Vulshok War Boar MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Boar Beast
Released	2004-02-06
Set symbol
Set name	Darksteel
Set code	DST
Power	5
Toughness	5
Number	72
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Pete Venters

Key Takeaways

The War Boar offers card advantage by swapping less valuable cards for opponents’ potential threats.
It accelerates the battlefield presence, forcing opponents into unfavorable trades.
Its synergy with instant speed spells can provide surprising combat advantages.

Text of card

When Vulshok War Boar comes into play, sacrifice it unless you sacrifice an artifact.

It must eat its weight in metal daily, or its furnacelike belly will consume itself for lack of fuel.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vulshok War Boar is an asset in terms of card advantage. By enabling the exchange of less valuable cards for potential threats from the opponent’s hand, it disrupts their strategy while bolstering your own.

Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly providing mana, this creature can change the battlefield dynamics, often forcing your opponent to make disadvantageous trades, effectively setting them back and accelerating your board presence.

Instant Speed: While the Vulshok War Boar itself isn’t an instant, its synergy with instant speed removal or combat tricks can be a game-changer. Swift action can eliminate potential blockers or clear the way for a successful attack, augmenting the War Boar’s impact when it charges onto the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Vulshok War Boar card necessitates discarding another card as an additional cost for its Bloodthirst ability. This can be a strategic setback when your hand is running low on options.

Specific Mana Cost: Summoning this boar requires precise mana resources, which includes two red mana. This composition might not be achievable in all deck types, thereby restricting its playability to mainly red-themed decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four-mana investment to cast the Vulshok War Boar, players might find it resource-intensive compared to other creatures in the same mana range. Especially when considering the additional Bloodthirst conditions and potential benefits, it may be too pricey for what it brings to the battlefield.

Reasons to Include Vulshok War Boar in Your Collection

Versatility: This feisty creature can adapt to various playstyles, seamlessly fitting into aggressive red decks while also being a robust defender when you’re on the back foot. Its ability to tackle multiple roles makes it a worthy inclusion in any red enthusiast’s arsenal.

Combo Potential: The Vulshok War Boar pairs nicely with cards that benefit from sacrifice mechanics or have effects that trigger upon creatures entering the battlefield or dying. This synergy opens up a realm of powerful interactions and strategic depth.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board presence and creature-based strategies are prevalent, the Vulshok War Boar can serve as both a formidable threat and a strategic blockade. Its viability in the current competitive landscape should not be underestimated.

How to beat

The Vulshok War Boar presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, boasting an impressive set of abilities that can catch players off guard. Dealing with this formidable creature requires a strategy that neutralizes its asset. One efficient tactic is to use removal spells. Since the Vulshok War Boar has a penchant for aggression, spells such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile can effectively exile it before its damage becomes a threat. Alternatively, employing creatures with superior toughness serves as a bulwark, ensuring the War Boar’s attacks are suppressed.

Control decks have an advantage here, as their suite of counter spells and bounce spells like Counterspell or Unsummon can prevent the War Boar from ever landing on the field or return it to its owner’s hand before triggering any detrimental effects. This buys valuable time to establish a game plan. Creature-based strategies aren’t out of options either; engaging in combat with creatures that have ‘first strike’ or ‘deathtouch’ can dispatch the War Boar before it has the opportunity to deal its damage. Utilizing these methods can keep the boar at bay and maintain dominance on the MTG battlefield.

Cards like Vulshok War Boar

The Vulshok War Boar finds its place in the aggressive red strategies of Magic The Gathering, offering an impactful presence on the battlefield. In function, it bears a resemblance to cards like Ghor-Clan Rampager, which not only provides a sizable body but also has the upside of a Bloodrush ability, offering flexibility in either buffing another creature or being deployed as a formidable threat itself.

Analogous to the War Boar, the likes of Kird Ape and Loam Lion share the trait of benefiting from specific lands in play to gain an advantage. While the Ape and the Lion cater to a zoo archetype and scale with land types, the War Boar necessitates the sacrifice of a land to ensure its arrival. This cost serves to potentially accelerate your offense at the expense of some resource development.

When discussing performance and strategic integration, Vulshok War Boar carves out its unique function. The immediate board impact and sacrifice synergy it brings to a game can be pivotal in specific deck builds that capitalize on such interactions, thereby securing its role in the ferocious red creature slot within Magic The Gathering.

Cards similar to Vulshok War Boar by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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