Vraska's Conquistador MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Vampire Soldier |
| Released | 2018-01-19 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Rivals of Ixalan |
| Set code | RIX |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 199 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Sidharth Chaturvedi |
Key Takeaways
- Vraska’s Conquistador enhances card advantage, rewarding players with each successful combat damage to a player.
- Speeds up mana curve and strengthens deck performance when combined with power-boosting cards and spells.
- While beneficial, it demands specific mana colors and a higher mana cost which may limit versatility.
Text of card
Whenever Vraska's Conquistador attacks or blocks, if you control a Vraska planeswalker, target opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.
Abandoning both queen and church, he chose to follow power.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Vraska’s Conquistador shines by offering a valuable edge in card advantage. Its ability to potentially draw you an extra card when it deals combat damage to a player means you’re escalating your resources with every successful hit.
Resource Acceleration: This card can do wonders for your mana curve when paired with creatures or spells that pump its power. As a result, it not only accelerates your board state but also allows you to deploy threats or answers more swiftly than your opponent may expect.
Instant Speed: Admittedly, Vraska’s Conquistador operates at sorcery speed, but it pairs exceptionally well with instant-speed removals or combat tricks in your arsenal. This complementary strategy keeps your adversaries guessing and gives you the upper hand by enabling advantageous block scenarios or surprise takedowns, ultimately leading to beneficial trades and efficient card usage in matches.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Vraska’s Conquistador requires you to discard a card to activate certain abilities. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially if your hand is already running low on cards and you need to maintain options to respond to your opponent’s actions.
Specific Mana Cost: This card necessitates a specific combination of mana colors to cast. Its black and green color requirement can be restrictive, as it may not seamlessly fit into multi-colored decks that don’t share these colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In terms of resource expenditure, Vraska’s Conquistador may not be the most mana-efficient creature. It carries a relatively high casting cost, which might stall your early game development when you could otherwise be deploying more impactful cards with lower mana requirements.
Reasons to Include Vraska’s Conquistador in Your Collection
Versatility: As a card capable of smooth integration into various deck archetypes, Vraska’s Conquistador shines within strategies that emphasize creature synergy. It also works well with decks centered around the planeswalker Vraska, providing added consistency and flexibility.
Combo Potential: When paired with any version of Vraska, this conquistador bolsters your board presence by searching your library for the planeswalker, thus enabling impactful plays. Its ability to form such combos makes it a valuable asset in decks designed around loyalty abilities and creature-based strategies.
Meta-Relevance: Within the current meta that values efficient creatures with added effects, Vraska’s Conquistador holds its ground. Its ease of deployment and synergistic potential with one of the game’s prominent planeswalkers allows it to stay relevant and effective in the ever-evolving competitive scene.
How to beat
Vraska’s Conquistador is a creature that can offer significant value in the right deck, particularly alongside planeswalkers like Vraska. When facing this card, the key is to limit the opportunities your opponent has to capitalize on its triggered ability. Removal spells are your best friend here. Options like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can efficiently deal with the conquistador before it has a chance to deal damage and allow your opponent to draw a card.
Another strategy is to minimize interaction with your opponent’s creatures. Utilize board wipes to clear out multiple threats at once, eradicating the conquistador along with any potential attackers or blockers. Consider sweepers such as Wrath of God or Damnation, which don’t discriminate against creature types – thereby eliminating your opponent’s conquistador without triggering its abilities. Furthermore, counterplay can involve utilizing cards that prevent your opponent from gaining life, thereby undercutting one of the benefits the conquistador offers when it’s synergized with Vraska’s abilities.
A well-timed strategy and the right card choices can neutralize the advantages conferred by Vraska’s Conquistador. Through efficient removal, strategic planning, and life gain denial, you can prevent your opponent from leveraging their conquistador to its fullest potential.
Cards like Vraska's Conquistador
Vraska’s Conquistador is an intriguing creature in the MTG universe, sharing similarities with other cards that synergize well with planeswalkers. Take Knight of Malice, for example; it’s a creature with a similar mana cost, offering both offensive and defensive advantages. Where Vraska’s Conquistador shines is in its specific partnership with the planeswalker Vraska; attacking with it can trigger direct life loss to the opponent, provided you control a Vraska planeswalker.
Examining Duskmantle Operative, we find a creature that bypasses stronger creatures, like Vraska’s Conquistador when attacking alone. While these two cards have different synergies, they each have a role in circumventing the opponent’s defenses. Another related card is Thalia’s Lancers, which not only is a solid creature but also fetches legendary cards – including any version of Vraska. While not as directly aggressive as Vraska’s Conquistador, it provides a broader utility for players.
Considering the various strengths and strategic fits in different types of decks, Vraska’s Conquistador has a unique position with its planeswalker-specific utility, illustrating that sometimes the right combination of cards can enhance a strategy more than raw power alone.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Vraska's Conquistador MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan, 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 Vraska's Conquistador and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Vraska's Conquistador has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
