Osai Vultures MTG Card
1994-06-01 - Number 29
1995-04-01 - Number 38
1995-04-01 - Number 38
1995-08-01 - Number 16
2011-01-10 - Number 21
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Bird |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Flying At the end of any turn in which a creature is placed in the graveyard from play, put a counter on the Vultures. Remove two counters to give Vultures +1/+1 until end of turn.
A sign of battle, the Vultures circle and wait for the victorious to depart.
Cards like Osai Vultures
Osai Vultures presents a unique take on creature dynamics within Magic: The Gathering. It sits alongside other cards that revel in the opportunity to gain from creatures’ demise. Carrion Vulture, for example, shares the scavenging trait but depends solely on the top card of one’s own graveyard to gain its strength. Osai Vultures, in contrast, takes advantage of each creature’s end across the battlefield.
Scavenger Drake is another comparable card, thriving on the death of creatures by accumulating +1/+1 counters, becoming a burgeoning threat over time. Unlike the immediate flying strength that Osai Vultures gains, the drake’s power is incrementally built. Aven Fleetwing also flies and offers hexproof, but lacks the scavenging potential that makes Osai Vultures particularly opportunistic in the face of your opponents’ losses.
Comparatively assessing these creatures highlights the predatory niche that Osai Vultures occupies within the game. Notably, the vultures have the advantage of instantaneously capitalizing on the fall of other creatures, edging them out in scenarios rich with death triggers and enabling strategies centered on the demise of creatures to thrive.
Cards similar to Osai Vultures by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Osai Vultures may not directly allow you to draw cards, but it shines in strategies revolving around creature recursion. Its potential to grow in strength by exploiting fallen creatures can continuously pressure opponents, effectively tipping the balance of card quality and board state in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: While Osai Vultures doesn’t directly accelerate your mana resources, it plays a key role in graveyard-based strategies. This synergy can be leveraged to bring back more potent creatures from the graveyard, thus accelerating your game plan without necessarily increasing your land count.
Instant Speed: The true strength of Osai Vultures lies in its ability to act at instant speed due to its triggered ability. This permits you to make strategic plays by waiting for the perfect moment to capitalize on creatures hitting the graveyard, thus improving your vultures without spending mana on your turn and keeping resources untapped for other instant-speed interactions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: A key drawback of the Osai Vultures card arises when activating its ability. This mechanic requires players to let go of valuable cards from their hand, potentially causing a setback if held resources are already scarce.
Specific Mana Cost: The Osai Vultures demands a precise blend of mana types for its casting, constraining its seamless inclusion in diverse decks. Necessitating both white and another color, it narrows deck-building options and may hinder the card’s playability outside of dedicated color schemes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that’s on the upper end for creatures of its caliber, Osai Vultures can be a costly investment in terms of mana economy. When considering its stats and abilities, players might find that other creatures provide more bang for their buck and fit more effectively into the mana curve of their deck.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Osai Vultures offers a unique flexibility to your deck. As a flying creature, it can be a consistent source of damage and its ability to get stronger as creatures head to the graveyard makes it adaptable to various game states.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with strategies that involve sacrificing creatures or graveyard mechanics. Its strength increases as more creatures are put into graveyards, making it a potential game-changer in the right combo.
Meta-Relevance: Osai Vultures can shine in a meta with heavy creature focus. With each creature’s death, it gains the opportunity to beef up and apply pressure, making it a timely addition against decks with numerous low-toughness creatures.
How to Beat Osai Vultures
Osai Vultures presents an intriguing challenge in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to gain strength each time a creature dies. Understanding the core mechanics and having the right strategy can effectively neutralize this creature card. Removal spells that exile, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, are essential tools for any player facing Osai Vultures. By exiling the creature rather than sending it to the graveyard, you prevent Osai Vultures from leveraging its ability to grow stronger.
Additionally, board control is vital. Prioritize maintaining a clean battlefield to limit the number of creatures dying and consequently, the chances for the vultures to bulk up. If the Osai Vultures have already become a formidable threat, consider employing board wipes that don’t discriminate by size, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, to reset the playing field.
Focusing on cards that hinder graveyard interaction is another effective line of play. Graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace can drastically reduce the potential boosts Osai Vultures may receive from fallen creatures. Keep these strategies in mind, and you’ll find that dealing with Osai Vultures can be manageable, keeping your game on the path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Osai Vultures MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Fourth Edition, 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 Osai Vultures and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Osai Vultures Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by Dan Frazier.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-06-01 | Legends | LEG | 29 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 2 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 38 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 3 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 38 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 4 | 1995-08-01 | Renaissance | REN | 16 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 5 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 21 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Osai Vultures has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Osai Vultures card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Only gets one counter per turn, not one per creature. |