Vampire Envoy MTG Card

Vampire Envoy - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)

Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)
2016-01-22 - Number 92

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 810

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 483

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number OGW-92

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Vampire Cleric Ally
Abilities	Flying
Power	1
Toughness	4

Key Takeaways

Vampire Envoy excels in card advantage and resource acceleration in black-based vampire decks.
Limited by specific mana costs and higher casting cost relative to other cards with similar abilities.
Its combine of flying and life gain makes it a relevant inclusion in many decks against aggressive strategies.

Text of card

Flying Whenever Vampire Envoy becomes tapped, you gain 1 life.

"Zendikar will fight until it has bled its last."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vampire Envoy can provide continuous card advantage as it synergizes with life gain and card draw mechanics often found in vampire decks.

Resource Acceleration: The life gain from Vampire Envoy can trigger abilities that accelerate your resources, providing an edge over the opponent by enabling bigger plays sooner.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, the flying ability allows Vampire Envoy to be a constant threat, forcing opponents to play at instant speed to deal with it effectively during combat.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In a gameplay situation where maintaining hand size is vital, the discard obligation tied to Vampire Envoy can be a hindrance. This characteristic demands players to let go of potentially useful cards, potentially hampering their strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Vampire Envoy comes with a precise mana requirement that could restrict its playability. Decks that do not run black mana or have a diversified color base might find it challenging to consistently cast this card effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost set at three, Vampire Envoy stands at the higher end for its capabilities. There are alternative lower-cost vampires or creatures with lifelink that offer similar or stronger abilities, providing potentially better value and synergy within a deck’s overall strategy.

Reasons to Include Vampire Envoy in Your Collection

Versatility: Vampire Envoy is an adaptable card that can find a place in various black-based decks. Its primary ability to gain life links well with strategies that capitalize on life-gain triggers and incremental advantages over time.

Combo Potential: This creature’s flying ability lets it evade many common blockers, while its life-gain on attack can be combined with cards that have synergies with gaining life, enhancing the potential for powerful combos and interactions within the deck.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where aggressive decks are common, Vampire Envoy provides a consistent source of life gain, which can be crucial for stabilizing against faster-paced opponents. Its ability to affect the board state just by attacking or blocking makes it a relevant choice for many game situations.

How to Beat

Vampire Envoy is a unique creature card that can be a thorn in the side of many players due to its combination of flying and life gain abilities. When examining how to outmaneuver this card, it’s crucial to consider removal options that can bypass its air superiority. Cards with reach or those that can deal damage to flying creatures specifically, like Plummet, are vital inclusions in your deck to have a ready answer for Vampire Envoy.

Moreover, life gain prevention is a strategy not to be overlooked. Utilizing cards like Tainted Remedy can turn its life gain ability into a liability for your opponent. Efficient creature removal spells like Doom Blade or Murder are also effective, taking the creature off the board before its life gain can impact the game. In short, it’s about preparation and being equipped with the right answers to handle Vampire Envoy and other similar threats.

Ultimately, by integrating targeted creature removal or abilities that negate the advantages of Vampire Envoy, you can substantially reduce the impact this card has on the game, maintaining control over the battlefield and steering the match towards your victory.

Cards like Vampire Envoy

Vampire Envoy is an intriguing creature card that finds its place in many Magic: The Gathering black decks. It’s often compared to other similar flying creatures, such as Pulse Tracker, which also offers a way to whittle down an opponent’s life total. However, Vampire Envoy’s ability to gain you life each time it becomes tapped sets it apart from Pulse Tracker’s straightforward attack strategy. It becomes not just an offensive asset but a source of life gain as well.

Another card that players might consider is Cliffhaven Vampire. This card, while sharing the vampire lineage and knack for life manipulation, offers a more passive approach to damage dealing. Whereas Vampire Envoy requires being tapped to trigger its ability, Cliffhaven Vampire takes advantage of any life gain, a synergy that fans of lifelink strategies admire. Despite that, Cliffhaven comes at a higher casting cost, making Vampire Envoy a more accessible option in the early game.

Assessing creature cards within the vampire theme, Vampire Envoy’s unique blend of evasion, life gain, and its tactical necessity in black decks makes it a versatile choice for players looking to balance their attack and defensive strategies in Magic: The Gathering.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vampire Envoy MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch 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 Vampire Envoy and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vampire Envoy Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-01-22 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Johannes Voss.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2016-01-22	Oath of the Gatewatch	OGW	92	2015	Normal	Black	Johannes Voss
2	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	810	2015	Normal	Black	Johannes Voss
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	OGW-92	2015	Normal	Black	Johannes Voss
4	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22	483	2015	Normal	Black	Johannes Voss

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vampire Envoy 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 Vampire Envoy card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2016-01-22	Vampire Envoy’s last ability will trigger if it becomes tapped for any reason, including attacking. However, if it enters the battlefield tapped for some reason, the ability won’t trigger.