Vhati il-Dal MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 274
2006-10-06 - Number 104
2015-05-06 - Number 214
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Warrior |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Vhati il-Dal excels in modifying creature toughness to influence combat and survival strategies.
- Its instant-speed ability offers flexibility and surprise tactics during various phases of the game.
- Potent in creature-focused metas, the card is a valuable pick for strategic deck building.
Text of card
oc T: Target creature's power or toughness is 1 until end of turn.
"Sir, I just thought . . . ," explained Vhati. "Don't think," interrupted Greven. "It doesn't suit you."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Vhati il-Dal offers strategic depth by giving players control over the toughness of one creature until end of turn. This ability can be utilized to manipulate combat outcomes, making it easier to deal with tough opponents’ creatures or to secure your own creatures’ survival.
Resource Acceleration: While Vhati himself doesn’t directly contribute to mana acceleration, his ability to potentially remove threats can save resources that might otherwise be spent on removal spells. This indirect resource saving can then be allocated towards advancing your board state more rapidly.
Instant Speed: Vhati il-Dal’s ability can be activated at instant speed, providing significant flexibility. This allows a player to adjust their strategy during the combat phase or in response to an opponent’s actions, often catching opponents off-guard and disrupting their plans. Being an instant-speed ability means it can be used strategically in various situations, maintaining the element of surprise and tactical edge.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Vhati il-Dal has a distinct mana requirement, needing both black and green. This can restrict its inclusion to only those decks that can reliably produce both types of mana, potentially limiting the card’s versatility in a player’s arsenal.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana to get Vhati on the field, one might consider its abilities in comparison to other creatures at similar mana values. Depending on the meta and available alternatives, there could be more impactful creatures or spells that players could choose for their deck.
Discard Requirement: Although Vhati il-Dal does not have a discard requirement, it’s worth considering how such a demand, if it were a part of its design, could be a drawback by diminishing your hand and thereby your potential to respond to opponents’ moves.
Reasons to Include Vhati il-Dal in Your Collection
Versatility: Vhati il-Dal excels in game formats where altering a creature’s toughness can strategically influence the board. This ability allows for dynamic interactions, snugly fitting into decks that capitalize on -1/-1 counters or those built around creature control.
Combo Potential: The unique skill set of Vhati il-Dal provides a plethora of combo possibilities, especially when paired with cards that can conveniently place counters on creatures, or effects that deal damage based on toughness.
Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to manipulate the combat phase and creature survivability, Vhati il-Dal maintains relevance in environments where creature-based strategies dominate, offering a tactical advantage over formidable creatures by turning their strength against them.
How to Beat
Vhati il-Dal brings an intriguing layer of strategy to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Representing a unique toolset, this card specializes in manipulating creature toughness, setting any creature’s toughness to 1 until end of turn. This flexibility can be a real headache for opponents, especially in formats where creature-based strategies dominate. However, overcoming Vhati il-Dal is all about timing and understanding its weaknesses.
To counteract Vhati il-Dal’s ability, consider using instant-speed removal spells when the ability is on the stack, thus nullifying its potential impact. Moreover, indestructible creatures or those with regeneration abilities can endure Vhati il-Dal’s effect, rendering it a moot play. Cards like Lightning Bolt remain effective, as they can dispatch Vhati il-Dal quickly before it wreaks havoc on your side of the board. Another strategy is to maintain pressure and limit the opponent’s ability to use Vhati il-Dal effectively by managing board presence and keeping their mana tapped out.
Overall, while Vhati il-Dal presents a creative challenge, players can prevail by staying one step ahead, employing swift removals, deploying resilient creatures, and staying proactive on the battlefield.
Cards like Vhati il-Dal
In the rich tapestry of Magic: The Gathering, Vhati il-Dal occupies a unique niche among creature control cards. A salient comparison is that of Royal Assassin, a creature that, like Vhati, has the power to destroy any tapped creature. Vhati il-Dal, however, brings a greater level of versatility by allowing you to set a creature’s toughness to 1 until end of turn, potentially paving the way for even the smallest damage sources to be lethal.
Another card that echoes Vhati il-Dal’s control capabilities is Visara the Dreadful. Both can deal with threats directly, but Visara offers a guaranteed creature destruction without the need for additional damage but demands a higher mana investment. Vhati’s strength lies in its lower cost and the potential for wider tactical plays in damage-based decks.
Assessing these comparisons highlights Vhati il-Dal’s tactical advantage in creature control strategies within Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to synergize with ways to deal damage across the board, along with a modest mana cost, ensures that Vhati il-Dal is not only similar to but in some aspects superior when flexibility is paramount in a player’s strategy.
Cards similar to Vhati il-Dal by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Vhati il-Dal MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Time Spiral Timeshifted, 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 Vhati il-Dal 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
Printings
The Vhati il-Dal Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Ron Spencer.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 274 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Ron Spencer | |
| 2 | 2006-10-06 | Time Spiral Timeshifted | TSB | 104 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Ron Spencer | |
| 3 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 214 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ron Spencer |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Vhati il-Dal has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Vhati il-Dal card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2006-09-25 | You don’t choose whether to affect the targeted creature’s power or its toughness until the ability resolves. |
