Vedalken Certarch MTG Card
2010-10-01 - Number 52
2011-05-14 - Number 5
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Vedalken Wizard |
| Abilities | Metalcraft |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Metalcraft — : Tap target artifact, creature, or land. Activate this ability only if you control three or more artifacts.
"An appropriately detailed model is indistinguishable from reality, and much easier to control."
Cards like Vedalken Certarch
Vedalken Certarch proves to be a unique fixture in the MTG realm with its capacity for control. Its closest relatives are creatures like Tumble Magnet, which similarly manipulates the battlefield by tapping a target artifact or creature. Unlike the Certarch, Tumble Magnet is not creature-based but an artifact that comes with three charge counters. While Tumble Magnet has a finite number of uses, Vedalken Certarch, under the right conditions with metalcraft, can consistently control the board every turn.
Gideon’s Lawkeeper is another card that echoes the tapping ability. For a single mana, the Lawkeeper can tap a target creature. However, as a creature itself, it’s vulnerable to removal, much like Vedalken Certarch, but it lacks the conditional metalcraft ability. Conversely, Vedalken Certarch, when boosted by the presence of three artifacts, has the potential to become a continuous threat to an opponent’s strategy. This can be particularly disrupting during an opponent’s combat phase or in response to combo setups.
Valuing Vedalken Certarch for its potential in artifact-heavy decks, it stands out among tap-enabling creatures. Its synergy with artifacts offers a streamlined strategy for players who enjoy maintaining control over the pace and flow of the game.
Cards similar to Vedalken Certarch by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Vedalken Certarch. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Azorius Affinity | Pauper | Azorius Affinity | Pauper League 2024-04-09 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Vedalken Certarch offers unique utility in controlling opponents’ artifacts. It can tap down key artifacts, often rendering them useless for a turn and skewing the balance of power.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing your resources, controlling opposing artifacts can indirectly accelerate your own game plan by slowing down your opponent’s development.
Instant Speed: The Certarch’s ability can be activated at instant speed, providing flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their turn, or unexpectedly before they declare attackers or blockers.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Unlike other control options, Vedalken Certarch mandates that you have metalcraft to unlock its full potential, which may require significant deck-building constraints to ensure a consistent activation.
Specific Mana Cost: Vedalken Certarch has a blue mana requirement which could hinder its versatility in multi-colored or colorless decks that can’t reliably produce blue mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of one blue mana for a 1/1 creature, its ability to tap target artifact or creature may not be as mana-efficient when compared to other options available for control-oriented decks, especially considering the metalcraft requirement.
Reasons to Include Vedalken Certarch in Your Collection
Versatility: Vedalken Certarch has a place in control decks that can consistently enable its Metalcraft ability. It is adept at locking down your opponent’s resources at critical moments, making it a flexible addition to various strategies.
Combo Potential: With the right board state, this card’s ability to tap artifacts or even lands can be a cog in a larger machine. It can be used to disrupt combos or secure your own by controlling the pace of play.
Meta-Relevance: In a metagame saturated with artifact-themed decks, Vedalken Certarch shines by exploiting the widespread presence of artifacts to its advantage. Players can leverage its control elements to gain the upper hand against opponent strategies.
How to beat
Vedalken Certarch, a unique creature from Magic the Gathering, can be a persistent thorn in your side with its ability to tap target artifact, creature, or land if you have metalcraft. To outplay someone wielding this card, the key lies in disrupting their metalcraft by keeping their artifact count low. Simple removal spells are one way to achieve this, ensuring that they never meet the three-artifact threshold required to activate Vedalken Certarch’s ability.
Targeted artifact destruction like Naturalize or more general removal like Shatterstorm can swiftly dismantle their setup. Creature removal spells can also help by directly removing the Vedalken Certarch from the battlefield. Counterspells are useful too, preventing the Certarch from hitting the table in the first place. Lastly, strategies that don’t rely heavily on tapped permanents will inherently neutralize much of Vedalken Certarch’s disruptive capabilities.
To summarize, keeping artifact counts low, employing targeted removal, and utilizing preemptive countermeasures, are effective tactics against Vedalken Certarch. Moreover, crafting a game plan that minimizes the impact of tapped permanents can be crucial. With a mix of disruption and foresight, outmaneuvering an opponent’s Vedalken Certarch becomes a much more manageable task.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Vedalken Certarch MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia, 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 Vedalken Certarch 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 Vedalken Certarch Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2011-05-14. Illustrated by Karl Kopinski.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-10-01 | Scars of Mirrodin | SOM | 52 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 2 | 2011-05-14 | Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia | TD2 | 5 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Vedalken Certarch has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |