Ring of Valkas MTG Card


Provides card advantage and immediate creature impact with no extra mana for attachment. Enables hastened responses complementing fast-paced and reactive playstyles. Demands specific conditions for equipping, highlighting mana and discard considerations.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip

Text of card

Equipped creature has haste. (It can attack and no matter when it came under your control.) At the beginning of your upkeep, put a +1/+1 counter on equipped creature if it's red. Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)


Cards like Ring of Valkas

Ring of Valkas holds a unique position among the pantheon of artifact equipment in Magic: The Gathering. It echoes the traits of Swiftfoot Boots, which also offers the crucial ability haste, allowing a creature to attack or tap instantly. Yet, Ring of Valkas imparts an additional boon, gradually bolstering a creature’s power turn after turn. Unlike Swiftfoot Boots, however, it does not provide hexproof, leaving your creature vulnerable to spells and abilities.

Another kindred piece of equipment is Dragon’s Claw. While it doesn’t grant haste or increase a creature’s power, Dragon’s Claw has a resilience factor, providing a life-gaining advantage each time a player casts a red spell similar to the color of Ring of Valkas’s ability triggers. There’s also Mage Slayer, which shares the aggressive strategy by dealing damage equivalent to the creature’s power before combat, although it doesn’t offer haste or progressive enhancement.

Ultimately, the Ring of Valkas stands out amongst its equivalents with its unique combination of haste and the potential for creating an ever-growing threat on the battlefield. For players aiming to wield a slowly scaling force, the Ring of Valkas is a notable choice within MTG’s equipment arsenal.

Swiftfoot Boots - MTG Card versions
Dragon's Claw - MTG Card versions
Mage Slayer - MTG Card versions
Swiftfoot Boots - MTG Card versions
Dragon's Claw - MTG Card versions
Mage Slayer - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Ring of Valkas by color, type and mana cost

Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Ankh of Mishra - MTG Card versions
Jandor's Saddlebags - MTG Card versions
Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
Nacre Talisman - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Essence Bottle - MTG Card versions
Emerald Medallion - MTG Card versions
Scrying Glass - MTG Card versions
Cursed Totem - MTG Card versions
Mask of Intolerance - MTG Card versions
Tsabo's Web - MTG Card versions
Millikin - MTG Card versions
Swiftfoot Boots - MTG Card versions
Ark of Blight - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Energy Chamber - MTG Card versions
Water Gun Balloon Game - MTG Card versions
Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Ankh of Mishra - MTG Card versions
Jandor's Saddlebags - MTG Card versions
Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
Nacre Talisman - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Essence Bottle - MTG Card versions
Emerald Medallion - MTG Card versions
Scrying Glass - MTG Card versions
Cursed Totem - MTG Card versions
Mask of Intolerance - MTG Card versions
Tsabo's Web - MTG Card versions
Millikin - MTG Card versions
Swiftfoot Boots - MTG Card versions
Ark of Blight - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Energy Chamber - MTG Card versions
Water Gun Balloon Game - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Ring of Valkas affords a significant boost to a creature as it enters the battlefield, attaching to it without the need for additional mana. This implicit two-for-one exchange enhances your board presence and potential for card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: The artifact increases the speed at which your creatures can impact the game. It confers a +1/+1 counter and haste to newly summoned creatures, enabling immediate action and potentially faster resource utilization in combat or other abilities.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the Ring of Valkas has synergy with instant speed spells and abilities. Granting haste allows creatures with flash, or any creature you summon during your turn, to participate in combat or employ activated abilities without delay, keeping up with the pace of instant speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Ring of Valkas can boost a creature’s power and haste, it comes with a potential downside. To equip the ring, you must have another creature card in your hand to pitch, which might not always be the case, especially in the late game when card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Equipping a creature with Ring of Valkas requires a specific combination of mana, including red. This can be a hurdle in multi-color decks where mana needs to be carefully managed, limiting the card’s versatility across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a card that gives a creature a mere +1/+0 boost and haste, the mana investment for Ring of Valkas might seem steep. There are other cards within the MTG universe that can provide similar, or even better, stat enhancements or additional abilities at a lower cost, making them potentially more appealing for deck builders looking for efficiency and value.


Reasons to Include Ring of Valkas in Your Collection

Versatility: Ring of Valkas offers varied strategies, fitting in seamlessly with decks that prioritize speed and creature buffs. Its ability to give a creature haste enables fast-paced play, appealing to aggressive deck builders.

Combo Potential: This card excels in synergistic deck environments, pairing well with creatures that have enter-the-battlefield effects or evolve with +1/+1 counters, bolstering both their power and immediate board impact.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by quick, decisive battles, Ring of Valkas stands out. Its relevance grows as players seek to outpace their opponents, making it a valuable inclusion for maintaining competitive edge.


How to beat

The Ring of Valkas is known for its ability to ramp up creatures in MTG, endowing them with haste and a growing accumulation of +1/+1 counters at the beginning of your upkeep. This artifact can turn any creature into an immediate threat, necessitating a strategic response. Dealing with such an item revolves around timing and disruption.

Artifact removal spells like Naturalize or Disenchant can directly target and remove the Ring of Valkas from the game, negating its advantages swiftly. Counterspells, though requiring precise timing, can prevent the Ring from ever hitting the battlefield. Moreover, playing control decks with sweepers can help manage the creatures empowered by the Ring, making it less of a threat. Another tactic is to utilize creature-stealing spells or abilities—why not turn the tide and use the buffed creature against your opponent?

Ultimately, the key to overcoming the power of the Ring of Valkas lies in preparedness and adaptability, ensuring you have the tools necessary to disrupt or remove the artifact, and to handle the threats it creates.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of MTG demands not only knowledge but an arsenal of strategies to outplay your opponents. Ring of Valkas is a gem that can significantly amplify your gameplay, offering speed and power enhancements that are crucial in a fast-paced environment. While weighing its advantages and limitations, consider its potential to bolster your favorite creature and turn the tides of battle in your favor. Keen to explore the dynamic uses of Ring of Valkas and how it can galvanize your deck’s performance? Dive deeper with us and discover ways to optimize your deck with this powerful card.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ring of Valkas MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2013 and Commander Legends, 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 Ring of Valkas and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ring of Valkas Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-07-13 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Erica Yang.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-07-13Magic 2013M13 2142003NormalBlackErica Yang
22020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 4692015NormalBlackErica Yang

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ring of Valkas has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal