Vivien's Invocation MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. It sifts through the deck for key creatures, putting them directly onto the battlefield for surprise impact.
  2. Accelerates resources by allowing high-cost creatures to be deployed without their mana costs.
  3. Despite not being instant speed, it disrupts opponents by altering the board state significantly.

Text of card

Look at the top seven cards of your library. You may put a creature card from among them onto the battlefield. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. When a creature is put onto the battlefield this way, it deals damage equal to its power to target creature an opponent controls.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vivien’s Invocation allows you to look at the top seven cards of your library and select a creature card among them. By putting it directly onto the battlefield, this not only sifts through a significant portion of your deck to find key creatures but also bypasses the need to draw and play those cards, thus providing a substantial card advantage and saving turns.

Resource Acceleration: The ability to put a creature directly onto the battlefield with this spell represents a form of resource acceleration. You are effectively skipping the mana costs that you would normally have to pay for casting a high-cost creature, which can be a powerful advantage, especially in the mid to late game when those mana resources can be utilized for other game-winning strategies.

Instant Speed: Although Vivien’s Invocation is a sorcery and not cast at instant speed, it baffles opponents by bringing out powerful creatures unexpectedly. While the card itself isn’t an instant, the sudden appearance of a typically high-cost creature can simulate the disruptive effect of an instant, as it can significantly alter the board state out of turn sequence.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Vivien’s Invocation does not directly require a discard, it does necessitate a substantial commitment of resources. This could lead to fewer cards in hand if your topdeck doesn’t align well with your game strategy, limiting your options for future turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Vivien’s Invocation demands a precise combination of mana, with a cost of 7 mana including one that must be green. This requirement can be restrictive, potentially tying up resources that could be allocated elsewhere, especially in multicolored decks where mana flexibility is key.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of seven mana, Vivien’s Invocation is a significant investment. There are instances when you could deploy multiple lower-cost creatures or spells for a similar or even greater impact on the game state. This can make Vivien’s Invocation a less attractive option in fast-paced or aggressive match-ups where mana efficiency is crucial for maintaining tempo.


Reasons to Include Vivien’s Invocation in Your Collection

Versatility: Vivien’s Invocation offers flexibility by allowing you to look at the top seven cards of your library and put a creature card from among them directly onto the battlefield. This can be a game-changer for decks looking to cheat out high-cost creatures early.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks built around creature synergies or enter-the-battlefield effects. With the right creature pool, it can set off a chain of powerful interactions and potentially swing the board in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where big creatures and value plays are key, Vivien’s Invocation stands out. It lets you bypass counter spells and puts immediate pressure on your opponents, making it a valuable addition in the right deck archetypes.


How to beat

Vivien’s Invocation introduces a fascinating element to the creature-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability allows players to look at the top seven cards of their library and then put a creature card from among them onto the battlefield. This action also comes with the bonus of dealing damage equal to the creature’s power to an opponent’s creature. Despite its potential for a powerful board swing, there are several methods to mitigate its impact.To effectively counter Vivien’s Invocation, instant speed removal spells are a player’s best friend. These can be cast in response to the creature entering the battlefield, thus negating any potential damage from the creature’s power. Board wipes can also be an effective strategy, cleaning up not only the invoked creature but any other threats that may have been developed.Another tactic involves countering the spell itself. Since Vivien’s Invocation is a sorcery, it is vulnerable to the whole suite of counter spells that MTG offers. Holding up mana for a counter spell when you suspect your opponent has this card can be game-changing.Lastly, hand disruption can also be valuable. Cards that force your opponent to discard from their hand can remove Vivien’s Invocation before it’s even played, thus preventing the combo from being attempted in the first place.


Cards like Vivien's Invocation

Vivien’s Invocation presents itself as a potent spell in MTG, offering both creature searching and direct impact on the battlefield. It draws comparison to See the Unwritten, as both delve into the library to put a creature onto the battlefield. However, Vivien’s Invocation adds the benefit of dealing damage equivalent to the summoned creature’s power to a target creature an opponent controls, something See the Unwritten lacks.

Genesis Ultimatum is another spell casting its shadow in this space. Although it looks into the top five cards instead of seven, it allows the player to put any number of permanent cards from the revealed ones onto the battlefield, providing a wider array of possibilities than just creatures. On the other hand, the focus of Vivien’s Invocation on creatures makes it a strong choice in decks centered around large, impactful creatures.

Evaluating different spells with similar effects in Magic, Vivien’s Invocation stands out for its creature-centric strategy. Its capability to select an impactful creature and simultaneously remove an opponent’s threat gives it a distinct advantage within MTG’s vast library of creature summoning spells.

See the Unwritten - MTG Card versions
Genesis Ultimatum - MTG Card versions
See the Unwritten - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Genesis Ultimatum - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Promos (PIKO)

Cards similar to Vivien's Invocation by color, type and mana cost

Roar of the Wurm - MTG Card versions
Beanstalk Giant // Fertile Footsteps - MTG Card versions
Herd Migration - MTG Card versions
Turntimber Symbiosis // Turntimber, Serpentine Wood - MTG Card versions
Tooth and Nail - MTG Card versions
Overwhelm - MTG Card versions
Howl of the Night Pack - MTG Card versions
Boundless Realms - MTG Card versions
Wave of Vitriol - MTG Card versions
Nissa's Revelation - MTG Card versions
Seeds of Renewal - MTG Card versions
Mouth // Feed - MTG Card versions
Planewide Celebration - MTG Card versions
Tlincalli Hunter // Retrieve Prey - MTG Card versions
Virtue of Strength // Garenbrig Growth - MTG Card versions
Roar of the Wurm - The List (PLST)
Beanstalk Giant // Fertile Footsteps - Commander Masters (CMM)
Herd Migration - Dominaria United (DMU)
Turntimber Symbiosis // Turntimber, Serpentine Wood - Zendikar Rising Promos (PZNR)
Tooth and Nail - Commander Masters (CMM)
Overwhelm - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Howl of the Night Pack - Magic 2014 (M14)
Boundless Realms - The List (PLST)
Wave of Vitriol - Commander Anthology (CMA)
Nissa's Revelation - Game Night (GNT)
Seeds of Renewal - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
Mouth // Feed - Amonkhet Remastered (AKR)
Planewide Celebration - War of the Spark Promos (PWAR)
Tlincalli Hunter // Retrieve Prey - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)
Virtue of Strength // Garenbrig Growth - Wilds of Eldraine Promos (PWOE)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vivien's Invocation MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 and Core Set 2019 Promos, 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 Vivien's Invocation and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Vivien's Invocation Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2018-07-13. Illustrated by Johannes Voss.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 2092015normalblackJohannes Voss
22018-07-13Core Set 2019 PromosPM19 209s2015normalblackJohannes Voss

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vivien's Invocation has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2018-07-13 If the creature you put onto the battlefield leaves the battlefield before damage is dealt, its last known existence on the battlefield is used to determine how much damage it deals to the target creature.
2018-07-13 You don’t choose any targets as you cast Vivien’s Invocation. While that spell is resolving, you may put a creature card from among the cards you look at onto the battlefield. If you do, a separate ability triggers and you pick a target creature an opponent controls to be dealt damage.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks