Vines of the Recluse MTG Card
2016-01-22 - Number 146
2016-09-02 - Number 23
2017-06-16 - Number 78
2024-02-23 - Number 178
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Target creature gets +1/+2 and gains reach until end of turn. Untap it. (A creature with reach can block creatures with flying.)
"The most elegant solutions are found in nature. You just have to know where to look."
Cards like Vines of the Recluse
Vines of the Recluse is a versatile instant in the vast landscape of Magic: The Gathering’s combat tricks. Compared to something like Giant Growth, Vines of the Recluse offers a twist with the additional ability of untapping the target creature, not just a boost in power and toughness. While Giant Growth gives a larger increase in stats, Vines of the Recluse adds strategic depth with the untap feature and provides an evasion advantage by granting reach temporarily.
Moment of Triumph is another card that draws parallels, offering a life gain bonus on top of a power and toughness boost. It’s at the same mana cost, yet it doesn’t provide the utility of untapping or the reach ability. Cards like Ranger’s Guile also deserve a mention, giving not just a power increase but also hexproof to protect your creatures, although it comes without the benefit of untapping or an evasion tactic such as reach.
When aligning Vines of the Recluse with its counterparts, it stands out due to its capacity to swing combat scenarios in your favor, offering flexibility and a defensive edge that could prove pivotal in close-knit battle rounds.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Vines of the Recluse provides an efficient way to turn the tide in combat by bolstering your creature’s power and toughness. This enhancement can often lead to favorable trades or unexpected wins in a fight, effectively turning one card’s use into the potential to deal with multiple threats from an adversary.
Resource Acceleration: While this spell doesn’t directly generate mana or tokens, the ability to untap a creature as part of its effects can be tantamount to resource acceleration. It allows a creature that attacked this turn to be repositioned for defense or to leverage tap abilities without the usual downtime.
Instant Speed: The instant speed of Vines of the Recluse is a crucial aspect, granting the flexibility to react dynamically to threats during the heat of battle. It enables players to wait until the most opportune moment within the combat phase or respond to an opponent’s actions, ensuring that resources are utilized with maximum efficiency.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of using Vines of the Recluse is the necessity of having a card to discard in some iterations or synergistic strategies which may not always be advantageous, especially when hand size is a concern.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires one green mana, which means it fits primarily in green-oriented or multicolored decks. Players running decks without green mana sources will be unable to leverage this spell.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the mana cost of Vines of the Recluse is relatively low, there are instances where the card might be considered to have a high cost relative to its effect. In fast-paced games or formats, even a one-mana cost can prove too expensive for the tempo of the deck.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Vines of the Recluse is a card that offers a surprise element in combat, providing both a defensive buff and speed to outmaneuver your opponent’s strategies. It can be slotted easily into green decks that favor quick, impactful plays.
Combo Potential: By granting a creature +1/+2 and reach until end of turn, it can be a key play in combinations aiming to protect important creatures or secure a pivotal block. Additionally, untapping the creature can enable it to be reused for abilities, making Vines of the Recluse a flexible choice in multiple scenarios.
Meta-Relevance: In game environments where flying creatures dominate, having a card like Vines of the Recluse can turn the tide by unexpectedly blocking what would otherwise be unanswerable threats. This adaptability keeps it relevant, especially in evolving metas with a significant aerial component.
How to beat
Vines of the Recluse is a card that offers players a quick boost in combat by granting a creature +1/+2 and untapping it. It even provides the added benefit of allowing the creature to block an additional creature, enhancing its defensive capabilities. This sudden swing in power and flexibility can catch opponents off guard and tip the scales in favor of the player using Vines of the Recluse.
However, to effectively counteract this card, players need to anticipate its usage. Since it’s an instant, it can disrupt combat calculations mid-battle. Therefore, one strategy is to bait out the card early by threatening a valuable creature or applying pressure that forces an early play. Another is simply to hold removal spells or counterspells to address the creature targeted by Vines of the Recluse before the buffs can make a significant impact on the game’s outcome.
Scouting for potential moments when Vines of the Recluse could turn the tables during combat is essential. Being prepared with the right response ensures control over the battlefield and prevents the temporary advantage granted by this versatile combat trick from becoming a permanent setback.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Vines of the Recluse MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch and Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob Nixilis, 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 Vines of the Recluse 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 Vines of the Recluse Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-01-22 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Dan Scott.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-01-22 | Oath of the Gatewatch | OGW | 146 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott | |
| 2 | 2016-09-02 | Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob Nixilis | DDR | 23 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott | |
| 3 | 2017-06-16 | Archenemy: Nicol Bolas | E01 | 78 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott | |
| 4 | 2024-02-23 | Ravnica: Clue Edition | CLU | 178 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Vines of the Recluse has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Vines of the Recluse card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-01-22 | You can target an untapped creature with Vines of the Recluse. It will still get the other bonuses. |