Ranger en-Vec MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Soldier Archer Ranger
Abilities	First strike
Released	1997-10-14
Set symbol
Set name	Tempest
Set code	TMP
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	268
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Randy Elliott

Key Takeaways

Ranger en-Vec enhances board presence by generating Soldier tokens without depleting your hand.
Instant speed token creation disrupts opponents’ plans, shifting battlefield momentum in your favor.
Its protection abilities make it a stronghold against targeted removal prevalent in current metagames.

Text of card

First strike o G: Regenerate Ranger en-Vec.

"The path of least resistance will seldom lead you beyond your doorstep." —Oracle *en*-Vec

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ranger en-Vec ensures a steady flow of creatures as it allows you to put a Soldier creature token onto the battlefield, increasing your presence on the board without expending additional cards from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: By providing consistent token generation, this MTG card effectively accelerates your resources. It helps build an army without tapping into your mana reserves for creature spells, allowing you to allocate mana for other strategic plays.

Instant Speed: Its ability to create a token at instant speed gives you the flexibility to surprise your opponent during their turn or right before your turn begins, potentially disrupting their plans and maintaining the momentum on your side of the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As a player, it’s important to manage your hand carefully. Ranger en-Vec comes with a discard prerequisite that can put you at a disadvantage especially when your card options are already scarce. Thinning out your hand in such scenarios can be a risky move, leaving you vulnerable to your opponent’s strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: The power of Ranger en-Vec is undeniable in the right setting. However, its specific mana requirement demands both white and black mana. This can pigeonhole your deck building, confining you to a two-color archetype or necessitating a more complex mana base to accommodate its cost.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Mana economy is a critical aspect of gameplay. With Ranger en-Vec’s relatively steep mana cost for its abilities, its value is often scrutinized. With a multitude of cards offering similar or greater benefits at a lower mana commitment, Ranger en-Vec may not always be the most economical choice for your deck’s curve.

Reasons to Include Ranger en-Vec in Your Collection

Versatility: Ranger en-Vec is a card that brings flexibility to your setup. Not only does this creature have first strike, making it a solid defender, but its ability to prevent other creatures you control from being targeted by spells or abilities ensures a level of protection for your key assets during critical turns.

Combo Potential: Its safeguarding ability aligns with numerous combo strategies, supporting pieces key to your victory while hindering your opponent’s ability to disrupt your game plan. The Ranger en-Vec can be a linchpin in decks aimed at going for the win with crucial, unassailable combinations.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where targeted removal is prevalent, having a card like Ranger en-Vec can be pivotal. It provides a layer of resilience against the many strategies that seek to destabilize your board by targeting your creatures. Its inclusion could fortify your deck against some of the common threats in the current meta.

How to beat

Ranger en-Vec is a notable card with tactical advantages in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to provide protection from certain colors while attacking can swing the game by creating favorable combat situations. Its strength lies within its potential to make key creatures unblockable against decks relying heavily on the colors it can protect from.

To effectively counter Ranger en-Vec, consider using board wipes that don’t target or don’t operate based on colors, such as “Wrath of God” or “Damnation”. Additionally, choosing creatures that have protection from creatures or abilities that neutralize combat without targeting, like “Ensnaring Bridge”, also provides a solid defense. Effective creatures that don’t rely on color-based interactions to remove threats can outflank the Ranger’s color protection advantage.

Being strategic about when to remove Ranger en-Vec is key; doing so pre-combat or in response to it being declared as an attacker may circumvent its protective ability. Therefore, understanding your deck’s capabilities and timing your plays can neutralize the Ranger’s effect, maintaining the flow of the game in your direction.

Cards like Ranger en-Vec

The Ranger en-Vec card offers a captivating option to players who appreciate creature cards with both offensive and defensive perks in Magic: The Gathering. One might compare it to Soltari Priest, which also provides protection from a specific card color. However, the Ranger en-Vec stands out as its protection extends to both red and black, covering more ground than the Soltari Priest’s single color defense against red alone.

Another card worth mentioning in this comparison is Silver Knight. While Silver Knight boasts protection from red resembling Ranger en-Vec, it also carries the first strike ability, allowing it to deal combat damage before creatures without this ability. On the other hand, the Ranger en-Vec lacks this feature but compensates with its broader color protection scope. Then there’s Mother of Runes, who, rather than having inherent protection, grants it to other creatures instead. This versatility in choosing the color of protection can match the situation’s need, offering tactical advantages that static protection abilities cannot provide.

In essence, while each card carries specific strengths, Ranger en-Vec holds a distinctive place within the creature card lineup due to its double color protection, thereby affirming its worth in player decks that strategize around defensive versatility.

Cards similar to Ranger en-Vec by color, type and mana cost

Knight of the Reliquary - MTG Card versions

Selvala, Explorer Returned - MTG Card versions

Chronicler of Heroes - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ranger en-Vec MTG card by a specific set like Tempest, 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 Ranger en-Vec and other MTG cards: