Vexing Gull MTG Card


Vexing Gull - Theros Beyond Death
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Bird
Abilities Flying, Flash
Released2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set nameTheros Beyond Death
Set codeTHB
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number79
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byVolkan Baǵa

Key Takeaways

  1. Card advantage through blocking and evasion makes Vexing Gull a versatile element in gameplay strategy.
  2. The moderate casting cost accelerates resource gains, affecting the pace of MTG matches.
  3. Vexing Gull’s flash ability adds an element of surprise, providing tactical flexibility during play.
Flash card art

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.

Text of card

Flash Flying

"May the skies be clear of gales and gulls." —Meletian prayer


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Vexing Gull provides an advantage by offering a reliable block and potential evasion, making it a versatile addition to your hand.

Resource Acceleration: With its moderate casting cost, the Vexing Gull can quickly hit the board and start applying pressure, helping you to stay ahead in the resource game.

Instant Speed: Its flash ability enables the Vexing Gull to swoop in unexpectedly, either as a blocker or an attacker, keeping your opponents guessing and giving you strategic flexibility.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Vexing Gull may force you to part with another valuable card from your hand, making it a potentially costly drop if your hand is already dwindling in size.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Vexing Gull necessitates at least one blue source, which can restrict deck-building options, especially for those favoring a multi-color strategy outside of blue-heavy archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Vexing Gull brings certain abilities to the field, its mana valuation is seen as steep compared to other creatures in the same casting range, potentially leading to inefficient mana expenditure in critical game stages.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Vexing Gull can seamlessly adapt to a variety of blue-based decks, offering a dependable flying creature for strategies emphasizing aerial control and evasion techniques.

Combo Potential: Its flying trait makes it a suitable enabler for synergies involving flying creatures, and it can be utilized as a catalyst in combos that require tapping or untapping creatures for value.

Meta-Relevance: As aerial aggression can often circumvent common ground-based defenses, including Vexing Gull in your roster can provide a tactical edge against creature-heavy or grounded strategies prevalent in the current metagame.


How to beat

Vexing Gull is a nimble flyer in the Magic: The Gathering world, proving to be a pesky card for many players. To effectively counter this card, one of the most straightforward strategies is to employ removal spells that target flying creatures directly. A spell such as Plummet, for instance, is adept at dispatching creatures that take to the skies at a low cost.

Another approach to contend with Vexing Gull is to fortify your own airspace. Assembling aerial blockers with equal or greater strength negates the advantage that Vexing Gull might hold. Subsequently, this could force your opponent to reconsider their offensive tactics or potentially lose their creature in an unfavorable clash.

It’s also worth noting that Vexing Gull’s effectiveness decreases as the game progresses. Building a board with resilient, potent threats can overshadow the impact of a Vexing Gull. As such, focusing on advancing your board state, while maintaining adequate answers for your opponent’s flyers, can lead to a robust defense against the vexations of the wily gull.


Cards like Vexing Gull

Vexing Gull is an intriguing choice for fans of flying creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It shares some similarities with cards like Faerie Miscreant, which also boasts flying and has the added advantage of drawing a card if another creature with the same name is on the battlefield. Vexing Gull, while not providing direct card advantage, offers a sturdy 2/2 body for three mana, making it a decent choice for tempo play.

Another bird in the flock, Healer’s Hawk, may cost less and comes with lifelink, offering consistent life gain. Yet, it trades off for a weaker 1/1 stat line compared to Vexing Gull’s 2/2, which can be significant in combat. When looking at Skylasher, we see a creature that brings a strong defense against blue with hexproof and can’t be countered, but it doesn’t apply the same aerial pressure as Vexing Gull with its direct attacking potential.

Assessing Vexing Gull within the category of small flying creatures, it’s clear that while it may not have the additional bells and whistles of card draw or lifelink, its straightforward power and toughness make it a solid option for anyone looking to establish early board presence with a resilient flier.

Faerie Miscreant - MTG Card versions
Healer's Hawk - MTG Card versions
Skylasher - MTG Card versions
Faerie Miscreant - Magic Origins (ORI)
Healer's Hawk - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Skylasher - Dragon's Maze (DGM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vexing Gull MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 Vexing Gull and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vexing Gull has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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