Vengeance MTG Card
1997-05-01 - Number 36
1998-06-24 - Number 27
1999-05-01 - Number 28
1999-07-01 - Number 29
2001-04-11 - Number 54
2001-04-11 - Number 54★
2003-07-28 - Number S2
2005-07-29 - Number S2
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Destroy any one tapped creature.
Bitter as wormwood, sweet as mulled wine.
Cards like Vengeance
Vengeance, a classic removal spell in Magic: The Gathering, offers a unique solution to dealing with tapped creatures. When considering alternatives, cards like Pacifism come to mind, where a creature becomes essentially nullified without needing to be tapped. Vengeance, however, requires the creature to have been declared as an attacker or blocker at least once, showcasing its reactive nature.
Another similar card is Claustrophobia, which binds a creature without destroying it, but keeps it perpetually out of combat, akin to a more permanent version of Vengeance. Debilitating Injury also incapacitates creatures by placing -2/-2 counters, though it doesn’t specifically target tapped creatures. Both allow for more preemptive control strategies.
Equally, Dead Weight is noteworthy for its ability to weaken creatures and potentially remove smaller threats outright, providing a different approach to creature control. Though Vengeance isn’t as versatile as some alternatives, its preciseness in timing and immediate removal of a threat are advantages that highlight its role in MTG. Thus, Vengeance retains a situationally strategic spot in players’ decks, tailored for the right moment of removal.
Cards similar to Vengeance by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Vengeance provides a tactical edge by allowing you to remove a threat from the battlefield, effectively reducing your opponent’s card resources while maintaining your own.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly influencing mana, eliminating a key creature can accelerate your game plan by clearing the path for your own creatures or strategies unhindered by potential blockers or activated abilities.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Vengeance at instant speed offers strategic flexibility, giving you the power to react on your opponent’s turn or at the end of their turn, to disrupt their plays or remove blockers and attackers in the heat of battle.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Vengeance demands that you discard a card to play it, which can set you back when you’re already short on hand options. This limitation requires strategic planning to ensure that the benefit of deploying the card outweighs the cost of losing another.
Specific Mana Cost: Vengeance’s casting cost necessitates both white and generic mana, which means it fits primarily in decks that are built around or can accommodate the white color pie. Decks not aligned with white may find this requirement restrictive.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost on the higher end for its effect, Vengeance might not be the most mana-efficient removal option available. Savvy players often weigh its cost against other removal spells that offer similar or better utility for less mana, making it less attractive in some situations.
Reasons to Include Vengeance in Your Collection
Versatility: Vengeance is a powerful tool in a variety of deck builds. It’s particularly effective in control decks that focus on maintaining a clear board, as well as in sideboards to counter specific creature-heavy strategies.
Combo Potential: This removal spell pairs incredibly well with cards that benefit from the destruction of creatures, such as those triggering morbid abilities. This enables a strategic layering of effects that can lead to game-changing plays.
Meta-Relevance: Given the card’s efficiency in removing key threats from the board, it remains relevant in many metas, especially where creature-based decks are prevalent. Having Vengeance in your collection could give you an edge in adapting to shifting play environments.
How to Beat
Vengeance is known for its swift removal capabilities in Magic: The Gathering, offering players a way to deal with creatures without having to engage in cumbersome combat sequences or race against ramping threats. An immediate solution to powerful creatures, this card can disrupt your opponent’s strategic setup and tilt the battlefield in your favor with its ability to target tapped creatures.
Countering such a pivotal card requires strategic deck building and game play. Employing creatures that either do not tap when attacking or those that have hexproof abilities can safeguard your army from Vengeance’s reach. Moreover, utilizing instant-speed spells that can untap your creatures or grant them protection until end of turn ensure they remain out of Vengeance’s purview. It’s also wise to have your own set of versatile removal spells or counterspells ready to intercept Vengeance before it hits the board, keeping your pivotal creatures safe and maintaining pressure on your opponent.
Ultimately, the key to besting Vengeance lies in adaptability and anticipation. By carefully navigating around it, your strategy can remain intact, allowing you to control the flow of the game despite your opponent’s attempt to disrupt it with Vengeance.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Vengeance MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Portal Second Age, 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 Vengeance 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Vengeance Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by 4 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-05-01 | Portal | POR | 36 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Andrew Robinson | |
| 2 | 1998-06-24 | Portal Second Age | P02 | 27 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Keith Parkinson | |
| 3 | 1999-05-01 | Portal Three Kingdoms | PTK | 28 | 1997 | Normal | White | Solomon Au Yeung | |
| 4 | 1999-07-01 | Starter 1999 | S99 | 29 | 1997 | Normal | White | Andrew Robinson | |
| 5 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 54 | 1997 | Normal | White | Paolo Parente | |
| 6 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 54★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Paolo Parente | |
| 7 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | S2 | 2003 | Normal | White | Paolo Parente | |
| 8 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | S2 | 2003 | Normal | White | Paolo Parente |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Vengeance has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |