Vraska's Finisher MTG Card

Vraska's Finisher - War of the Spark (WAR)

War of the Spark (WAR)
2019-05-03 - Number 112

Vraska's Finisher - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 817

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number WAR-112

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Gorgon Assassin
Power	3
Toughness	2

Key Takeaways

Instant synergies enable Vraska’s Finisher to disrupt opponents, pairing well with damage-inflicting spells or abilities.
Setback lies in activation reliance on creatures previously dealt damage, requiring careful play coordination.
It remains a solid choice in damage-based interaction decks, holding a specific tactical role.

Text of card

When Vraska's Finisher enters the battlefield, destroy target creature or planeswalker an opponent controls that was dealt damage this turn.

"You might have pleaded your case with my queen earlier. Now I am here, and it is far too late."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vraska’s Finisher provides strategic card advantage by decisively removing a weakened creature your opponent controls, effectively reducing their resources and giving you a tactical edge on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: By ensuring a creature has been dealt damage this turn, Vraska’s Finisher enables quicker progression towards endgame strategies, setting the stage for a hastened victory without the need for additional mana expenditure to deal with damaged enemy creatures.

Instant Speed: While Vraska’s Finisher operates at sorcery speed, it pairs exceptionally well with instant-speed damage spells or effects used on your opponent’s turn. This combination allows you to take out key targets immediately before your turn, capitalizing on your resources efficiently and aligning with your game plan seamlessly.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Vraska’s Finisher necessitates having a creature dealt damage in the same turn for its ability to trigger. This can be a drawback if your board state lacks any creatures that were dealt damage recently or if you’re unable to trigger the ability consistently.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring one colorless and two black mana, this card can be restrictive for multi-colored decks that might struggle to produce the necessary black mana when most needed, potentially causing it to sit unplayed in hand.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a three mana value for a common creature, Vraska’s Finisher may seem on par at first glance. However, when considering it’s a 3/2 with an ability that hinges on another condition, it competes with other three-drop creatures that could offer immediate impact on the game without additional setup.

Reasons to Include Vraska’s Finisher in Your Collection

Versatility: Vraska’s Finisher can easily slide into various decks, providing a reliable option for players looking to eliminate damaged creatures. This card proves particularly efficient in decks built around -1/-1 counters or direct damage.

Combo Potential: Combining Vraska’s Finisher with cards that ping creatures for damage can set up a board state where you can methodically dismantle your opponent’s defenses, making it a tactical addition to combo-oriented play styles.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to act as both a creature and a removal spell, Vraska’s Finisher holds its ground in a meta that sees a lot of creatures with damage-based interactions, making it a versatile choice for maintaining board control.

How to beat

Vraska’s Finisher is a clever play within Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to solidify a winning position by taking out creatures your opponents’ control that have been weakened in combat. Unfolding its potential primarily happens in the late-game phases, where it can turn the tide by eliminating essential creatures post combat.

To effectively counter this card, it’s crucial to control the combat phase conservatively, ensuring your creatures either have more toughness than the damage dealt or leverage instant-speed tricks to buff your creatures, avoiding the damage threshold that Vraska’s Finisher exploits. Utilizing removal spells on Vraska’s Finisher before it can activate its ability can also neutralize its impact. Alternatively, cards that provide hexproof or indestructibility to your creatures can prevent the adverse effects of this troublesome card, keeping your board position secure.

Though it has the potential to be devastating, a strategic approach to the battlefield and timely counters can diminish Vraska’s Finisher’s effectiveness. Awareness and preparedness against this card are essential to maintaining dominance in your MTG games, ultimately ensuring this finisher doesn’t mark the end of your winning streak.

Cards like Vraska's Finisher

Examining the impact of Vraska’s Finisher in the realm of creature spells within Magic: The Gathering offers some interesting insights. This card finds kinship with other finisher creatures that capitalize on weakened opponents, such as Murderous Rider. Both cards excel in delivering the final blow to a staggering adversary. However, Murderous Rider offers a double threat, bringing to the field both a removal spell and a creature presence with its adventure mechanic, while Vraska’s Finisher is strictly a creature spell.

Comparatively, Fleshbag Marauder enters the battlefield demanding each player sacrifice a creature, which creates a widespread effect unlike the targeted removal Vraska’s Finisher provides. Another notable peer is Nekrataal, which also removes a creature upon entry but is limited to nonartifact, nonblack creatures, while Vraska’s Finisher has no such restrictions, though it can only target a creature that’s already been weakened.

In weighing these characteristics, Vraska’s Finisher has its own niche within Magic: The Gathering, being particularly effective in a deck built around continual combat and taking down already damaged creatures for a strategic advantage.

Cards similar to Vraska's Finisher by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vraska's Finisher MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and Mystery Booster, 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 Vraska's Finisher and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vraska's Finisher Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Igor Kieryluk.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2019-05-03	War of the Spark	WAR	112	2015	Normal	Black	Igor Kieryluk
2	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	817	2015	Normal	Black	Igor Kieryluk
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	WAR-112	2015	Normal	Black	Igor Kieryluk

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vraska's Finisher has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal