in a way that discourages them from using Knowledge Vault’s tap ability, potentially leaving the artifact as a dormant threat. Moreover, taking advantage of the moment the opposing player draws cards can also be strategic. Since activating Knowledge Vault demands a sacrifice, control deck players can optimize timing to cast counterspell or instant-speed disruption, rendering the card advantage null. Knowledge Vault ultimately presents an interesting challenge, but with a well-constructed deck and a keen sense of the gameplay dynamics, players can effectively diminish its impact on the match.


Cards like Knowledge Vault

The Knowledge Vault is an intriguing artifact in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, reminiscent of other powerful card advantage engines. Its kin include the notorious “Jayemdae Tome”, granting the ability to draw cards at a cost. Unlike the Tome, Knowledge Vault offers a bulk draw of three cards for a similar investment, but it holds the cards hostage until the Vault leaves the battlefield.

Another parallel is found with “Library of Leng”. Both artifacts allow a form of card retention, yet the Library offers a unique nuance by enabling card draws without necessitating hand size reduction. Additionally, “Memory Jar” is a relative, albeit a more aggressive version, which forces both players to temporarily yield their hands for a new set. Knowledge Vault’s forced discard upon activation marks a less chaotic, more controlled form of hand manipulation.

Evaluating these distinctive mechanics, Knowledge Vault presents players with an enigmatic choice; invest now and benefit later, weaving a thread of strategic depth into the tapestry of game play that sets it apart from its contemporaries in card advantage strategies.

Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Library of Leng - MTG Card versions
Memory Jar - MTG Card versions
Jayemdae Tome - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Library of Leng - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Memory Jar - Urza's Legacy (ULG)

Cards similar to Knowledge Vault by color, type and mana cost

Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Jade Monolith - MTG Card versions
Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
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Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
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Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
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Scrapbasket - MTG Card versions
Magnetic Mine - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Eye of Doom - MTG Card versions
Jayemdae Tome - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Juggernaut - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Jade Monolith - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Dancing Scimitar - Revised Edition (3ED)
Grinning Totem - Mirage (MIR)
Phyrexian Processor - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Patagia Golem - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Lodestone Myr - Mirrodin (MRD)
Lich's Tomb - Darksteel (DST)
Krark-Clan Ironworks - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Jade Idol - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Ur-Golem's Eye - Commander 2014 (C14)
Jester's Cap - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bottled Cloister - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Rod of Ruin - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Gnarled Effigy - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Scrapbasket - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Magnetic Mine - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Icy Manipulator - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Eye of Doom - Commander 2013 (C13)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Knowledge Vault MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Masters Edition III, 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 Knowledge Vault and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Knowledge Vault Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2009-09-07. Illustrated by Amy Weber.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-06-01LegendsLEG 2811993normalblackAmy Weber
22009-09-07Masters Edition IIIME3 1981997normalblackAmy Weber

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Knowledge Vault has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2008-10-01 You can activate the second ability any time you have priority, including in response to itself. However, you will only be able to sacrifice the Vault as the first such ability resolves.
2009-10-01 If you activate Knowledge Vault’s second ability, all that happens at that time is that you pay a cost of . As the ability resolves, you must sacrifice Knowledge Vault. This is mandatory. If you are able to do so, you discard your hand and put all cards exiled with Knowledge Vault into their owners’ hands. If you aren’t able to do so because Knowledge Vault left the battlefield or changed controllers before the ability resolves, nothing happens.
2009-10-01 You don’t get to look at the cards exiled with Knowledge Vault.

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