Burning-Tree Vandal MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Rogue
Abilities Riot
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Burning-Tree Vandal excels in card flow, benefiting decks seeking constant hand replenishment.
  2. The card’s Riot ability provides adaptability, fitting into various strategic archetypes.
  3. While potent in synergy, its discard requirement and mana cost necessitate mindful deck building.

Text of card

Riot (This creature enters the battlefield with your choice of a +1/+1 counter or haste.) Whenever Burning-Tree Vandal attacks, you may discard a card. If you do, draw a card.

The ostentatious splendor of the Orzhov church was just asking to be smashed.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Burning-Tree Vandal’s Riot ability combined with its potential to discard and then draw a card can churn through your deck, letting you sift rapidly for key pieces or simply keep your hand replenished.

Resource Acceleration: Albeit indirectly, the discard-draw effect can help filter through your deck to find land drops or ramp spells, smoothing out your mana curve and getting to your power plays faster.

Instant Speed: While Burning-Tree Vandal itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the flexible nature of its Riot ability allows it to either come in with haste to immediately impact the board or with a +1/+1 counter to be a resilient threat that can benefit from instant speed interaction in subsequent turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Burning-Tree Vandal demands that you toss another card each time its riotous ways are triggered. This can thin your hand quickly and place you at a strategic disadvantage if you’re unable to replenish your hand size efficiently.

Specific Mana Cost: This agile Rogue comes with a cost that specifically requires one red mana. Decks without a red mana base will find no shelter here, restricting the Vandal to particular builds adept at wielding the flames of red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its potential for recurrent loot effects, the Vandal’s three total mana cost is slightly steep for its stats and abilities. For such an investment, especially in competitive formats, players often seek cards that have an immediate impact or more potent abilities.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Burning-Tree Vandal offers a flexible role in decks that capitalize on repeatable card cycling. This can serve a variety of archetypes, from aggressive builds seeking to maintain momentum to more nuanced strategies craving consistent card flow.

Combo Potential: With its riot ability, the Vandal can complement strategies that manipulate +1/+1 counters or haste. It also enables enter-the-battlefield or attack-triggered effects, working well in synergy-heavy setups.

Meta-Relevance: As games evolve to be more tempo-driven, having a card that helps you sift through your deck while applying pressure can be a boon. Burning-Tree Vandal’s capacity to keep your hand refreshed and exploit openings make it a smart pick in various meta scenarios.


How to beat

Burning-Tree Vandal is an intriguing card in the MTG arena with its ability to offer both aggression and card selection. When it attacks, you may discard a card, and if you do, draw a card. This ‘rummage’ effect maintains card flow while applying pressure on the opponent. However, the secret to overpowering this versatile rogue is to eliminate it before it can leverage its advantage. Cards that deal swift removal, like Shock or Fatal Push, can dispatch Burning-Tree Vandal before it starts to cycle through the opponent’s deck. Moreover, since it has to attack to trigger its ability, cards that control the combat phase or deny attacks, such as pacifism effects or Propaganda, will negate its benefits and render it just another creature on the board.

Another effective strategy is to outpace the card’s value over time. While rummaging is beneficial, it is not as potent as outright card draw. Beating it can be as simple as building a board presence that Burning-Tree Vandal can’t profitably engage with or outstripping it in card advantage through more efficient draw spells or engines. Adaptability and timely responses are paramount when mitigating Burning-Tree Vandal’s impact on the game.


Cards like Burning-Tree Vandal

Burning-Tree Vandal joins the ranks of creatures with card advantage abilities in Magic: The Gathering. When examining its capacity for both aggression and card flow, one might draw parallels to the likes of Robber of the Rich. While Robber of the Rich snatches cards directly from the opponent’s deck, Burning-Tree Vandal gives the option to discard and draw when it attacks, providing a regulated form of card selection. Both are red creatures, yet they offer different approaches to generating value.

Another card with a similar vein is the mercurial Rakdos Firewheeler. Though it does not facilitate card cycling, the Firewheeler also benefits from entering the battlefield with a solid impact, dealing damage to both opponent and creature. It’s a comparison between direct damage and cycling potential when considering these allies from the Rakdos Guild.

In essence, Burning-Tree Vandal delivers a unique blend of aggression and card selection, setting it apart from its cousins in the MTG cosmos. While it might not have the immediate board impact of a Rakdos Firewheeler or the potential to disrupt the opponent like Robber of the Rich, it excels in providing consistent card advantage to refine game strategy over time.

Robber of the Rich - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Firewheeler - MTG Card versions
Robber of the Rich - Throne of Eldraine Promos (PELD)
Rakdos Firewheeler - Ravnica Allegiance Promos (PRNA)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Burning-Tree Vandal MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and Ravnica Remastered, 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 Burning-Tree Vandal and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Burning-Tree Vandal Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by Aaron Miller.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 942015normalblackAaron Miller
22024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 1052015normalblackAaron Miller

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Burning-Tree Vandal has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Burning-Tree Vandal card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2019-01-25 If a creature entering the battlefield has riot but can’t have a +1/+1 counter put onto it, it gains haste.
2019-01-25 If you choose for the creature to gain haste, it gains haste indefinitely. It won’t lose it as the turn ends or as another player gains control of it.
2019-01-25 Riot is a replacement effect. Players can’t respond to your choice of +1/+1 counter or haste, and they can’t take actions while the creature is on the battlefield without one or the other.

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