Vorel of the Hull Clade MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Merfolk
Power 1
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Instant speed activation gives Vorel great flexibility, allowing for surprise plays and strategic counter plays.
  2. Vorel is specialized for Simic color decks and is less versatile across varied mana bases.
  3. Despite its power, the card’s high mana activation cost can be a significant investment during play.

Text of card

, : For each counter on target artifact, creature, or land, put another of those counters on that permanent.

"I used to hurl rocks and eat scraps of meat burned over a fire. Look at what I've become and tell me Simic does not hold infinite possibility."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vorel of the Hull Clade has the unique ability to enhance your board presence by doubling the number of +1/+1 counters on any creature or artifact. This not only increases the power and toughness of your creatures but can also interact with other cards that trigger abilities or generate value from counters, essentially creating card advantage without needing to draw.

Resource Acceleration: Doubling up counters can also accelerate your resources by increasing the counters on permanents that produce mana or other useful effects at a faster rate. This scales particularly well with permanents that have tap abilities linked to the number of counters on them, boosting your mana pool or other resources significantly as the game progresses.

Instant Speed: The ability of Vorel to double the counters can be activated at instant speed. This provides flexibility, allowing you to adapt your strategy in response to your opponents’ actions during their turn or right before your turn begins, which can lead to surprise increases in your creatures’ size or unexpected generation of resources that can throw off your opponent’s plans.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Vorel of the Hull Clade itself doesn’t directly require a discard, building around this card often necessitates additional resources that may deplete your hand quickly. This could present a challenge when you need to maintain card advantage against opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: Vorel’s activation ability requires a mix of green and blue mana, demanding a commitment to a Simic color combination. This can limit deck variety and might not seamlessly fit into all strategies without the right mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial investment of three mana and then two more for each activation can tally up, making the combo setup quite mana-intensive. Although the ability to double the number of counters is strong, sometimes the game situation calls for a more immediately impactful play given the mana expenditure.


Reasons to Include Vorel of the Hull Clade in Your Collection

Versatility: Vorel of the Hull Clade offers a unique ability to double the number of counters on any artifact, creature, or land. This flexibility allows it to slot into various decks that capitalize on counter mechanics, enhancing strategies that revolve around +1/+1 counters, charge counters, or even loyalty counters on planeswalkers.

Combo Potential: This Simic guild member can initiate or escalate infinite combos with the right board state. Pair it with cards like Gyre Sage or Triskelion to exploit the exponential growth of counters, providing a route to overwhelming your opponent or achieving a quick victory.

Meta-Relevance: With the evolving landscape of the game where counter-centric decks rise to prominence, Vorel can become a game-changer. Its ability to interact and multiply existing threats makes it a consistent player in multi-player formats or any meta that supports incremental growth strategies.


How to beat

Vorel of the Hull Clade presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to double the number of counters on any artifact, creature, or land. To effectively counter this card, one strategy is to limit the number of counters available for Vorel to manipulate. Removal spells such as Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy can target creatures before Vorel has the chance to double their power. Alternatively, counter spells like Negate can prevent Vorel from ever hitting the battlefield.

Enchantment removals, such as Disenchant, can handle any artifacts or enchantments that Vorel’s controller might exploit. Using board wipes like Damnation or Wrath of God can also reset the board, negating the advantage Vorel offers. Remember, limiting the presence of counters on the battlefield and having an answer for Vorel when it’s played are key. Swift removal, strategic counterplay, and well-timed board wipes can effectively neutralize Vorel of the Hull Clade’s impact in a game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the strengths and drawbacks of Vorel of the Hull Clade in MTG can significantly influence your gameplay and strategy. Whether breaching into counter-heavy tactics or merely appreciating the art of effective resource acceleration, Vorel offers a multifaceted approach to deck building. Seeing its potential to turn the tide of a game highlights the importance of card synergy and strategic play. Our invitation to you is to dive deeper into the intricate interactions and possibilities that Vorel and similar MTG cards present. Enhance your collection and fine-tune your deck strategies to harness the full potential of this Simic maestro. Join us for a comprehensive look into building winning strategies around Vorel and cards alike, ensuring your position at the top of the competitive MTG scene.


Cards like Vorel of the Hull Clade

In the realm of counter doubling mechanics within Magic: The Gathering, Vorel of the Hull Clade emerges as a potent figure. This card shares its DNA with proliferate cards like Contagion Engine or Inexorable Tide. Where Vorel gains an edge is in its targeted, yet explosive, potential for doubling counters on a single creature, artifact, or land. By comparison, Contagion Engine and Inexorable Tide spread their influence across all permanents. This broad approach can be beneficial for wide-reaching counter strategies but lacks the precision impact of Vorel.

Other family members in this counter enhancing niche include Doubling Season and Primal Vigor. Both of these cards affect the battlefield by amplifying the number of counters placed on creatures and permanents. However, Vorel allows for greater control mid-game, giving players the chance to turn a moderate threat into a game-winning powerhouse with just one activation. To capitalize on this, though, one must navigate the timing and resource management more meticulously than with the passive, omnipresent effects of Doubling Season or Primal Vigor.

When considering toolsets for enhancing creatures and permanents, Vorel of the Hull Clade stands out for players aiming to exponentially increase the power of a singular target on the battlefield, providing a distinct and strategic element to MTG gameplay.

Contagion Engine - MTG Card versions
Inexorable Tide - MTG Card versions
Doubling Season - MTG Card versions
Primal Vigor - MTG Card versions
Contagion Engine - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Inexorable Tide - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Doubling Season - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Primal Vigor - Commander 2013 (C13)

Cards similar to Vorel of the Hull Clade by color, type and mana cost

Selkie Hedge-Mage - MTG Card versions
Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath - MTG Card versions
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Selkie Hedge-Mage - Eventide (EVE)
Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath - Theros Beyond Death Promos (PTHB)
Gor Muldrak, Amphinologist - Commander Legends (CMR)
Vigean Hydropon - Dissension (DIS)
Silkwing Scout - Dissension (DIS)
Cold-Eyed Selkie - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Gilder Bairn - The List (PLST)
Wistful Selkie - Eventide (EVE)
Winged Coatl - Commander Anthology (CMA)
Lorescale Coatl - Masters 25 (A25)
Edric, Spymaster of Trest - Commander 2016 (C16)
Elusive Krasis - RNA Guild Kit (GK2)
Bounding Krasis - The List (PLST)
Kaseto, Orochi Archmage - Commander 2021 (C21)
Void Grafter - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)
Rogue Refiner - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
Avid Reclaimer - Hour of Devastation (HOU)
Shapers of Nature - Ixalan (XLN)
Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Gyre Engineer - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vorel of the Hull Clade MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze and Commander 2016, 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 Vorel of the Hull Clade and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vorel of the Hull Clade Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2013-05-03 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by Mike Bierek.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-05-03Dragon's MazeDGM 1152003normalblackMike Bierek
22016-11-11Commander 2016C16 2272015normalblackMike Bierek
32018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 1692015normalblackMike Bierek
42019-02-15RNA Guild KitGK2 1282015normalblackMike Bierek
52022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 3572015normalblackMike Bierek
62023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 2942015normalblackMike Bierek

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vorel of the Hull Clade has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-04-15 The effect of Vorel's ability will essentially double the counters on the target artifact, creature, or land. For example, if a creature has three +1/+1 counters and a divinity counter on it before the ability resolves, it will have six +1/+1 counters and two divinity counters on it after the ability resolves.

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