Vault of the Archangel MTG Card
2012-02-03 - Number 158
2014-05-30 - Number 17
2022-06-10 - Number 927
2023-04-21 - Number 443
2023-11-17 - Number 367
2024-04-19 - Number 339
2019-12-02 - Number 350
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
: Add to your mana pool. , : Creatures you control gain deathtouch and lifelink until end of turn.
"For centuries my creation kept this world in balance. Now only her shadow remains." —Sorin Markov
Cards like Vault of the Archangel
Vault of the Archangel stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a notable utility land that enhances gameplay by providing creatures with deathtouch and lifelink. Comparable to Vault of the Archangel is the card Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion. While Sunhome does not grant deathtouch or lifelink, it does give creature(s) double strike – a significant power boost in combat. However, it lacks the defensive utility that deathtouch offers.
Also in the conversation is Orzhov Basilica, a land that doesn’t provide immediate combat advantages but instead offers a mana fixing ability by returning a land to your hand when it enters the battlefield. Albeit slower, this ability optimizes mana usage in multicolored decks. Shambling Vent is another relevant comparison; as a creature-land, it becomes a creature with lifelink, yet it neither grants deathtouch nor affects multiple creatures like Vault of the Archangel.
Examining the unique elements of these lands, Vault of the Archangel provides a defensive edge and a source of life gain that are valuable in many MTG strategies, making it a land card with a distinct presence on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Vault of the Archangel by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Vault of the Archangel. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Five-color Lands | Legacy | 95 / The 95th Legacy at Home |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Vault of the Archangel offers unique tactical flexibility on the battlefield. Activating its ability not only bolsters your creatures’ power but also provides significant advantage by potentially disrupting combat math in your favor. As your creatures gain deathtouch, they can eliminate any number of blockers, regardless of size, ensuring one-for-one trades at the least. This can lead to card advantage as opponents may lose multiple creatures to just one of yours, particularly advantageous in multiplayer formats.
Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly ramping mana, the card is a vital enabler in mana bases. As a land that taps for colorless mana, it constitutes a resource acceleration by fitting into any deck without the need for additional color sources. When needed, it seamlessly transitions from mana resource to a potent ability source without sacrificing land drops or requiring extra cards.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Vault of the Archangel at instant speed is a game-changer, providing flexibility to respond to threats or enhance your board at the most opportune moment. It can be activated during the declare blockers step, catching an opponent off guard and turning the tide of battle, or at the end of an opponent’s turn to maximize mana usage. This instant speed activation adds a layer of strategy, potentially turning every open mana into a veiled threat.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Vault of the Archangel does not have a direct discard requirement, having this land tapped means it’s not available to produce mana for other spells or abilities that could necessitate a card to be discarded for activation. This can lead to missed opportunities or a slower gameplay tempo, especially if you’re under pressure to maintain card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: To activate Vault of the Archangel’s ability, a player needs to have both white and black mana available. This specific mana requirement can be restrictive, especially in multicolored decks that may have mana sources spread across various colors, potentially limiting the card’s utility in certain game situations.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The activation cost for Vault of the Archangel’s ability is relatively high, particularly when compared to other lands with utility abilities. At a total cost of five mana, including one white and one black, using its ability comes at a significant tempo cost. In fast-paced games, the mana investment required to gain deathtouch and lifelink for your creatures might hinder your ability to play other impactful spells in the same turn.
Reasons to Include Vault of the Archangel in Your Collection
Versatility: Vault of the Archangel offers a unique flexibility to your deck, supporting strategies that crave both life gain and creature control. With its ability to grant deathtouch and lifelink, it can transform even the most humble creature into a formidable threat while bolstering your life total.
Combo Potential: This land pairs wonderfully with cards that thrive on lifelink or benefit from creature death. In tandem with effects that require sacrificing creatures for greater good, Vault of the Archangel can be the lynchpin of a powerful and resilient combo.
Meta-Relevance: In a game that often revolves around creature combat, having the ability to decisively win battles and stabilize your life is crucial. This makes Vault of the Archangel an asset in many metagames, especially those where creature-based strategies are dominant.
How to Beat Vault of the Archangel
Vault of the Archangel is a land card that presents quite the conundrum for players in the MTG arena. As a haven for life gain and deathtouch, this card turns creatures into formidable threats, both defensively and offensively. It can become the cornerstone of a deck, fostering a situation where every attacker or blocker can potentially turn the tide of a game. But like every powerful card in MTG, there are strategic ways to diminish its impact.
To counteract the advantages brought by Vault of the Archangel, direct land destruction spells like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin are invaluable, allowing you to specifically target and take out the troublesome land. Enchantment-based strategies, such as using Blood Moon, can also be effective by transforming the land into a basic mountain, stripping away its abilities. Moreover, instant speed removals like Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy can disrupt creature-based strategies, essentially negating the benefits that Vault of the Archangel provides before they become a headache.
Ultimately, incorporating versatile removal options into your deck and maintaining a mindset ready to adapt to land-centered strategies will serve you well. Acknowledging the potential threat of Vault of the Archangel and preparing accordingly helps ensure it doesn’t dominate the battlefield unchallenged.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Vault of the Archangel MTG card by a specific set like Dark Ascension and Modern Event Deck 2014, 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 Vault of the Archangel and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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 Vault of the Archangel Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2012-02-03 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-02-03 | Dark Ascension | DKA | 158 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 2 | 2014-05-30 | Modern Event Deck 2014 | MD1 | 17 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 3 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 350 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jessica Seamans | ||
| 4 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 927 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 5 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Commander | MOC | 443 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 6 | 2023-11-17 | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander | LCC | 367 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 7 | 2024-04-19 | Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander | OTC | 339 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Vault of the Archangel has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Vault of the Archangel card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-01-22 | Multiple instances of deathtouch or lifelink on the same creature are redundant. |
| 2011-01-22 | Vault of the Archangel's last ability affects only creatures you control when that ability resolves. It won't affect creatures that come under your control later in the turn. |