Vile Aggregate MTG Card


Vile Aggregate - Battle for Zendikar
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Eldrazi Drone
Abilities Devoid,Ingest,Trample
Released2015-10-02
Set symbol
Set nameBattle for Zendikar
Set codeBFZ
Power *
Toughness 5
Number137
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byChris Rallis

Key Takeaways

  1. Vile Aggregate grows with colorless creature numbers, turning them into a potent force.
  2. Instant speed growth makes it an unpredictable and scalable threat during games.
  3. Card synergies and meta relevance ensure Vile Aggregate remains a powerhouse in specific decks.

Text of card

Devoid (This card has no color.)Vile Aggregate's power is equal to the number of colorless creatures you control. Trample Ingest (Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, that player exiles the top card of his or her library.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vile Aggregate’s inherent power lies in leveraging the number of colorless creatures you control, effectively turning each creature into an additional source of damage, thereby increasing your on-board threat level without the need to commit more cards from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct mana ramp, Vile Aggregate thrives in an environment filled with artifacts and Eldrazi Scions, which can be sacrificed for additional mana—propelling your game plan forward and accelerating your resources indirectly.

Instant Speed: Elements surrounding this card, such as the ability to grow at instant speed, can catch an opponent off guard. As new colorless creatures enter the battlefield during the end phase or in response to an opponent’s actions, Vile Aggregate becomes a formidable, rapidly growing threat that can scale with the game’s progression.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Vile Aggregate’s effectiveness heavily banks on having a board presence of colorless creatures which can often put players in a pinch. If your hand or battlefield lacks these specific types of creatures, harnessing the full potential of Vile Aggregate becomes a challenge.

Specific Mana Cost: Despite its colorless synergy, Vile Aggregate demands a specific mana arrangement including one red which might not always align with the broader mana base of various colorless decks. This can occasionally create a bottleneck, inhibiting the card’s playability across different deck constructs.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana with one being specifically red might not seem excessively high, but in the fast-paced modern environment of MTG, this can slow you down. Given its reliance on other colorless creatures to truly shine, Vile Aggregate sometimes becomes less appealing compared to other options with lower mana costs that offer immediate board presence or other utilities.


Reasons to Include Vile Aggregate in Your Collection

Versatility: Vile Aggregate’s ability to adapt its power to the number of colorless creatures you control makes it a flexible addition to various decks, especially those harnessing Eldrazi or artifact themes.

Combo Potential: This creature can become quite powerful in combination with decks that generate token creatures or have a high density of colorless spells, unlocking potential for explosive turns.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where decks are filled with creatures, Vile Aggregate’s toughness boosting trait and trample ability allow it to act as both an offensive threat and a formidable blocker.


How to beat

Vile Aggregate is a formidable creature in Magic: The Gathering, boasting not only the ability to grow with each colorless creature you control but also trample to push excess damage through. Confronting this Devoid creature often means dealing with an ever-growing threat that can quickly become unmanageable.

To effectively counter Vile Aggregate, players should focus on controlling the board. Removal spells are key – for instance, Path to Exile or Murderous Rider can dispatch it regardless of its size. Ensnaring Bridge is another excellent choice to keep it from attacking, especially in decks not relying heavily on creatures.

Another strategy is to limit the number of colorless creatures your opponent controls, stunting Vile Aggregate’s growth. Board wipes like Damnation or Wrath of God can be devastating, clearing the way for a more manageable game state. Lastly, preventing it from hitting the battlefield in the first place with counterspells like Counterspell or Mana Leak could provide the upper hand needed for a win.

Understanding the mechanics and staying proactive in managing threats are crucial in maintaining an edge against Vile Aggregate and turning the tides in your favor on the battlefield.


Cards like Vile Aggregate

Vile Aggregate is a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering that thrives in decks with a colorless theme. This creature benefits greatly from the presence of other colorless creatures, bolstering its power for each one on the battlefield. Its closest kin in terms of mechanics is Foundry Street Denizen, a creature that gains strength whenever another red creature enters the play. However, Foundry Street Denizen’s boost is temporary, whereas Vile Aggregate’s power accumulates, making it an enduring threat on the board.

Another card that echoes the mechanic of power increase is Adaptive Automaton. Like Vile Aggregate, it has the potential to grow in power, but it does so by adopting the creature type of your choice and empowering all creatures of that type. In contrast, Vile Aggregate is more individual-focused and includes the added benefit of having trample, allowing its accrued power to break through defenders.

Lastly, we observe Endless One, which allows flexibility in power and toughness based on the mana invested upon casting. Unlike Vile Aggregate, its power is fixed upon entry and doesn’t evolve with the game state. Comparatively, Vile Aggregate leads in dynamic power scaling, an aspect that can dominate a game if left unchecked.

Foundry Street Denizen - MTG Card versions
Adaptive Automaton - MTG Card versions
Endless One - MTG Card versions
Foundry Street Denizen - Gatecrash (GTC)
Adaptive Automaton - Magic 2012 (M12)
Endless One - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)

Cards similar to Vile Aggregate by color, type and mana cost

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions
Basalt Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Orcish Artillery - MTG Card versions
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions
Blind-Spot Giant - MTG Card versions
Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Raging Bull - Legends (LEG)
Wall of Lava - Ice Age (ICE)
Brassclaw Orcs - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Imperial Recruiter - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Uthden Troll - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Goblin Rabblemaster - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nosy Goblin - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Sky Raider - Onslaught (ONS)
Cosmic Larva - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Goblin Chariot - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Balduvian Barbarians - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Basalt Gargoyle - Time Spiral (TSP)
Orcish Artillery - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - Lorwyn (LRW)
Blind-Spot Giant - Lorwyn (LRW)
Mudbutton Torchrunner - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vile Aggregate MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar, 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 Vile Aggregate and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vile Aggregate has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2015-08-25 A card with devoid is just colorless. It’s not colorless and the colors of mana in its mana cost.
2015-08-25 Cards with devoid use frames that are variations of the transparent frame traditionally used for Eldrazi. The top part of the card features some color over a background based on the texture of the hedrons that once imprisoned the Eldrazi. This coloration is intended to aid deckbuilding and game play.
2015-08-25 Devoid works in all zones, not just on the battlefield.
2015-08-25 If a card loses devoid, it will still be colorless. This is because effects that change an object’s color (like the one created by devoid) are considered before the object loses devoid.
2015-08-25 If the player has no cards in their library when the ingest ability resolves, nothing happens. That player won’t lose the game (until they have to draw a card from an empty library).
2015-08-25 Other cards and abilities can give a card with devoid color. If that happens, it’s just the new color, not that color and colorless.
2015-08-25 The ability that defines Vile Aggregate’s power works in all zones, not just the battlefield. If Vile Aggregate is on the battlefield, it will count itself.
2015-08-25 The card exiled by the ingest ability is exiled face up.

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