Vulshok Morningstar MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip

Key Takeaways

  1. Grants creatures a significant +2/+2 boost, making them tougher and more intimidating in battle.
  2. Requires strategic deck construction to maximize its potential, aligning with specific mana needs.
  3. Offers flexibility with instant speed equipping, but competes with other cost-effective artifacts.

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +2/+2. Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery. This card comes into play unattached and stays in play if the creature leaves play.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When outfitted with Vulshok Morningstar, the creature not only becomes a more formidable threat but also can lead to virtual card advantage by outclassing opposing creatures. This can force your opponent to use more resources to deal with your enhanced creature, effectively earning you an advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly generating mana, equipping a creature with Vulshok Morningstar can turn it into a more efficient resource. The +2/+2 boost increases a creature’s power, allowing you to apply pressure and potentially shorten the game’s length. This indirect resource acceleration means achieving your win condition faster.

Instant Speed: While Vulshok Morningstar itself does not operate at instant speed, it can be equipped at the end of your opponent’s turn if you have creatures with flash or during your turn before the combat phase to surprise opponents with an unexpected power boost. This flexibility can be a tactical advantage during gameplay.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the realm of artifact equipment, Vulshok Morningstar demands a strategic deck build. Its utility is predicated on having the required cards in hand to leverage its abilities, and those with limited card availability may find this requirement constraining, especially in fast-paced games where every resource counts.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that calls for one generic and one red mana, the Vulshok Morningstar immediately singles itself out for red-centric or compatible decks. Players nurturing a multicolored strategy or those avoiding red may find it a clunky fit, restricting its overall applicability across the diverse spectrum of MTG decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For two mana and an additional two to equip, some players might argue that the resources could be better invested. Given the environment of the game, there are alternatives that could be considered more cost-effective, possibly offering additional bonuses or lower equip costs. The Morningstar, while formidable, competes in a crowded space of artifacts where every mana point can make a significant difference in your game’s outcome.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Vulshok Morningstar is a card that seamlessly fits into a variety of decks. It offers a solid boost in power and toughness, making it a versatile equipment for creature-based strategies.

Combo Potential: This card also has the ability to combine well with abilities that are triggered by creatures becoming stronger or artifacts coming into play, further incorporating synergy within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: Due to its adaptability, it proves to be relevant in a multitude of MTG metagames. Whether you are buffing up a small creature to make it a significant threat or equipping it to a larger creature to dominate the battlefield, Vulshok Morningstar provides strategic flexibility.


How to beat

Vulshok Morningstar is a unique equipment card that can be a game-changer in the hands of skilled players. The card gives a creature +2/+2, making any creature a more formidable opponent. However, there are several strategies to overcome a creature equipped with Vulshok Morningstar. Firstly, you can use removal spells to directly deal with the equipped creature, circumventing the boost provided by the Morningstar. Cards like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile can efficiently remove a buffed creature.

Alternatively, you can use enchantment destruction cards like Naturalize or Disenchant to remove the Vulshok Morningstar from play. This method deals with the equipment directly and prevents your opponent from simply equipping another creature. Lastly, countering the Morningstar when it’s cast is another route, utilizing counterspells such as Counterspell or Mana Leak.

By understanding the capabilities of Vulshok Morningstar and keeping these counter-card options in mind, you can craft a game plan that minimizes its impact and keeps you in control of the battlefield.


Cards like Vulshok Morningstar

The Vulshok Morningstar is a compelling equipment card that boosts creature prowess in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often compared to other equipment cards like Bonesplitter, which offers a simpler bonus, giving a creature +2/+0 for less mana to equip. However, the Morningstar not only endows a creature with a solid +2/+2 but also doesn’t skimp on toughness, giving it an edge in survivability.

Considering the Loxodon Warhammer, both cards seem to serve a similar function, but the Warhammer swings the comparison with its powerful trample and lifelink abilities. While costing more to play and equip, it has the potential to turn the tides of a game dramatically. There’s also the Darksteel Axe, indestructible and with a lesser boost of +2/+0. Its strength lies in its permanence on the battlefield, resistant to most forms of removal.

When we examine the variety of equipment pieces available to players, the Vulshok Morningstar positions itself as a reliable choice. It balances cost, power, and toughness advantages, making it a versatile option for a wide range of creature-based decks in Magic: The Gathering.

Bonesplitter - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Axe - MTG Card versions
Bonesplitter - Arena League 2003 (PAL03)
Loxodon Warhammer - Mirrodin (MRD)
Darksteel Axe - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Cards similar to Vulshok Morningstar by color, type and mana cost

Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
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Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
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Chaos Orb - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Winter Orb - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Amulet of Kroog - Rinascimento (RIN)
Nacre Talisman - Ice Age (ICE)
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Essence Bottle - Tempest (TMP)
Emerald Medallion - Commander Anthology (CMA)
Scrying Glass - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Cursed Totem - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Tsabo's Web - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Millikin - Odyssey (ODY)
Ark of Blight - Scourge (SCG)
Surestrike Trident - Darksteel (DST)
Energy Chamber - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Water Gun Balloon Game - Unhinged (UNH)
Angel's Feather - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Steel Overseer - Magic 2011 (M11)
Wurm's Tooth - Magic 2011 (M11)
Liquimetal Coating - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Perilous Myr - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vulshok Morningstar MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel and Ninth Edition, 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 Vulshok Morningstar and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vulshok Morningstar Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2004-02-06 and 2012-03-30. Illustrated by David Martin.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12004-02-06DarksteelDST 1572003normalblackDavid Martin
22005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 315★2003normalblackDavid Martin
32005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 3152003normalwhiteDavid Martin
42012-03-30Duel Decks: Venser vs. KothDDI 662003normalblackDavid Martin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vulshok Morningstar has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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