Vow of Torment MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Key Takeaways

  1. Gaining control of an opponent’s turn with Vow of Torment can lead to significant card advantage.
  2. Instant speed casting allows for strategic flexibility and surprise interventions during gameplay.
  3. Card’s demand for specific mana types and high cost should be carefully considered when deck building.

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +2/+2, has menace, and can't attack you or a planeswalker you control. (It can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.)

"Peace is a privilege you haven't earned." —Tevesh Szat


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vow of Torment allows a player to assume control over an opponent’s turn, presenting a unique way to drastically tip the scales in one’s favor. This manipulation can lead to a significant card advantage as you navigate an opponent’s deck and their plays to your benefit.

Resource Acceleration: By steering an opponent’s actions during their turn, you can potentially expedite your own strategy by forcing them to make plays that may deplete their resources faster or align with your own game plan, effectively accelerating your position in the game.

Instant Speed: The power to cast Vow of Torment at instant speed provides flexibility, keeping opponents guessing whether you will intervene during their turn. This unpredictability can disrupt their strategy while affording you critical timing to alter the course of the game when stakes are highest.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Vow of Torment necessitates the discarding of another card, which could deplete your hand when you might least afford it.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires both black and generic mana, which could be challenging for decks that aren’t tailored around a black mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost leaning on the higher side for its effects, there may be other cards in the format that can bring similar impact without such a significant investment.


Reasons to Include Vow of Torment in Your Collection

Versatility: Vow of Torment can be a dynamic addition to any black deck, adept at disrupting opponent’s hand while augmenting your own strategy with card advantage.

Combo Potential: This card acts as a catalyst in setups aimed at resource denial, pairing well with cards that capitalize on opponents discarding or the benefits of drawing additional cards yourself.

Meta-Relevance: Given how crucial hand control can be in the current competitive scene, Vow of Torment’s ability to throw off your adversary’s game plan makes it a potent choice for any deck looking to maintain a grip on the match.


How to beat

Vow of Torment is one of those enchantments in MTG that can put players on a timer by causing consistent loss of life. When facing a card like this, it’s paramount to have enchantment removal spells ready in your deck. Cards such as Disenchant or Naturalize offer a quick solution to get rid of troubling permanents like Vow of Torment, restoring balance to your game and halting the life drain. It’s also useful to consider life gain strategies, which can offset the life loss and give you more time to deal with the card. Watch out for baiting situations as well; sometimes, letting Vow of Torment stay on the battlefield for a turn longer might be strategically beneficial if you’re setting up a game-winning combo or waiting for the right moment to sweep the board. The key is to manage your resources wisely and understand when to take the hit and when to cleanse the board of such pesky enchantments.

Playing against Vow of Torment, you might want to adjust your gameplay, being more defensive and holding onto those key removal spells. Smart sideboarding is crucial, especially in formats where Vow of Torment is a common sight. Consider cards with versatile removal options to stay prepared for any threats that might come your way. Adaptability and knowing your opponent’s strategy are your best assets when it comes to facing down any challenge on the battlefield, Vow of Torment included.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG involves not only understanding the cards in your hand but also knowing how to deal with powerful enchantments like Vow of Torment. With its ability to dominate turns and expedite strategies, having this card can be pivotal. Consider adding Vow of Torment to your collection for the advantage it brings, especially in black-centered decks. If you’re on the other side, remember to have removal spells at the ready and to sideboard wisely. Want to deepen your strategic prowess and explore more ways to optimize your gameplay with such formidable cards? Dive into our resources to refine your deck and overcome any opponent.


Cards like Vow of Torment

Examining Vow of Torment, we can draw parallels to other potent black cards in Magic: The Gathering that pivot around the theme of causing opponents to lose resources or life. It bears a resemblance to Mind Rot, which similarly disrupts an opponent’s hand by forcing the discard of cards. Although Vow of Torment adds the dimension of life loss, creating a dual-threat that Mind Rot lacks.

Moving along, Hymn to Tourach is another card that slices through an opponent’s hand by randomly discarding two cards. It can be more devastating in its unpredictability compared to Vow of Torment. Still, Hymn to Tourach doesn’t affect the opponent’s life total, which is where Vow of Torment edges out.

Lastly, Vicious Rumors is another one-mana spell inflicting life loss and a single card discard, but also mills an opponent’s library and provides you with a slight life gain. It doesn’t offer the same discard volume but has a broader impact on the game’s early stages. Considering these comparisons, Vow of Torment demonstrates a compelling balance between resource denial and life depletion among MTG cards with similar themes.

Mind Rot - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Vicious Rumors - MTG Card versions
Mind Rot - Portal (POR)
Hymn to Tourach - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Vicious Rumors - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)

Cards similar to Vow of Torment by color, type and mana cost

Gloom - MTG Card versions
Season of the Witch - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Gate - MTG Card versions
Withering Wisps - MTG Card versions
Funeral March - MTG Card versions
Casting of Bones - MTG Card versions
Blanket of Night - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Hecatomb - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Recurring Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Contamination - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Maggot Therapy - MTG Card versions
Murderous Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Noxious Field - MTG Card versions
Tainted Well - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Arena - MTG Card versions
Gravestorm - MTG Card versions
Mortiphobia - MTG Card versions
Gloom - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Season of the Witch - The Dark (DRK)
Tourach's Gate - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Withering Wisps - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Funeral March - Homelands (HML)
Casting of Bones - Alliances (ALL)
Blanket of Night - Visions (VIS)
Necropotence - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Hecatomb - Masters Edition (ME1)
Megrim - Stronghold (STH)
Recurring Nightmare - Exodus (EXO)
Contamination - Urza's Saga (USG)
Oppression - Urza's Saga (USG)
Maggot Therapy - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Murderous Betrayal - Nemesis (NEM)
Noxious Field - Prophecy (PCY)
Tainted Well - Invasion (INV)
Phyrexian Arena - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)
Gravestorm - Hachette UK (PHUK)
Mortiphobia - Torment (TOR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vow of Torment MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends and Game Night: Free-for-All, 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 Vow of Torment and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vow of Torment Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-11-20 and 2022-10-14. Illustrated by Taylor Ingvarsson.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 1592015normalblackTaylor Ingvarsson
22022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 652015normalblackTaylor Ingvarsson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vow of Torment has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

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