Vibrating Sphere MTG Card
1995-06-03 - Number 345
2011-01-10 - Number 238
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
During your turn, all creatures you control get +2/+0. During all other turns, all creatures you control get -0/-2.
"Unearthly and invisible fibers emanate from this sphere, entangling all who draw near." —Arcum Dagsson, Soldevi Machinist
Cards like Vibrating Sphere
Vibrating Sphere is a unique artifact in the world of Magic: The Gathering. When examining artifacts with similar functionalities, Meekstone emerges as a card that restricts creatures, albeit in a different way. Meekstone limits creatures with power 3 or greater, preventing them from untapping during their controller’s untap step. On the contrary, Vibrating Sphere affects all creatures and instead has an activation cost, allowing players to untap any creature, as long as they pay for each creature they want to untap during their untap step.
Winter Orb is another classic which also influences untapping, but it targets lands instead, allowing only one land to untap during the untap step. Its effect is universal, though, unlike Vibrating Sphere, which gives the option to bypass the restriction at a cost. Additionally, Storage Matrix is worth mentioning. Similar to Vibrating Sphere, it provides a choice — either to untap artifacts, creatures, or lands during each untap step, making it a versatile but limiting piece in a player’s arsenal.
Analyzing these comparisons highlights Vibrating Sphere’s unique place among MTG cards. It offers a strategic element of control, requiring both foresight and resource management to optimize its effect within the game.
Cards similar to Vibrating Sphere by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Vibrating Sphere has the capability to disrupt your opponent’s strategy which can indirectly work as a form of card advantage. By limiting the ability of your opponents to cast spells with odd mana costs, it can allow you to gain an upper hand in the game’s tempo.
Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct source of resource acceleration, Vibrating Sphere can slow down your opponent, effectively giving you a relative boost in resources by comparison. This can give you the opportunity to outpace your opponent’s development on the board.
Instant Speed: The nature of Vibrating Sphere means it can be utilized as a preventive measure during your opponent’s turn. The flexibility to engage it at instant speed gives you the control to respond aptly to your opponent’s actions, maintaining strategic superiority and keeping them guessing.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Vibrating Sphere card involves a discard action that can be costly if your hand is already depleted. This means that leveraging the card’s benefits comes with the trade-off of reducing your available options.
Specific Mana Cost: With a precise mana requirement, the Vibrating Sphere demands a dedicated spot in your mana base. This could restrict it mainly to mono or two-color decks where its specific mana can be consistently provided.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s activation cost could be seen as steep in comparison to other available options in the game. Players often weigh the immediate impact of a card against its mana cost, and in a game where efficiency is key, the high cost could deter its inclusion in some decks.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Vibrating Sphere can adjust to various deck themes with ease. Ideal for decks focusing on manipulating untap phases or requiring additional blockers, its ability to untap all creatures during each player’s untap step is uniquely flexible.
Combo Potential: With its capability to untap creatures every turn, Vibrating Sphere works wonders in combos that revolve around tap and untap mechanics. It enriches strategies that capitalize on creature abilities that require tapping, opening avenues for infinite combos.
Meta-Relevance: In game environments that heavily feature tap-down effects to control the board, Vibrating Sphere ensures your creatures remain active and ready. This can be a game-changer in permitting repeated use of key creature abilities or ensuring readiness to block, adjust to the tempo, and keep pace with your opponents.
How to Beat Vibrating Sphere
Vibrating Sphere is a unique artifact in the world of MTG that can thwart aggressive strategies by forcing creatures to tap when they could otherwise be attacking. Understanding its mechanics is crucial for developing effective counters. When dealing with this card, the key is to adopt a flexible game plan that can bypass or remove the Sphere.
Direct removal spells are a player’s best friend here, especially those that can target artifacts directly, such as Disenchant or Naturalize. Instant speed interaction allows for the Sphere to be removed before the beginning of your combat phase, giving your creatures free rein to attack. Alternatively, using strategies that focus on non-creature spells or having creatures with vigilance can effectively sidestep the Sphere’s control.
Players should also consider the benefits of redirecting the focus of their deck to abilities that trigger without tapping or strategies that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield tapped, harnessing the card’s drawback for their advantage. In essence, adapting your tactics and retaining removal spells for key artifacts like Vibrating Sphere can ensure it doesn’t disrupt your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Vibrating Sphere MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Masters Edition IV, 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 Vibrating Sphere 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 Vibrating Sphere Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by Richard Thomas.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-06-03 | Ice Age | ICE | 345 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Richard Thomas | |
| 2 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 238 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Richard Thomas |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Vibrating Sphere has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Vibrating Sphere card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Any creature which is lowered below a toughness of 1 will die at the beginning of the upkeep step, since that is the first time State-Based Actions are checked. |