Vulshok Refugee MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Warrior
Abilities	Protection
Released	2011-05-13
Set symbol
Set name	New Phyrexia
Set code	NPH
Power	3
Toughness	2
Number	101
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Wayne Reynolds

Key Takeaways

Offers strong defense against red with natural protection, bolstering your position in color-specific matchups.
Demands specific deck builds due to its non-flexible mana cost, potentially limiting its utility.
Despite a steeper mana cost than some alternatives, it remains a competitive option in red-dominated metas.

Text of card

Protection from red

"I will carve my people's vengeance on the face of Phyrexia."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The inclusion of the Vulshok Refugee in your deck boosts your resilience against red-based control decks. This creature’s built-in protection from red stands as a barrier that opponents must find a way around, preserving your valuable board presence and maintaining card advantage in match-ups where red spells predominate.

Resource Acceleration: With a modest casting cost and a solid presence, Vulshok Refugee can be a quintessential piece in aggressive strategies. The creature’s efficiency allows players to deploy threats on a curve, paving the way for more impactful spells in subsequent turns and streamlining your game plan, effectively accelerating your resource deployment.

Instant Speed: While the Vulshok Refugee itself does not operate at instant speed, it nestles perfectly into a game plan that values the freedom to cast spells at the end of an opponent’s turn. Its protection from red compliments instant-speed interaction by being a reliable board state that remains after the dust settles from any instant-speed engagements.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The play of Vulshok Refugee may be constrained by discard mechanics in a player’s strategy. Being compelled to relinquish another card to bring this one into play can be detrimental when operating with a limited hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Vulshok Refugee demands a precise mana blend, including at least one red source. This can pose deck-building challenges and reduce the card’s versatility, confining it to red-centric decks or those with robust mana-fixing capabilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an investment of three mana for a 3/2 creature, one might argue that the cost is steep when considering other creatures with similar or better stats and abilities. In competitive play, where mana efficiency is crucial, this might make Vulshok Refugee a less favorable option.

Reasons to Include Vulshok Refugee in Your Collection

Versatility: Vulshok Refugee is a useful addition to decks looking for resilient creatures. With protection from red, it serves well in matchups against red-heavy decks and slips through damage unchecked.

Combo Potential: The protection aspect of Vulshok Refugee can be leveraged in combos with cards that deal damage across the board, ensuring it survives while other creatures may not.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments dominated by red spells and creatures, Vulshok Refugee offers an efficient solution to such threats, remaining a relevant sideboard choice or main deck consideration.

How to beat

The Vulshok Refugee card brings resilience and a strategic advantage to players wielding red decks in Magic: The Gathering. Its protection from red makes it a tough contender on the battlefield, particularly against other red-focused decks that might struggle to find suitable removal options. Yet, there are effective strategies to overcome this obstacle.

One method to beat Vulshok Refugee is by utilizing colorless removal spells or abilities. Cards like Universal Solvent and Scour from Existence can bypass the protection by not being red themselves. Another approach is to challenge the refugee with creatures of other colors or those with the deathtouch ability, allowing you to block and destroy it regardless of the protection clause.

Additionally, mass removal spells not targeting individual creatures, such as Day of Judgment or Wrath of God, can clear the board and remove the Vulshok Refugee without being hindered by its protective attribute. Employing these cards and strategies can help players confidently face down the challenge posed by the Vulshok Refugee in their MTG matches.

Cards like Vulshok Refugee

Vulshok Refugee finds its niche as a steadfast presence on the battlefield within the realm of MTG. Its resiliency against red damage sets it a class apart, much like the creature Auriok Replica that also prides itself in warding off specific damage, in this case, from red spells. However, Vulshok Refugee takes the upper hand with permanent red immunity rather than a one-time activation cost required by Auriok Replica.

Then there’s the stout Thrun, the Last Troll, a formidable creature with protection from counter magic that resonates with the indestructible nature of the Refugee against red. Though Thrun offers broader protection mechanisms and regenerative abilities, it commands a higher mana investment. In the context of pure red damage evasion, Vulshok Refugee stands as a budget-friendly and reliable option with less versatility.

In a landscape where strategic defenses play a crucial role, Vulshok Refugee makes for an interesting comparison against these counterparts. While others offer a spectrum of defensive utilities, the Refugee’s specialized shield against a common MTG color can swing the tide remarkably in monored matchups or metagames dominated by red spells and abilities.

Thrun, the Last Troll - MTG Card versions

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

Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions

Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions

Cunning Bandit // Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate - MTG Card versions

Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions

Shinen of Fury's Fire - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vulshok Refugee MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia, 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 Refugee and other MTG cards: