Vulshok Berserker MTG Card

Mirrodin (MRD)
2003-10-02 - Number 111

Magic 2011 (M11)
2010-07-16 - Number 159

Vulshok Berserker - Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth (DDI)

Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth (DDI)
2012-03-30 - Number 53

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Berserker
Abilities	Haste
Power	3
Toughness	2

Key Takeaways

Vulshok Berserker offers card advantage by forcing opponents to handle its direct damage threat efficiently.
Haste allows for immediate attacks, disrupting opponents’ strategies and accelerating victory.
Despite a higher mana cost and discard requirement, it remains a formidable presence in fast-paced strategies.

Text of card

Haste

He experiences every emotion with passion and repays every slight with vengeance.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vulshok Berserker’s ability to deal direct damage upon attacking provides an implicit card advantage by threatening to eliminate opposing creatures and preserve your own board state.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting resources, this card’s aggressive stance can pressure opponents, essentially accelerating your path to victory as your opponent may have to utilize more resources to deal with the threat.

Instant Speed: Its haste ability offers a comparable advantage to instant speed by allowing immediate attack, thus catching an opponent unprepared and potentially disrupting their strategy on the very turn it’s played.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Vulshok Berserker comes with a potential downside for players who are required to discard a card when activating certain abilities. This can be cumbersome when your hand is already stretched thin and all your resources are critical for maintaining control of the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The Berserker’s casting cost is red-focused, which may not align well with decks that are not specifically designed to optimize red mana. This can restrict the card’s versatility and limit the types of decks where it can be effectively played.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s on the higher side for its stats and abilities, the Vulshok Berserker might not be as mana-efficient as some alternatives. This can impact deck-building decisions, especially when considering cards that offer similar effects at a lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include Vulshok Berserker in Your Collection

Versatility: Vulshok Berserker’s haste ability allows it to be a reliable source of immediate damage, fitting into aggressive red decks that aim to lower the opponent’s life total quickly. Its straightforward design also pairs well with various item attachments and buff spells.

Combo Potential: This creature complements strategies centered around cards that benefit from dealing combat damage to a player, such as enablers for card draw or extra combat phases. It also works well with cards that trigger when creatures attack or when they enter the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where decks aim to establish a board presence quickly, Vulshok Berserker can apply pressure early on, making it a valuable inclusion for its capability to compete in fast-paced matches and race against time-sensitive strategies.

How to beat

The Vulshok Berserker could be seen as an aggressive powerhouse in any MTG player’s arsenal. With its haste ability, this fiery warrior can swing into action unexpectedly, presenting an immediate threat to your life total. Knowing how to counter such an adversary is crucial for maintaining control of the battlefield.

To effectively neutralize the Vulshok Berserker, control the pace of the game by removing it before it can deal damage. Spells that force the opponent to sacrifice a creature work well, as they can bypass the Berserker’s haste. Furthermore, deploying creatures with higher toughness can block the Berserker, absorbing its assault, and then those creatures can be used to build your board presence. Lastly, taking advantage of instant-speed removal spells allows you to wait for the perfect moment, potentially disrupting your opponent’s combat strategies and leaving them vulnerable for a counter-attack.

Ultimately, with thoughtful planning and a timely response, the Vulshok Berserker can be contained, allowing you to regain the upper hand and steer the game towards victory.

Cards like Vulshok Berserker

Vulshok Berserker stands as a formidable presence in the realm of hasty creatures within Magic: The Gathering. When looking at cards sharing similar traits, the Rajh, Emberwilde certainly comes to mind. Both hold their ground as four mana red creatures that can attack as soon as they hit the battlefield. Yet, Vulshok Berserker edges out with a potent power of three, though Rajh, Emberwilde brings flexibility with his firebreathing ability, giving you the chance to increase its power.

Assault Zeppelid offers another parallel, but it soars in with evasion thanks to its flying capability. However, it lacks Vulshok Berserker’s haste, which can significantly impact the tempo of the game. Another card that echoes the haste ability is Bloodrock Cyclops. Although it shares the Berserker’s inability to block, it falls short with one less power, making Vulshok Berserker a more aggressive option for immediate impact on the board.

Measuring the strength and utility of these cards reveals that Vulshok Berserker competes admirably among its counterparts, combining the immediacy of haste with substantial power to press the advantage in aggressive red strategies.

Cards similar to Vulshok Berserker by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vulshok Berserker MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Magic 2011, 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 Vulshok Berserker and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vulshok Berserker Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2012-03-30. Illustrated by Pete Venters.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2003-10-02	Mirrodin	MRD	111	2003	Normal	Black	Pete Venters
2	2010-07-16	Magic 2011	M11	159	2003	Normal	Black	Pete Venters
3	2012-03-30	Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth	DDI	53	2003	Normal	Black	Pete Venters