Venser, the Sojourner MTG Card
2010-10-01 - Number 135
2012-03-30 - Number 1
2019-12-02 - Number 1423
2019-12-02 - Number 1423★
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Planeswalker — Venser |
| Loyalty | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Venser’s -1 ability is key for repeating entrance effects and dominating the game.
- His flicker ability accelerates resources without generating extra mana directly.
- The emblem from Venser’s ultimate disrupts opponents with instant-speed permanents exile.
Text of card
+2: Exile target permanent you own. Return it to the battlefield under your control at the beginning of the next end step. -1: Creatures are unblockable this turn. -8: You get an emblem with "Whenever you cast a spell, exile target permanent."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Venser the Sojourner shines in generating card advantage through his -1 loyalty ability which exiles one of your permanents and then returns it to the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step. This can be particularly effective with creatures that have enter the battlefield effects, essentially doubling their impact and ensuring you stay ahead in the game.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly creating additional mana, Venser’s flicker ability effectively accelerates your resources by reusing permanents with mana-generating abilities. Each activation is an opportunity to untap a land, artifact or creature, which in turn can be used for more spells or abilities, speeding up your gameplay significantly.
Instant Speed: Venser the Sojourner’s emblem, achieved through his ultimate ability, allows you to cast spells with a unique twist of the mural: when you cast any spell you may exile target permanent. This emblem grants your spells a form of instant speed interaction, disrupting your opponent’s board and turning every spell you cast into potential removal, all without being on the stack and free from most counterspells.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Venser the Sojourner does not impose a discard condition, players must be aware of other deck elements that could synergize poorly with its abilities. Ensuring your hand is well-stocked becomes more critical when deploying a planeswalker such as Venser.
Specific Mana Cost: This planeswalker’s casting cost demands a precise combination of blue and white mana, which can sometimes limit deck flexibility. Players running multicolor decks may find it challenging to consistently meet the mana requirements for Venser the Sojourner without carefully tuning their mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial loyalty cost of three and a need for five mana to cast, Venser the Sojourner might be seen as an investment best suited for mid to late game. In faster-paced games or against decks that ramp quickly, the comparatively high mana cost could hinder its timely deployment or effectiveness on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include Venser the Sojourner in Your Collection
Versatility: Venser the Sojourner offers a dynamic range of abilities that can adapt to different playstyles. Its ability to exile and return permanents can be harnessed for various strategic plays, ranging from protection to reusing enter the battlefield effects.
Combo Potential: With this planeswalker’s ultimate ability, you can create an environment where spells are uncounterable, setting up the board for numerous combo finishes. Its synergy with flicker strategies opens up a realm of possibilities, allowing for a seamless integration into combo-centric decks.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames where long-term value and board control are crucial, Venser the Sojourner shines. It fits well into control decks and can be a game-changer by continuously disrupting opponents’ strategies while advancing your board state.
How to beat Venser the Sojourner MTG Card
Venser the Sojourner is an esteemed planeswalker in Magic: The Gathering known for his abilities to exile and return permanents, creating a dynamic presence on the battlefield. To effectively counter this card, it’s crucial to disrupt the synergies it forms with other cards. Instant-speed removal spells can be your best allies, allowing you to respond to his activation before the effects take place. Cards like Lightning Bolt or Hero’s Downfall can remove Venser before he accrues significant value.
Denying Venser the Sojourner the opportunity to resolve by countering him when cast is another solid strategy. Utilizing counterspells such as Cancel or Mana Leak ensures that he never even enters the fray. Should Venser have already made his appearance, relying on strategies that can ignore or benefit from his exile ability, such as utilizing graveyard recursion or cards with enter-the-battlefield triggers, can help mitigate his impact.
Overall, addressing Venser the Sojourner quickly upon arrival, whether through direct removal or countering, alongside deploying strategies resistant to his bounce mechanics, can ensure that this powerful planeswalker does not dictate the pace and outcome of a match.
BurnMana Recommendations
With his powerful flicker ability, Venser the Sojourner is a notable inclusion in any MTG player’s arsenal. As you develop your gameplay, consider how Venser can provide you with a significant edge, especially if you enjoy strategy, control, and creating synergies within your deck. Fostering a deep understanding of its mechanics and potential combinations will be crucial for optimizing its use. Are you intrigued by the possibilities Venser the Sojourner brings to your matches? Dive deeper into deck-building strategies, explore advanced play techniques, and discover more about utilizing this dynamic planeswalker by joining us on BurnMana for insider tips and guidance.
Cards like Venser, the Sojourner
Venser, the Sojourner is a distinctive planeswalker in Magic: The Gathering, standing out in the multiverse of similar cards. Comparable to other planeswalkers like Teferi, Time Raveler, Venser offers a unique blend of abilities that emphasize flicker mechanics—exiling and returning creatures to the battlefield for advantageous effects. While Teferi brings to the table instant-speed sorcery casting and a form of tempo control, Venser excels in setting up various enter-the-battlefield (ETB) combos and providing incremental value over time.
Another card worth mentioning in the same breath is Brago, King Eternal. Brago offers a similar flicker effect, but it’s relegated to combat damage triggers as opposed to Venser’s more controllable loyalty abilities. Brago can affect all nonland permanents you own, which is a broader effect than Venser’s, but lacks the same degree of precise timing and targeting. The difference in the usage of these two cards can significantly alter the tide of a match.
Evaluating the capabilities and strategic value among these flicker masters, Venser, the Sojourner brings a distinct flair to the battlefield, garnering favor for players who enjoy manipulating ETB effects and prefer flexibility in their game plan.
Cards similar to Venser, the Sojourner by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Venser, the Sojourner MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth, 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 Venser, the Sojourner 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
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Printings
The Venser, the Sojourner Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-10-01 | Scars of Mirrodin | SOM | 135 | 2003 | normal | black | Eric Deschamps | |
| 2 | 2012-03-30 | Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth | DDI | 1 | 2003 | normal | black | Eric Deschamps | |
| 3 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 1423 | 2015 | normal | borderless | Uta Natsume | ||
| 4 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 1423★ | 2015 | normal | black | Uta Natsume |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Venser, the Sojourner has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Venser, the Sojourner card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-01-01 | A permanent exiled by the first ability will return to the battlefield under your control at the beginning of the next end step even if you no longer control Venser at that time. |
| 2011-01-01 | Emblems behave similarly to enchantments: They have an ability that, in a general sense, continually affects the game. The primary difference between them is that emblems aren’t permanents and don’t exist on the battlefield. Nothing in the game can remove an emblem, simply because no other spell or ability references them. Once you get an emblem, you keep it for the rest of the game. Emblems have no color, name, card type, or other characteristics beyond the listed ability. |
| 2011-01-01 | If the first ability exiles a token, that token will cease to exist. It won’t return to the battlefield. |
| 2011-01-01 | If you control more than one such emblem, each one’s ability will trigger separately whenever you cast a spell. |
| 2011-01-01 | The first ability can target any permanent you own, including those another player controls. |
| 2011-01-01 | Venser’s last ability creates an emblem with a triggered ability. The emblem is the source of the triggered ability. Because emblems are colorless, you can target permanents with protection from white or from blue, for example, with the triggered ability. |
| 2011-01-01 | Venser’s second ability doesn’t lock in what it applies to. That’s because the effect states a true thing about creatures, but doesn’t actually change the characteristics of those creatures. As a result, all creatures can’t be blocked that turn, including creatures you don’t control, creatures that weren’t on the battlefield at the time the ability resolved, and creatures that have lost all abilities. |
| 2011-01-01 | Whenever you cast a spell, the emblem’s ability triggers and goes on the stack on top of it. It will resolve before the spell does. |
