Valakut Invoker MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Shaman
Power 2
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers card advantage with a powerful late-game activated ability requiring no additional card cost.
  2. Invoker’s instant speed activation heightens its tactical value, demanding opponents to remain vigilant.
  3. Despite its potency, heavy mana requirements and specific mana cost can limit its versatility.

Text of card

: Valakut Invoker deals 3 damage to target creature or player.

"As long as we have walked this world, we have known it as a harsh and unforgiving place." —*The Invokers' Tales*


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Valakut Invoker is a versatile tool, providing consistent threats to the opponent as long as you have lands in play. Once you reach the eight lands required for its ability, it can repeatedly remove small creatures or chip away at your opponent’s life total without costing any additional cards from your hand. This effectively wears down opposition over time and can be a source of recurring value.

Resource Acceleration: While the card itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its synergy with land ramp decks cannot be understated. Players who focus on accelerating land drops can turn Valakut Invoker into a powerful offensive asset much earlier in the game, leveraging a modest initial investment into a potent damage source once the critical mass of lands is achieved.

Instant Speed: Valakut Invoker’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to pass the turn with open mana and make decisions based on your opponent’s plays. Whether it’s sniping a key creature in combat or finishing off an opponent, the threat of activation at any time adds a layer of complexity to the game’s dynamics, forcing your opponents to play cautiously.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Valakut Invoker offers a solid late-game ability, it lacks the immediate board impact of other cards at the same mana value which might better leverage the resources in hand without discarding.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring two red mana in its cost, Valakut Invoker can be a difficult fit in multi-colored decks that also demand a heavy commitment to other colors or when players are managing a tight mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an activation cost of eight mana to deal three damage, the Invoker’s ability can be mana-intensive compared to other removal or damage options in the game that are available for less mana and can provide more immediate impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Valakut Invoker can be a dynamic addition to various deck archetypes. It serves as an early blocker against aggressive starts and becomes a reliable late-game mana sink to deal direct damage.

Combo Potential: With enough mana, this creature’s ability can be a game-changer, synergizing with setups that proliferate lands onto the battlefield or generate large amounts of mana, turning it into a repeatable source of removal or even a win condition.

Meta-Relevance: As decks that aim to control the board and prolong the game grow in popularity, Valakut Invoker’s capacity for consistent damage output becomes increasingly vital, making it a prudent pick for decks aiming to counter these strategies.


How to beat

Valakut Invoker is one card that starts off unassumingly but can become a major threat if left unchecked in a Magic: The Gathering match. Its ability to deal 3 damage to any target once it has access to ample mana can turn the tides quickly, proving fatal to creatures and players alike. To counter this threat, prioritizing mana denial strategies or using removal spells before your opponent accumulates enough resources can be effective. Cards that restrict land play or tap down lands also hamper the Invoker’s power surge, delaying or completely stalling its devastating ability.

Thwarting the Invoker can also be achieved by engaging in direct creature removal. Quick and efficient spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can dispatch it before its late-game potential is reached. Negating the Invoker’s activated abilities with cards like Pithing Needle or Sorcerous Spyglass, which are particularly handy as they incapacitate without needing to remove the creature itself, provide another strategy to manage this latent menace on the battlefield.

Lastly, keeping pressure on your opponent and not allowing them to establish a strong mana base will ensure that the Valakut Invoker remains a low-impact card throughout your game. This approach limits its use to just a minor player on the board, securing your place in the game.


Cards like Valakut Invoker

Valakut Invoker is a versatile card in MTG, offering players tactical flexibility with its damage-dealing ability. When looking at cards with comparable functionality, Prodigal Pyromancer immediately comes to mind. It also taps to deal damage, but unlike Valakut Invoker, it doesn’t have the potential to scale its damage output with the landfall aspect.

Moving along, Goblin Fireslinger is another relative in this group of tap-to-damage creatures. Easier to deploy with its low mana cost, this card can start pressuring opponents earlier in the game. However, it lacks the raw power that Valakut Invoker possesses with its capacity for significant damage in the late game.

Comparing these alternatives reaffirms Valakut Invoker’s place in MTG as a viable card with an upside in longer matches, particularly in land-rich decks. While it may not have the early game presence of Goblin Fireslinger or the consistent impact of Prodigal Pyromancer, its potentially high damage payout can be a game-changer in the right circumstances.

Prodigal Pyromancer - MTG Card versions
Goblin Fireslinger - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Pyromancer - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Goblin Fireslinger - Magic 2012 (M12)

Cards similar to Valakut Invoker 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 Valakut Invoker MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar and Mystery Booster, 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 Valakut Invoker and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Valakut Invoker Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2015-10-02 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Joseph Meehan.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-10-02Battle for ZendikarBFZ 1592015normalblackJoseph Meehan
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 10902015normalblackJoseph Meehan
32020-09-26The ListPLST BFZ-1592015normalblackJoseph Meehan
42020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 2062015normalblackJoseph Meehan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Valakut Invoker has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

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