Vampire Opportunist MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Vampire
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Vampire Opportunist’s instant speed ability is a surprise tactic that can alter game momentum.
  2. Its ability cost and lack of card advantage can hinder performance in multicolor decks.
  3. With strategic use, it can be a consistent late-game threat, pressuring opponents effectively.

Text of card

: Each opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.

"I think I cracked a fang."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Vampire Opportunist card is an ideal addition for players looking to tap into the potential of life drain as a form of card advantage. While not directly impacting the hand or deck, shrinking an opponent’s life total while increasing your own can be just as valuable to sway the game’s momentum in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Though the Vampire Opportunist doesn’t directly provide mana or treasure tokens, it serves as a crucial piece in resource acceleration in vampire-themed decks. Its ability can become a repetitive resource when utilized with other cards that benefit from or trigger upon life gain or opponent life loss, effectively speeding up your victory condition.

Instant Speed: What makes the Opportunist stand out is its versatility at instant speed, allowing you to end your turn without spending mana and being ready to activate its ability. This not only preserves resources for responses during your opponent’s turn but also opens up surprise tactics, shifting the balance during the end phase or after an opponent’s attack when they least expect it.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the limitations of Vampire Opportunist is its lack of any card advantage mechanics. Unlike other creatures within the same mana range, it doesn’t provide the player with an opportunity to draw or recycle cards, which could put you at a disadvantage in prolonged encounters.

Specific Mana Cost: While the Vampire Opportunist’s initial mana cost may seem low, its ability requires a specific mana investment to activate. This could pose a challenge in multicolor decks that may not always have the required black mana readily available, thereby restricting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The active ability of Vampire Opportunist seems economical at first glance, but when compared with other creatures in MTG, the cost for its life-draining effect is relatively steep. Cheaper alternatives exist that can perform similar functions or provide better board presence for the same or less investment.


Reasons to Include Vampire Opportunist in Your Collection

Versatility: This creature offers strategic flexibility as it’s a two-cost card that can be slotted into a variety of black decks. Whether you’re looking for early board presence or a mana-sink in the late game, Vampire Opportunist serves well in both roles.

Combo Potential: With the ability to drain life from opponents, it synergizes with decks that amplify effects related to life loss or gain. It can also work as a finisher by exploiting openings or weakened foes.

Meta-Relevance: When facing slower-paced games or a meta filled with creature-based strategies, Vampire Opportunist becomes a valuable player. It can consistently chip away at the opponent’s life total, putting on pressure without needing to engage directly in combat.


How to beat

Vampire Opportunist is a creature card that can be a sneaky asset in your opponent’s arsenal in Magic: The Gathering. It may seem unassuming at first with its modest stats. However, its ability to drain life from the opponent during the late game can turn the tides unexpectedly. Given its mana activation cost, it’s crucial to plan your strategy around dismantling this potential threat.

To effectively counter Vampire Opportunist, creature removal spells are your best friend. Swiftly dealing with it using a low-cost instant like Shock or Fatal Push can eliminate the threat before it becomes active. You could also negate its life-draining ability by employing enchantments or artifacts that prevent activated abilities, such as Pithing Needle. In the event of a life drain, gaining life with cards like Healing Salve can offset the damage done and keep you in the game.

Overall, keeping your opponent’s board clear of creatures, particularly those with dangerous activated abilities like Vampire Opportunist, is a solid tactic to mitigate risk and maintain control. By staying vigilant and ready to address threats immediately, you’ll be able to thwart their strategies and secure your victory.


Cards like Vampire Opportunist

MTG enthusiasts often compare Vampire Opportunist to other creature cards that provide additional benefits outside of combat. For instance, Bloodthirsty Aerialist shares a thematic link, both hailing from the vampire family and both presenting a way to utilize life changes for gain. The Aerialist, however, thrives on a +1/+1 counter strategy which capitalizes on gaining life, differing from the Opportunist’s direct life point target ability.

Further comparisons can be drawn with Falkenrath Noble, which also has the ability to impact life totals when creatures die, although its trigger does not require mana expenditure like Vampire Opportunist’s. Noble’s effect is arguably more consistent, affecting life totals passively without active investment. Conversely, the Opportunist can exert direct pressure on an opponent’s life total at a definitive moment, making it strategically unique.

Conclusively, Vampire Opportunist stands as a valid choice within the vampire archetype of MTG, especially in long games where its activated ability can be a recurring threat. It offers a different kind of resource management that can be decisive for the outcome of a match, compared to its vampiric counterparts that focus more on board presence and combat advantages.

Bloodthirsty Aerialist - MTG Card versions
Falkenrath Noble - MTG Card versions
Bloodthirsty Aerialist - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Falkenrath Noble - Innistrad (ISD)

Cards similar to Vampire Opportunist by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
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Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cuombajj Witches - Chronicles (CHR)
Order of the Ebon Hand - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bog Imp - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Corpses - Mirage (MIR)
Blighted Shaman - Mirage (MIR)
Rabid Rats - Stronghold (STH)
Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
Ravenous Rats - Invasion (INV)
Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
Bloodcurdler - Odyssey (ODY)
Nantuko Shade - Commander 2014 (C14)
Piper of the Swarm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Undead Augur - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Skullsnatcher - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Cutthroat - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vampire Opportunist MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and Core Set 2020, 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 Vampire Opportunist and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vampire Opportunist Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Jason Rainville.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 1102015normalblackJason Rainville
22019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 3262015normalblackJason Rainville
32020-08-13Arena Beginner SetANB 652015normalblackJason Rainville

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vampire Opportunist has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-07-12 In a Two-Headed Giant game, Vampire Opportunist’s ability causes the opposing team to lose 4 life and you gain 2 life.

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