Vessel of Malignity MTG Card
2016-04-08 - Number 144
2019-11-07 - Number 814
2020-09-26 - Number SOI-144
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment |
Key Takeaways
- Offers instant speed activation for strategic hand disruption in critical gameplay moments.
- Enhances deck strategies through versatile disruption and relative resource advantage.
- Gives players an edge in meta games where hand control is crucial for victory.
Text of card
, Sacrifice Vessel of Malignity: Target opponent exiles two cards from his or her hand. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
From within its prison, the book endlessly whispers words of cruelty and spite.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Vessel of Malignity offers strategic card denial by forcing an opponent to exile two cards from their hand, subtly tipping the balance of card advantage in your favor without overwhelming investment.
Resource Acceleration: Although Vessel of Malignity doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it indirectly aids your game plan by efficiently disrupting your opponent’s resources, potentially setting them back and giving you a relative advantage in terms of board presence and options.
Instant Speed: This artifact’s activation at instant speed provides flexibility, enabling you to respond to your opponent’s actions or wait for the optimal moment to hinder their strategy, all while keeping mana available for other threats or answers until the necessity arises.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Vessel of Malignity necessitates the opponent to discard two cards, but its activation is at your discretion, which means you can’t use it to disrupt an opponent’s well-timed play spontaneously.
Specific Mana Cost: The colorless and black mana requirement can be restrictive for decks that aren’t running a black mana base, potentially limiting its inclusion to only certain archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of two mana to cast and another two to activate, Vessel of Malignity might seem inefficient when faster, more impactful discard options are available in the game.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Vessel of Malignity offers flexible disruption that can be important in different game scenarios. Whether you’re facing off against graveyard strategies or want to preemptively reduce an opponent’s options, this card can serve as an effective tool across various decks.
Combo Potential: This card can fit into deck archetypes that capitalize on sacrifice mechanics or benefit from having enchantments enter and leave the battlefield. It can also disrupt your opponent at a crucial moment, paving the way for you to execute your winning combos unimpeded.
Meta-Relevance: This artifact’s ability to target an opponent’s hand is particularly powerful in a meta that favors deck types rich in hand sculpting and strategy planning. Its cost-effectiveness makes it easily includable, offering a strategic edge without a significant mana investment.
How to beat
Vessel of Malignity presents an intriguing dynamic to black’s arsenal in MTG. Much like other cards designed to disrupt an opponent’s hand, its ability to force an adversary to exile two cards from their hand can be a game-changer. However, this power comes with the need for strategic deployment to maximize its impact.
The key to overcoming Vessel of Malignity lies in timing and resource management. It’s crucial to recognize when to trigger its ability. For those facing it, the optimal strategy involves minimizing the card’s impact by maintaining a hand with expendable cards or waiting till the moment before the ability is activated to utilize the cards at risk. Additionally, savvy players can anticipate the activation during their own turn to sidestep the forced exile and retain valuable hand control.
In essence, while Vessel of Malignity can be a potent tool for disrupting an opponent’s plans, its effectiveness can be mitigated with careful play and attention to the state of one’s hand. A well-timed response can turn the tides, ensuring that the vessel’s malignity does not spell your downfall.
Cards like Vessel of Malignity
Vessel of Malignity has carved out its niche in the world of Magic: The Gathering as a potent tool for controlling opponents’ hands and graveyard. Its nearest counterpart is Nihil Spellbomb, which, much like Vessel, is designed to extract cards from your opponent’s graveyard. However, Spellbomb has the capability to draw a card when sacrificing, giving it a slight edge in terms of card advantage.
Looking at Tormod’s Crypt, it becomes apparent that instant-speed graveyard disruption is a critical strategy element. Unlike Vessel, which requires an activation cost and waits until the upkeep to use, Tormod’s Crypt offers its graveyard purging service for free and without mana investment. Leyline of the Void provides a different approach, continuously exiling cards that hit the graveyard from the moment it enters the battlefield, and while this constant effect is powerful, it comes at a heftier mana cost compared to Vessel.
When stacking up these cards, Vessel of Malignity offers a unique mix of targeted disruption and graveyard control that makes it a versatile choice for players looking to handicap their opponent strategically, balancing cost and effect.
Cards similar to Vessel of Malignity by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Vessel of Malignity MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Mystery Booster, 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 Vessel of Malignity and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Printings
The Vessel of Malignity Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Kieran Yanner.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 144 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kieran Yanner | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 814 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kieran Yanner | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | SOI-144 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kieran Yanner |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Vessel of Malignity has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Vessel of Malignity card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-04-08 | You won’t see the player’s hand while resolving Vessel of Malignity’s ability. That player chooses two cards, exiles them face up, and then you get to see what was exiled. |