Vigil for the Lost MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment
Released	2010-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Scars of Mirrodin
Set code	SOM
Number	26
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Igor Kieryluk

Key Takeaways

Enables card advantage through creature deaths, potentially transforming losses into drawing power.
Instant speed usage of Vigil for the Lost provides significant tactical flexibility during matches.
Specific mana costs and higher casting requirements may limit its versatility in deck-building.

Text of card

Whenever a creature you control is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, you may pay . If you do, you gain X life.

"As she grew cold in my arms, I swore an oath that her funeral pyre would be dwarfed by a bonfire of our enemies."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vigil for the Lost provides a sustainable way to draw additional cards. By leveraging the death of your own creatures, you turn potential setbacks into opportunities for card draw, keeping your hand full and options open.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, this card indirectly contributes to resource acceleration by maintaining a flow of cards. Consistently having more cards can lead to drawing into other mana acceleration tools or key spells more quickly than your opponent.

Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of Vigil for the Lost allows for strategic flexibility in gameplay. It enables you to respond to the changing game state, particularly during the opponent’s turn, making it harder for them to predict your moves and plan their counter strategies.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Vigil for the Lost requires you to discard another card as part of the cost to play it. This can put players at a disadvantage, particularly when resources in hand are already sparse, potentially undermining your game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Vigil for the Lost involves a precise combination of mana. This specificity can restrict the card’s integration into decks that may not run on a mana base conducive to its casting requirements, thus limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost on the higher end, Vigil for the Lost competes with other cards that might provide similar or more impactful effects at a lower cost. Players must weigh the benefits against other efficient cards that vie for a spot in the same mana range.

Reasons to Include Vigil for the Lost in Your Collection

Versatility: Vigil for the Lost can flexibly be integrated into numerous deck builds, particularly those that thrive on life gain and repeated triggering of abilities. Its scalability makes it an asset in both aggressive and control decks, adapting to your strategy needs.

Combo Potential: This card offers significant synergies with decks that capitalize on life gain for combo executions. It can serve as a key piece in loops that revolve around gaining life, thereby unlocking powerful interactions and advantages on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: With life gain strategies periodically influencing the competitive scene, this card could become a linchpin in specific metagames. Keeping Vigil for the Lost at hand ensures you’re prepared to harness its potential whenever the environment shifts to favor its mechanics.

How to Beat Vigil for the Lost

Vigil for the Lost is a white enchantment card with a unique ability: it allows you to gain life whenever a creature you control dies. This feature can be quite bothersome for opponents who rely on whittling down your health as a strategy. However, overcoming this card lies in adjusting your approach to the game. Consider using exile or bounce effects to deal with opponents’ creatures without triggering the life gain. Cards like Path to Exile or Unsummon can be particularly handy here.

Directly handling the enchantment itself can be achieved through targeted removal cards. Options like Disenchant and Naturalize can efficiently remove Vigil for the Lost from the battlefield. Players should also consider the pacing of their creature removal. By planning your spells strategically and removing creatures on your turn, you can prevent the life gain from affecting combat decisions.

Furthermore, going for an alternative win condition that doesn’t focus on the opponent’s life total is a sound tactic. Milling your opponent’s library or employing a card like Thassa’s Oracle can circumvent the life-gaining effects entirely. In essence, by sidestepping Vigil for the Lost’s strengths, you’ll be able to navigate past this card’s potential to tilt the game in your opponent’s favor.

Cards like Vigil for the Lost

Vigil for the Lost is an intriguing enchantment in MTG that opens doors for life gain in a strategic way. It shares space with cards like Angelic Accord, which also utilizes life gain triggers, only Angelic Accord creates angel tokens instead of directly affecting life totals. Vigil for the Lost offers more control, as the player can decide the amount of mana investment for life gain, tailoring it to different game situations.

Another card showing similarities is Patron of the Kitsune, which rewards the player with life gain whenever a creature attacks. Both cards have a focus on developing a more defensive posture within the game. Yet, Patron of the Kitsune requires no mana investment which sets it apart from Vigil for the Lost’s flexible but mana-dependent ability.

Comparatively, Beacon of Immortality doubles a player’s life total, delivering an immediate and potentially game-changing life boost. However, Vigil for the Lost offers a sustained benefit, providing life gain throughout the game. While Beacon can be a surprise play, the long-term advantage can be found in the incremental life gain opportunities from Vigil for the Lost.

Vigil for the Lost has a place in decks that prioritize longevity and incremental advantage, diversifying the MTG life gain strategies alongside its counterparts.

Patron of the Kitsune - MTG Card versions

Beacon of Immortality - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Vigil for the Lost by color, type and mana cost

Divine Transformation - MTG Card versions

Diversionary Tactics - MTG Card versions

Teleportation Circle - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vigil for the Lost 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 Vigil for the Lost and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vigil for the Lost has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Vigil for the Lost 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	As the ability resolves, you choose a value for X and decide whether to pay . If you do decide to pay , it’s too late for any player to respond since the ability is already in the midst of resolving.