Viseling MTG Card

Nemesis (NEM)
2000-02-14 - Number 140

Commander 2013 (C13)
2013-11-01 - Number 269

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact Creature — Phyrexian Construct
Power	2
Toughness	2

Key Takeaways

Viseling draws cards based on opponents’ hand sizes, enriching your strategic options.
Punishing ability pressures opponents, indirectly benefiting your resource management.
In control strategies, Viseling’s threat level increases with opponents’ hand sizes.

Text of card

At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, Viseling deals X damage to that player, where X is the number of cards in his or her hand minus four.

"This may hurt a lot."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Viseling card can provide a significant advantage by potentially drawing multiple cards each turn based on the size of your opponents’ hands. This unique drawing mechanism ensures you have a rich variety of options to outplay your opponent and maintain the upper hand in card availability.

Resource Acceleration: Viseling applies pressure on opponents by inflicting damage proportional to the number of cards in their hand, indirectly accelerating your own resources. As your adversaries are forced to play cards to minimize damage, you may seize the opportunity to further your board position unchallenged.

Instant Speed: While Viseling itself does not operate at instant speed, its effect can benefit from instant-speed interaction. Control decks, for instance, may hold back instant removals or counters, forcing opponents to play into Viseling’s punishing ability – a strategic layer that thrives on the potency of said interactions within a player’s turn cycle.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Viseling card forces a player to discard an additional card, a notable downside during gameplay when your hand is already depleting. This can leave players at a disadvantage, particularly when every card in hand counts towards a strategic play.

Specific Mana Cost: Viseling requires a precise combination of mana, including colorless mana, to be cast effectively. This specificity can be restrictive as it may not seamlessly fit into all deck archetypes, especially those that are color-intensive and have little room for such requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the higher side, the return on investment for playing Viseling may not align with players’ expectations when compared to other options. Considering the pace of the game and available resources, there might be alternative cards that offer similar or better outcomes for less mana.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Viseling adapts well to decks that aim to control opponents through hand size manipulation. Its ability to inflict damage based on the amount of cards in your opponent’s hand makes it a flexible threat.

Combo Potential: This card thrives when combined with strategies that force opponents to draw cards or end up with large hand sizes. It can serve as a key piece in decks looking to capitalize on opponents’ resources.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where players tend to hold onto multiple cards, the value of Viseling increases. It can serve as a deterrent against such strategies and act as a continuous source of damage.

How to beat Viseling

Viseling, a unique artifact creature from Magic: The Gathering, presents a distinct challenge due to its ability to deal damage to players based on the number of cards in their hand. Tackling this threat head-on requires strategic adjustments to your playstyle. Reducing the number of cards in your hand is one effective tactic, especially if you’re able to play or discard cards quickly enough to minimize potential damage.

Alternatively, dealing with Viseling can be accomplished by employing artifact removal spells such as Naturalize or Disenchant, which can promptly remove Viseling from the game. It is also beneficial to consider creature control strategies, keeping in mind the need to manage the board while maintaining a hand size that doesn’t incur significant damage from Viseling’s intimidating presence.

Overall, mitigating the damage from Viseling involves a combination of maintaining a smaller hand size and having the right removal tools at your disposal. By keeping pressure on your opponent and staying prepared to remove key threats like Viseling, you can effectively neutralize its impact and keep the game in your favor.

Cards like Viseling

Viseling, as a unique artifact creature card in the plane of Magic: The Gathering, beckons comparison with other cards that capitalize on an opponent’s hand size. Its ability to inflict damage to each player based on the number of cards in their hand at the end of their turn nods to a strategy that can unsettle those who stockpile cards.

Another card that thrives in this corner of strategy would be Ebony Owl Netsuke. It inflicts a consistent two damage to an opponent under similar conditions — a hefty hand. Yet Viseling’s variable damage can surge higher, pushing it as a potential threat in games against players who amass cards. Furthermore, Iron Maiden shares this penchant to punish, attributing one damage per card over four in an opponent’s hand. It offers a more predictable and controlled form of damage, whereas Viseling’s scare factor can grow with the game, aligning with different deck tactics.

Analyzing these parallels, Viseling positions itself as a card that can apply persistent pressure in Magic: The Gathering, scaling its threat level proportional to opponents’ strategies centered around card retention.

Cards similar to Viseling by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Viseling MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis and Commander 2013, 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 Viseling and other MTG cards: