Vexing Puzzlebox MTG Card


Vexing Puzzlebox provides card advantage through deck sifting and strategic draw rewards. It accelerates resources, smoothing mana curves and bolstering game plan momentum. The card’s discard requirement and specific mana cost can limit its immediate impact.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityMythic
TypeArtifact

Text of card

Whenever you roll one or more dice, put a number of charge counters on Vexing Puzzlebox equal to the result. : Add one mana of any color. Roll a d20. , Remove 100 charge counters from Vexing Puzzlebox: Search your library for an artifact card, put that card onto the battlefield, then shuffle.


Cards like Vexing Puzzlebox

Vexing Puzzlebox offers a unique twist on artifact functionality in Magic: The Gathering. It shares traits with cards like Perpetual Timepiece, which also serves as a self-mill tool to enhance graveyard strategies. Vexing Puzzlebox mills cards and then offers an option to put a land card from among them into play, optimizing land drops.

Similarly, Elixir of Immortality is another artifact that manipulates the library, but it focuses on reshuffling the graveyard back into the library and incremental life gain. Vexing Puzzlebox, in contrast, subtly alters deck composition and improves land consistency without reshuffling.

Mesmeric Orb is another artifact that causes milling, but unlike Vexing Puzzlebox, it affects all players and triggers during untaps, providing a steady, passive mill strategy. Vexing Puzzlebox allows for more controlled milling and the added benefit of land acceleration. Therefore, while each of these artifacts can fit into a deck’s strategy, Vexing Puzzlebox stands out for its ability to merge deck thinning with ramp capabilities.

Perpetual Timepiece - MTG Card versions
Elixir of Immortality - MTG Card versions
Mesmeric Orb - MTG Card versions
Perpetual Timepiece - MTG Card versions
Elixir of Immortality - MTG Card versions
Mesmeric Orb - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Vexing Puzzlebox by color, type and mana cost

Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Training Drone - MTG Card versions
Pristine Talisman - MTG Card versions
Alloy Myr - MTG Card versions
Guardians of Meletis - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Herald's Horn - MTG Card versions
Manalith - MTG Card versions
Sword of Vengeance - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Training Drone - MTG Card versions
Pristine Talisman - MTG Card versions
Alloy Myr - MTG Card versions
Guardians of Meletis - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Herald's Horn - MTG Card versions
Manalith - MTG Card versions
Sword of Vengeance - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vexing Puzzlebox offers a unique way to sift through your deck. It allows you to look at the top card of your library at any time, giving you valuable information to plan your moves. When Vexing Puzzlebox is finally solved, it rewards your patience and strategic play by drawing you a card, subtly tipping the balance in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: At its core, Vexing Puzzlebox is a sleek engine for resource acceleration. As the Puzzlebox’s mystery unravels, it efficiently churns your resources, translating turns into potential power. This intrinsic ability to smooth out mana and resource curves can be critical in propelling your game plan forward with momentum.

Instant Speed: While Vexing Puzzlebox doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, it complements cards that do. By manipulating the top of your library, it empowers you to more effectively utilize instant-speed spells and abilities. Knowing what’s coming can be the deciding factor in the heat of the moment, and Vexing Puzzlebox facilitates that knowledge seamlessly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Vexing Puzzlebox challenges players with a discard condition, compelling you to part with a card from hand. In scenarios where your arsenal is already dwindling, this might put you at a further disadvantage, especially if you’re faced with choosing between critical spells or lands to discard.

Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Vexing Puzzlebox requires a precise mana arrangement, including at least one blue mana. This can sometimes be a barrier for players running multicolor decks and may not always align with your mana base when you need it most, potentially delaying your gameplay or disrupting your mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value pegged higher than some other options in the format, Vexing Puzzlebox might not always be the most mana-efficient choice. Savvy players might weigh it against other artifacts or spells that could yield a more immediate or impactful presence on the board for the same, or less, investment.


Reasons to Include Vexing Puzzlebox in Your Collection

Versatility: Vexing Puzzlebox is a flexible card that can be a key piece in a variety of decks. Its ability to manipulate both your own and your opponent’s deck caters to a wide scope of strategies and can adapt to numerous playstyles seamlessly.

Combo Potential: This card allows for creative interactions and synergies within decks looking to capitalize on deck manipulation and search mechanisms. In conjunction with cards that care about the top of your deck or card placement, the possibilities for powerful combos are endless.

Meta-Relevance: Against a meta filled with predictable decks, Vexing Puzzlebox can serve as a tool to disrupt opponent’s strategies while fine-tuning your draws. The unexpected element it brings to the table could shift the tide of any game, making it a prudent choice for players aiming to stay one step ahead.


How to beat Vexing Puzzlebox

Vexing Puzzlebox presents a unique challenge as a piece of the intricate artifact landscape in Magic: The Gathering. Known for its ability to disrupt draws while setting players up for future plays, this card requires a strategic approach to overcome. A powerful strategy is to employ artifact removal spells that can dismantle the Puzzlebox before its effect can be fully utilized. Naturalize or Disenchant are common examples, efficiently dealing with such threats at a minimal cost.

Another tactic is to use the Puzzlebox’s effect to your advantage with cards that benefit from drawing numerous cards or discarding, such as Jace’s Archivist or Windfall. As both cards synergize with drawing and discarding, they can turn the potential disadvantage of Vexing Puzzlebox on its head, fueling your own strategies while mitigating the benefits to your opponent.

Ultimately, facing down Vexing Puzzlebox calls for readiness with responsive actions and a deck that either neutralizes artifacts swiftly or converts potential setbacks into tactical advantages. Being able to adapt to the Puzzlebox’s complex nature can swiftly turn the tides of a game in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the world of MTG is a journey of strategy and cunning, especially with intriguing cards like Vexing Puzzlebox in the mix. Drawing cards and optimizing mana are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to outmaneuvering opponents and propelling your gameplay towards victory. Consider integrating Vexing Puzzlebox into your deck for its versatility and ability to shift the dynamics of a match subtly, yet significantly. For those keen on mastering the art of deck manipulation and leveraging every turn to its fullest potential, we welcome you to learn more and join the ranks of innovative MTG players.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vexing Puzzlebox MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Baldur's Gate Promos and Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, 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 Vexing Puzzlebox and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Vexing Puzzlebox Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-06-10Battle for Baldur's Gate PromosPCLB 343s2015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
22022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 3432015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
32022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 3742015NormalBorderlessZezhou Chen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vexing Puzzlebox has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Vexing Puzzlebox card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2022-06-10 Even though it includes rolling a die, Vexing Puzzlebox's second ability is a mana ability. It does not use the stack and cannot be responded to.
2022-06-10 If an effect instructs you to roll more than one die and ignore one or more of them, the result is only what wasn't ignored.
2022-06-10 If an effect instructs you to roll one or more dice and add some number to that roll, the result is the total after adding that number.
2022-06-10 In a game of Planechase, the result of rolling the planar die is not a number and does not cause Vexing Puzzlebox's first ability to put charge counters on it.