Vanquisher's Axe MTG Card


Vanquisher's Axe - Dominaria United
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip
Released2022-09-09
Set symbol
Set nameDominaria United
Set codeDMU
Number240
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJoe Slucher

Key Takeaways

  1. Boosts board presence significantly, mimics drawing extra cards in prolonged games.
  2. Turns any creature into a substantial threat, conserving mana for other uses.
  3. Instantly alters game state; creatures become powerful abruptly upon equipping.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vanquisher's Axe MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United, 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 Vanquisher's Axe and other MTG cards:

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Text of card

Equipped creature gets +2/+0. Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)

When a Keldon takes a trophy from an enemy, it's usually something they can use to kill more enemies.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vanquisher’s Axe may not directly allow you to draw additional cards, but equipping it to a creature increases your board presence, effectively getting more utility out of your cards. In longer games, maintaining an equipped creature can be tantamount to having an extra card every turn.

Resource Acceleration: While Vanquisher’s Axe itself doesn’t ramp up your mana resources like some other artifacts do, it’s a one-time investment. Once on the field, it can turn any creature into a significant threat, saving precious mana in subsequent turns for casting spells or deploying more creatures.

Instant Speed: Although Vanquisher’s Axe needs to be equipped at sorcery speed, its impact on the game state is instant — transform any creature into a powerhouse at a moment’s notice, as soon as it hits the battlefield, ready to swing the tide of combat in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Vanquisher’s Axe might necessitate discarding another card to achieve its ultimate potential. Hand depletion can be tough on the player, especially when resources are running scarce and every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Being bound by a particular mana cost can limit the decks in which Vanquisher’s Axe can be optimally utilized. Players have to carefully consider their mana base to ensure they can consistently cast this equipment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the realm of equipment cards, Vanquisher’s Axe enters the battlefield at a higher than average cost. There are alternative weapons and tools that might serve a similar purpose without the hefty mana investment, potentially offering a better return on mana spent.


Reasons to Include Vanquisher’s Axe in Your Collection

Versatility: Vanquisher’s Axe is a card that brings a level of adaptability to your deck. This equipment can be attached to a variety of creatures, enhancing their combat capabilities and fitting well into strategies that emphasize creature strength and resilience.

Combo Potential: This card opens up possibilities for synergies with creatures that have attack-triggered abilities or benefit from becoming more formidable in combat. It pairs nicely with decks looking to capitalize on equipped creature bonuses or those crafted around a voltron strategy.

Meta-Relevance: With a meta that may tilt towards aggressive creature-based strategies, Vanquisher’s Axe helps your creatures stand up better in combat, potentially turning the tide in your favor. Its inclusion can be a smart choice for staying competitive and reinforcing your board presence.


How to beat

Vanquisher’s Axe is a powerful tool in the MTG arsenal, offering creatures an advantageous boost in battle. Its potential to persistently empower a creature renders it a formidable presence on the battlefield. To counter this, players should prioritize artifact removal spells that can dispatch the Axe before its effects swing the game. Naturalize and Disenchant are classic examples of cards that can efficiently handle such artifacts, eliminating the threat at a relatively low cost and keeping the board in balance. Another strategy involves controlling the battlefield through countermagic, preventing the Axe from entering play in the first place. Negate, for instance, is an effective counter against noncreature spells and can ensure the Axe never lands in the opponent’s arsenal.

Moreover, planning for direct creature removal is key, as removing a buffed creature from the game also negates the power provided by Vanquisher’s Axe. Swift Response and Doom Blade serve as affordable and powerful removal spells suitable for this purpose. By strategically incorporating artifact and creature control elements into a deck, a player can mitigate the impact of Vanquisher’s Axe and maintain a strong position in the game.


Cards like Vanquisher's Axe

Vanquisher’s Axe has carved a niche for itself amongst the myriad of equipment cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its likeness can be seen when compared with cards like Bonesplitter, a straightforward equipment that boosts a creature’s power at a low cost. However, Vanquisher’s Axe steps ahead with its potential power increase based on the amount of Equipment you control, setting the stage for more impactful plays in equipment-centric decks.

Furthermore, we can draw parallels with Trusty Machete, another equipment card that gives a moderate power and toughness boost. While Trusty Machete offers a consistent bonus, Vanquisher’s Axe has the upside that it can scale as the game progresses and you amass more equipment. There’s also the renowned Sword of the Animist, which besides augmenting a creature’s stats, offers an invaluable land ramp. The ramp provided by Sword of the Animist could sometimes outweigh the raw power Vanquisher’s Axe potentially offers, especially in formats where land acceleration is key.

Through comparison, it’s clear that Vanquisher’s Axe can be a formidable addition to an MTG player’s arsenal, especially in decks designed to maximize synergy with equipment. Each card in this category has its own merits, but Vanquisher’s Axe exemplifies a unique angle on the growth potential an equipment can deliver.

Bonesplitter - MTG Card versions
Trusty Machete - MTG Card versions
Sword of the Animist - MTG Card versions
Bonesplitter - MTG Card versions
Trusty Machete - MTG Card versions
Sword of the Animist - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Vanquisher's Axe by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
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Soul Net - MTG Card versions
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Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions
Signal Pest - MTG Card versions
Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions
Signal Pest - MTG Card versions

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vanquisher's Axe has restrictions

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