Wingbane Vantasaur MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Dinosaur |
| Abilities | Conjure,Reach |
| Released | 2023-12-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Alchemy: Ixalan |
| Set code | YLCI |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 22 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Franco Tempesta |
Text of card
Reach When Wingbane Vantasaur enters the battlefield, choose one — • Conjure a card named Savage Stomp into your hand. • Conjure a card named Naturalize into your hand.
Cards like Wingbane Vantasaur
The Wingbane Vantasaur has carved its niche in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal as a versatile defender. Its similarities to creatures like Looming Altisaur are evident, both towering with a formidable toughness that makes them excellent blockers. Yet Wingbane Vantasaur differentiates itself with flying defense, a trait Looming Altisaur lacks, offering an aerial barricade against many threats.
Matching it against another kin, the Pteron Ghost, we observe that while the Ghost also provides flying protection, it falls short in toughness. Additionally, Wingbane Vantasaur gains added staying power with its cycling ability, giving players the flexibility to trade it in for a new card if it’s not suited to the current game state. This trait is missing from Pteron Ghost, rendering Wingbane the more adaptable choice between the two.
In the grand scheme, within Magic: The Gathering’s vast menagerie, Wingbane Vantasaur stands tall. Its combination of robust defense, aerial coverage, and strategic cycling option presents a card that’s not only a reliable shield but also an asset for deck fluidity and adaptability during play.
Cards similar to Wingbane Vantasaur by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Wingbane Vantasaur. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Naya Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 06 2024 | |
 | Gruul Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 14 2024 | |
 | Gruul Control | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 14 2024 | |
 | Golgari Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024 | |
 | Selesnya Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 11 2024 | |
 | Abzan Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 09 2024 | |
 | Naya Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 08 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Wingbane Vantasaur helps to streamline deck cycles by contributing to board presence with a sturdy creature. Each time a player has creatures that are difficult to remove, like Wingbane Vantasaur due to its flying ability, they effectively gain an upper hand in retaining card advantage on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: Featuring a relatively low converted mana cost for a creature with its stats, Wingbane Vantasaur can be a cost-effective addition to a deck, potentially freeing up mana resources sooner for other strategic plays. It also can take advantage of cycling, which allows players to filter through their deck, thus leading to potential resource acceleration by drawing into more valuable cards.
Instant Speed: As Wingbane Vantasaur includes the cycling ability, it gives players flexibility similar to instant speed interaction. This enables a reduced level of risk during play, allowing the player to hold onto Vantasaur for on-curve deployment or cycle it away should a more immediate response be required against an opponent’s threats.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Much like the element of strategy, Wingbane Vantasaur requires careful planning when it comes to hand management. Confronted by the need to discard a card to unleash its cycling ability, players might find themselves at a crossroads, especially during crucial game phases where resources in hand are better kept for defensive or offensive maneuvers.
Specific Mana Cost: The Wingbane Vantasaur carries a particular mana requirement that can sometimes hinder its playability. As a card that demands white mana, this creature might restrict players who are running a multicolored deck or those who might experience a shortage in white mana resources at critical moments, potentially delaying its deployment or cycling.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering the pace of the game, the mana cost of the Wingbane Vantasaur is not to be underestimated. With other creatures and spells in play that may provide similar or better benefits for less mana, this card can appear to be less attractive from an economic standpoint, taking up a significant portion of a turn’s resources that could otherwise be allocated to more immediate threats or opportunities.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Wingbane Vantasaur, thanks to its hybrid nature as a creature with reach, can be a valuable addition to a variety of decks, particularly those in need of air defense against flying threats.
Combo Potential: This dinosaur can play a critical role in combos that capitalize on creatures with high toughness or abilities triggered by damage prevention, making it an intriguing choice for creative deck builders.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where flying creatures are common, Wingbane Vantasaur serves as an efficient counter. Its presence can significantly disrupt opponent strategies that rely heavily on flying attackers.
How to Beat Wingbane Vantasaur
Wingbane Vantasaur stands out in the Magic: The Gathering universe as a creature with persuasive stats for its cost. Its presence in a game calls for a strategic response, considering its potential to disrupt plays with its flying-restrictive ability. To counteract this dinosaur’s influence, a player should consider removal spells that can bypass its protection from certain creature types. Spells renowned for their precision, such as Murder or Doom Blade, could be key in eliminating Wingbane Vantasaur from the battlefield swiftly.
In tandem with removals, tricks to negate abilities or reduce creature power can prove invaluable. Enchantment-based solutions like Pacifism or the spell Frogify would effectively neutralize the threat by either preventing the creature from attacking or blocking or by changing its essential characteristics. Additionally, these approaches deny the opponent the luxury of exploiting Vantasaur’s ability to constrict flying creatures.
Understanding the mechanics and adaptability of your deck against creatures like Wingbane Vantasaur is crucial. Incorporating a diverse set of answers will ensure that the Vantasaur’s reign is short-lived and that you maintain control of the skies. In summary, a combination of targeted removals and ability negations is the optimal tactic for grounding the Wingbane Vantasaur and soaring to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wingbane Vantasaur MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy: Ixalan, 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 Wingbane Vantasaur 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wingbane Vantasaur has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |