Ancestral Vengeance MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card advantage by affecting two creatures, potentially altering the match’s momentum.
  2. It may indirectly accelerate your board state, letting you dictate combat dynamics.
  3. The card’s dual utility resonates in creature-heavy metas, enforcing board control.

Text of card

Enchant creature When Ancestral Vengeance enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. Enchanted creature gets -1/-1.

The defenses of the Abzan extend well beyond the walls of their fortresses.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ancestral Vengeance can shift the tide by nullifying an opponent’s creature while strengthening your own, effectively dealing with two threats at once, which could offer a significant advantage in certain matchups.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing mana or acceleration, the card’s ability to potentially remove an opponent’s creature can indirectly accelerate your board presence by allowing your creatures to press the attack or defend without facing certain threats.

Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Ancestral Vengeance isn’t cast at instant speed, but its strategic placement on your curve can set up future instant-speed plays by preemptively dealing with threats and modifying the board state to your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ancestral Vengeance requires players to have a target creature to place the two -1/-1 counters on, which could be disadvantegous in a board state with no creatures or if you only control creatures you don’t want to weaken.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell demands black mana, which could restrict its deployment in decks that aren’t heavily based on black or lack sufficient mana fixing to accommodate black spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of two black mana, Ancestral Vengeance may be less appealing when compared to other options. Alternatives like lower-cost removal spells or those with more flexible casting costs could be considered more efficient choices depending on the deck’s strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ancestral Vengeance is a flexible tool, fitting well into black decks that thrive on removing threats and disrupting opponent strategies. This card can significantly impact games by weakening one creature while strengthening another, bolstering your defensive lines or offensive capabilities.

Combo Potential: This card has inherent synergy with effects that care about target creature’s power or toughness. It can be used in conjunction with sacrifice mechanics or cards that take advantage of -1/-1 counters, offering an extra layer of depth to your strategic plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to alter creature stats, Ancestral Vengeance proves relevant in meta environments that are creature-dense or where maintaining board control is crucial. Its usage can tilt the balance of creature combat in your favor, positioning you advantageously against the current trends in play.


How to beat

Ancestral Vengeance is an intriguing card in the realm of buffs and debuffs within Magic: The Gathering. Its allure lies in its power to not only place two -1/-1 counters on a target creature, potentially diminishing an opposing threat, but it also bolsters your own side by strengthening a creature you control. This dual functionality can sway the course of a match, tipping the balance in your favor.

To successfully navigate the challenges posed by Ancestral Vengeance, consider the timing and selection of your targets. Using instant-speed removal spells can counteract the initial impact of this card by eliminating the buffed creature before the -1/-1 counters come into effect. In addition, cards that can neutralize -1/-1 counters or grant indestructibility to your threatened creatures can nullify the threat. Strategic play that prioritizes board control and proactive responses can greatly reduce Ancestral Vengeance’s potency in a game.

In essence, overcoming Ancestral Vengeance requires a blend of anticipation and resourcefulness. Managing board state effectively and deploying timely removal or protection can ensure that this card’s impact is minimized, preserving your lead and maintaining the upper hand in the match.


Cards like Ancestral Vengeance

Ancestral Vengeance is an intriguing black enchantment aura in Magic: The Gathering, offering a blend of utility by bestowing a negative buff on opponent’s creatures and simultaneously strengthening your own. When comparing it to other removal or debuff options such as Dead Weight, Ancestral Vengeance presents the added advantage of giving one of your creatures a +1/+1 counter. While Dead Weight only decreases a creature’s power and toughness, it lacks the power-boosting component which can be vital in tipping the scales of a match.

Analogous to Ancestral Vengeance, Disfigure serves a similar purpose by giving a quick -2/-2 to target creature. However, Disfigure does not offer a permanent boost to your own creatures, positioning Ancestral Vengeance as a more strategic option in decks that capitalize on counter mechanics. The duality of weakening an opponent’s creature while empowering your own is what makes Ancestral Vengeance a unique choice for players looking to execute a two-pronged approach during gameplay.

Therefore, within the realm of MTG cards that affect creatures on the board, Ancestral Vengeance stands out. It not only serves as a tool for control but also as a way to strengthen your long-term board presence, an important aspect to consider in deck building and during combat.

Dead Weight - MTG Card versions
Disfigure - MTG Card versions
Dead Weight - Innistrad (ISD)
Disfigure - Zendikar (ZEN)

Cards similar to Ancestral Vengeance by color, type and mana cost

Bad Moon - MTG Card versions
Fear - MTG Card versions
Warp Artifact - MTG Card versions
Deathgrip - MTG Card versions
Blight - MTG Card versions
Animate Dead - MTG Card versions
Seizures - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Sigil - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl's Hex - MTG Card versions
Dance of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Enfeeblement - MTG Card versions
Oath of Ghouls - MTG Card versions
Despondency - MTG Card versions
Chains of Mephistopheles - MTG Card versions
Tribute to Horobi // Echo of Death's Wail - MTG Card versions
Brain Maggot - MTG Card versions
Aphemia, the Cacophony - MTG Card versions
Oversold Cemetery - MTG Card versions
Lingering Death - MTG Card versions
Cover of Darkness - MTG Card versions
Bad Moon - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Fear - Tenth Edition (10E)
Warp Artifact - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Deathgrip - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Blight - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Animate Dead - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Seizures - Ice Age (ICE)
Leshrac's Sigil - Ice Age (ICE)
Lim-Dûl's Hex - Ice Age (ICE)
Dance of the Dead - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Enfeeblement - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Oath of Ghouls - Exodus (EXO)
Despondency - Urza's Saga (USG)
Chains of Mephistopheles - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Tribute to Horobi // Echo of Death's Wail - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Brain Maggot - Historic Anthology 2 (HA2)
Aphemia, the Cacophony - Theros Beyond Death Promos (PTHB)
Oversold Cemetery - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Lingering Death - Scourge (SCG)
Cover of Darkness - Assassin's Creed (ACR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ancestral Vengeance MTG card by a specific set like Fate Reforged 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 Ancestral Vengeance and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ancestral Vengeance Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-01-23 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Yohann Schepacz.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-01-23Fate ReforgedFRF 612015normalblackYohann Schepacz
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 5652015normalblackYohann Schepacz
32020-09-26The ListPLST FRF-612015normalblackYohann Schepacz

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ancestral Vengeance has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2014-11-24 If Ancestral Vengeance causes the enchanted creature to have toughness 0, that creature and Ancestral Vengeance will be put into their owners’ graveyards. The enters-the-battlefield ability will still apply.
2014-11-24 If the creature targeted by Ancestral Vengeance’s enchant creature ability is an illegal target as Ancestral Vengeance tries to resolve, Ancestral Vengeance won’t resolve. It won’t enter the battlefield, and its enters-the-battlefield ability won’t trigger.

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