Orcish Vandal MTG Card
2018-04-27 - Number 137
2020-08-07 - Number 137
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Orc Warrior |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Orcish Vandal leverages surplus artifacts to chip away at opponents, offering strategic board presence.
- Through resource acceleration, this card can push for faster wins in artifact-centered decks.
- Despite lacking instant speed, it synergizes with other actions, granting flexible play options.
Text of card
, Sacrifice an artifact: Orcish Vandal deals 2 damage to any target.
Every ancient relic is a weapon if you throw it hard enough.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The card specializing in artifact destruction, Orcish Vandal offers a unique advantage. It efficiently converts unused or low-value artifacts into a damage source, supplying you with a consistent form of board presence and potential card advantage as you diminish your opponent’s resources while maintaining your own.
Resource Acceleration: By wielding it correctly, this card can help manage and accelerate your resources. In decks revolving around artifacts, Orcish Vandal can act synergistically, transforming surplus artifacts into direct damage, which can expedite your game plan and angle towards a quicker victory.
Instant Speed: Flexibility during gameplay is critical, and although Orcish Vandal’s ability isn’t at instant speed itself, it pairs well with other instant speed actions. This allows for strategic destruction of artifacts either in response to an opponent’s move or at the end of their turn, keeping your options open while you chip away at the opponent’s life total.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Orcish Vandal obliges players to sacrifice an artifact, which can backfire if your board is scant on such resources or if you’re aiming to preserve them for other synergies.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a red mana, potentially limiting its integration exclusively within red or multi-color decks that include red, thereby reducing its versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of one colorless and one red mana for a 1/1 creature, Orcish Vandal’s activated ability might seem less appealing when compared to other cards that could provide more bang for your buck.
Reasons to Include Orcish Vandal in Your Collection
Versatility: Orcish Vandal offers a flexible role in various artifact decks. Its ability to sacrifice an artifact to deal damage allows it to adapt to the needs of the game, whether you’re clearing blockers or finishing off an opponent.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in synergy with cards that produce expendable artifacts. Pairing it with treasure token generators or decks that recycle artifacts can create a powerful and consistent source of damage.
Meta-Relevance: With artifact strategies frequently in play, having Orcish Vandal in your arsenal ensures that you have a tool that interacts effectively with prevalent deck types, providing you with a means to disrupt opponents or enhance your own game plan.
How to beat Orcish Vandal
Orcish Vandal offers a unique playstyle twist in MTG, enabling players to convert artifacts into direct damage against opponents. When faced with this deceptively tricky card, the key lies in preventing the Vandal from exploiting its ability to its full potential. It’s crucial to manage your resources efficiently and keep the battlefield clear of expendable artifacts that can fuel the Vandal’s destructive power.
Card removal options come in handy when dealing with the Orcish Vandal. Utilizing spot removal spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile to eliminate the Vandal before it can utilize its ability could turn the tables of the match. Similarly, enchantments that pacify creatures, ensuring they cannot attack or tap for abilities, will also neutralize this pesky Goblin.
In conclusion, staying one step ahead of the Orcish Vandal’s game plan is imperative. Swiftly dealing with it using removal or controlling battlefield resources ensures that your opponent’s strategy fizzles. Allowing the Vandal to stay active could lead to a barrage of damage that’s both relentless and difficult to fend off. Proactive plays and strategic responses are your best defense against the Orcish Vandal’s fiery antics.
Cards like Orcish Vandal
Orcish Vandal offers a unique twist on artifact interaction in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. It stands in a distinct category alongside cards like Goblin Welder, which also deals with artifacts but in a different manner. Whereas Orcish Vandal requires the sacrifice of an artifact to deal damage to any target, Goblin Welder allows players to swap artifacts from the graveyard with those on the battlefield, providing a more recursive approach to artifact manipulation.
Another card worth comparing to is Trash for Treasure. This sorcery lets you exchange a graveyard artifact for one in play, similar to the Welder’s function. Orcish Vandal, although limited to once per turn, causes direct damage as a repeatable effect without the need to dive into the graveyard. Then there’s Shrapnel Blast, which has a one-time higher damage output at the expense of sacrificing an artifact, not offering the repeatability of Orcish Vandal.
Considering the landscape of artifact-centric cards, Orcish Vandal ensures a consistent way to turn artifacts into direct damage. The card thrives in decks brimming with expendable artifacts, carving a niche for itself in strategies that other similar cards don’t quite fulfill.
Cards similar to Orcish Vandal by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Orcish Vandal MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Double Masters, 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 Orcish Vandal and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Orcish Vandal Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by Alex Konstad.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria | DOM | 137 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Alex Konstad | |
| 2 | 2020-08-07 | Double Masters | 2XM | 137 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Alex Konstad |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Orcish Vandal has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
