Vector Asp MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Phyrexian Snake |
| Released | 2010-10-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Scars of Mirrodin |
| Set code | SOM |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 219 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Erica Yang |
Key Takeaways
- Provides strategic edge in infect decks with the ability to search for threats and proliferate.
- Offers instant speed infect activation, but requires specific mana and has discard costs.
- Has combo potential and meta relevance, especially against decks with less creature removal.
Text of card
: Vector Asp gains infect until end of turn. (It deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.)
Phyrexia's machines take inspiration from nature. Twisted, disturbing inspiration.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Vector Asp provides a strategic edge by enabling you to efficiently search for key pieces of your infect strategy, ensuring a steady flow of threats on the board.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing your mana pool, this artifact creature can be a cost-effective way to trigger proliferate mechanics, indirectly ramping up the potency of your infect counters across the battlefield.
Instant Speed: The ability to trigger Vector Asp’s infect at instant speed keeps opponents guessing, allowing you to transform an innocuous block or attack into a lethal threat without telegraphing your intentions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Vector Asp provides flexibility in being an artifact creature, it comes with a discard cost to activate its infect ability. This can put you at a disadvantage, particularly if you’re already struggling with card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Vector Asp requires a color-specific mana (green) to activate its infect ability, which might not seamlessly fit into all deck structures, especially those that are color-diverse or primarily colorless.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering the cost to play Vector Asp and its additional activation cost, the overall mana investment can be steep. This can be burdensome when there are other infect creatures in the game that may offer similar benefits for a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Vector Asp offers a unique adaptability for decks that seek to exploit the infect mechanic or simply require a low-cost artifact creature to execute their game plan. Its ability to gain infect until end of turn provides a level of unpredictability that can catch opponents off guard.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, Vector Asp can contribute to an infect-based combo, where inflicting 10 poison counters wins the game. Its synergistic potential with proliferate mechanics and buff spells makes it a sleeper hit for inventive deck builders.
Meta-Relevance: Against certain metagames with a reduced emphasis on creature removal, Vector Asp can prove itself as a resilient threat. As part of a rogue strategy, it might just be what’s needed to shake up the current competitive scene. Additionally, its artifact nature is often relevant for enabling other synergies within a deck.
How to beat
Vector Asp is an artifact creature card that players often consider in decks with a focus on Infect or combining with cards that can manipulate +1/+1 counters. When facing Vector Asp, the key to victory lies in removing it before its poison ability is activated. Artifact removal spells like Abrade or Nature’s Claim are efficient choices, ridding the field of this threat for a minimal mana investment.
Moreover, Vector Asp’s capacity as an Infect conduit means you should prioritize it as a target over non-Infect creatures. Utilizing cheap creature removal spells, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, can be particularly effective. These not only deal with Vector Asp economically but also maintain your tempo, allowing you to press the advantage while your opponent rebuilds their board presence.
Intelligent blocking decisions also play a crucial role. Since Vector Asp requires a mana investment to gain Infect, you could force its activation prematurely, naturally diminishing its effect. Finally, cards that negate abilities or grant protection from artifacts, like Apostle’s Blessing, can neutralize Vector Asp’s poisonous threat and ensure it remains a non-factor in your path to victory.
Cards like Vector Asp
Vector Asp finds its niche within the vast library of Magic: The Gathering’s creature spells. This unique artifact creature may remind some players of cards such as Arcbound Worker, another low-cost artifact creature that also interacts with +1/+1 counters. However, Vector Asp boasts the ability to gain infect until end of turn, a powerful effect allowing it to deal damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.
Comparably, Plague Myr holds a resemblance with its infect capability coupled with providing mana acceleration, serving dual purposes that extend beyond what Vector Asp offers. Still, Plague Myr comes at a higher casting cost, which can influence deck strategy and timing. Another related card, Ichorclaw Myr, not only has infect by default but becomes more potent when blocked, though it lacks the modular ability to choose when to have infect, unlike Vector Asp.
In essence, when evaluating Vector Asp alongside its counterparts, it stands out for its versatility and potential for strategic gameplay in Magic: The Gathering, especially within decks that maximize the posionous impact of infect.
Cards similar to Vector Asp by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Vector Asp MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin, 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 Vector Asp and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Vector Asp has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Vector Asp card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-01-01 | A player who has ten or more poison counters loses the game. This is a state-based action. |
| 2011-01-01 | Damage from a source with infect affects planeswalkers normally. |
| 2011-01-01 | Damage from a source with infect is damage in all respects. If the source with infect also has lifelink, damage dealt by that source also causes its controller to gain that much life. Damage from a source with infect can be prevented or redirected. Abilities that trigger on damage being dealt will trigger if a source with infect deals damage, if appropriate. |
| 2011-01-01 | If damage from a source with infect that would be dealt to a player is prevented, that player doesn’t get poison counters. If damage from a source with infect that would be dealt to a creature is prevented, that creature doesn’t get -1/-1 counters. |
| 2011-01-01 | Infect’s effect applies to any damage, not just combat damage. |
| 2011-01-01 | The -1/-1 counters remain on the creature indefinitely. They’re not removed if the creature regenerates or the turn ends. |
