Ohran Viper MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeSnow Creature — Snake
Power 1
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Drawing a card from combat damage with Ohran Viper consistently boosts your hand, tipping the scales.
  2. Its deathtouch deters attacks, allowing you to keep mana open for instant speed responses.
  3. Though viable mainly in green decks, its adaptability in various strategies adds to its allure.

Text of card

Whenever Ohran Viper deals combat damage to a creature, destroy that creature at the end of combat. Whenever Ohran Viper deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card.

The ohran viper is not cold-blooded. Its veins course with the same antigelid venom used to kill its prey.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ohran Viper shines when it comes to drawing cards. With its ability to draw a card every time it deals combat damage to a player, it reliably builds up your hand, providing a steady stream of options as the game progresses. This can be a game-changer, often tipping the scales in your favor as you outdraw your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: While the Ohran Viper itself doesn’t directly produce additional mana or tokens, its presence can lead to resource acceleration in a different sense. Successful combat damage not only draws cards but can also disrupt your opponent’s board, slowing them down and effectively accelerating your position in the game.

Instant Speed: Although Ohran Viper is a creature and not cast at instant speed, its deathtouch ability makes it a formidable defender that opponents must consider when attacking. This passive control allows you to keep mana available for spells that are instant speed, playing those at the most opportune moments without having to commit to a board presence too early.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Ohran Viper doesn’t have a discard mechanic itself, in decks where card retention is crucial, Ohran Viper may not fit well if there’s a need to discard for other spells or effects.

Specific Mana Cost: Ohran Viper’s casting cost requires one colorless and two green mana, which makes it most suitable for mono-green or green-heavy decks, potentially limiting its versatility in multicolored deck formats.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, some players may find Ohran Viper a bit costly considering other creatures at a similar mana cost may offer additional abilities or higher power and toughness.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ohran Viper is a multifaceted card that enhances various deck builds. Its ability to draw a card when it deals damage to a player fits well in decks focused on card advantage. Additionally, this card can discourage opponents from blocking, as its deathtouch ability ensures it can take down any blocker, regardless of size.

Combo Potential: Paired with cards that grant it unblockable or extra combat phases, Ohran Viper’s potential multiplies. It can become a recurring source of card draw or a reliable creature eliminator, further bolstering strategies that capitalize on death triggers or card recursion.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capability to impact the board immediately, Ohran Viper holds its ground in a variety of meta environments. In creature-heavy metas, its deathtouch is a significant deterrent, while in slower, more control-oriented games, the extra card draw can provide the advantage needed to outpace an opponent.


How to Beat

Ohran Viper presents a unique challenge in Magic The Gathering with its combination of card drawing and deathtouch abilities. The key to overcoming this creature lies in its strength; it draws a card for its controller when it deals damage to a player. Consequently, eliminating it without combat is the best strategy. Removal spells that don’t involve dealing damage, such as “Path to Exile” or “Fatal Push,” sidestep its card-drawing threat by dispatching it cleanly.

Alternatively, blockers with indestructible or protection from green attributes can neutralize the card advantage Ohran Viper offers, as they remain unaffected by deathtouch. Edict effects that force a player to sacrifice a creature can also handle the Viper efficiently by leaving the choice of which creature to sacrifice to its controller. Preventing it from engaging in combat nullifies the risk of your opponent drawing extra cards and maintains the equilibrium of the game.

In essence, dealing with Ohran Viper requires tactical consideration. By employing non-damage-based removal or leveraging creatures that are impervious to its deathtouch, you can mitigate its advantage and keep the battlefield in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Ohran Viper stands as a unique addition to any Magic The Gathering deck, striking a balanced mile between threat and advantage. With its card drawing mechanic triggered by combat damage, it offers a stream of benefits that can consistently bolster your hand and your strategic depth. While it may require specific deck builds to truly shine, its inherent capabilities can deter opponents and lead to resource acceleration in ways not immediately apparent. For those seeking to refine their green-based decks or explore new synergistic combinations, Ohran Viper is a card worth considering. Discover more about optimizing your deck with cards like Ohran Viper and ensuring each match brings you one step closer to victory.


Cards like Ohran Viper

The Ohran Viper serves as an intriguing creature in Magic: The Gathering, sharing the limelight with a few other notable creatures. Taking a comparison, it has a kindred spirit in the Ice-Fang Coatl, with both creatures possessing the coveted deathtouch ability. Ohran Viper stands out with its additional ability to draw cards whenever it deals damage to a creature. Nevertheless, Ice-Fang Coatl boasts flash and can gain deathtouch when you control at least three other snow permanents, offering flexibility in play.

Shifting focus to the realm of snakes, the Mystic Snake carves its own niche. While not a card draw engine like Ohran Viper, it brings a counter spell attached to a creature — an edge in disrupting opponent strategies.

Overall, Ohran Viper shines in providing utility through both its offensive trait of deathtouch and its card-drawing ability upon dealing damage. It demands an answer from the opponent or else it offers continuous value, making it a subtle yet powerful choice for decks that thrive on card advantage and board control.

Ice-Fang Coatl - MTG Card versions
Mystic Snake - MTG Card versions
Ice-Fang Coatl - Modern Horizons (MH1)
Mystic Snake - Apocalypse (APC)

Cards similar to Ohran Viper by color, type and mana cost

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Cat Warriors - Legends (LEG)
Lurker - The Dark (DRK)
Rysorian Badger - Homelands (HML)
Sabertooth Cobra - Mirage (MIR)
Quirion Druid - Visions (VIS)
Uktabi Orangutan - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Spike Feeder - Stronghold (STH)
Hungry Hungry Heifer - Unglued (UGL)
Titania's Chosen - Urza's Saga (USG)
Taoist Mystic - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Femeref Archers - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Verduran Enchantress - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Fyndhorn Elder - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Lydari Druid - Sega Dreamcast Cards (PSDG)
Steel Leaf Champion - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Realmwalker - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Topiary Stomper - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Territorial Scythecat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Wirewood Savage - Onslaught (ONS)
Shizuko, Caller of Autumn - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ohran Viper MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap and Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska, 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 Ohran Viper and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ohran Viper Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2006-07-21 and 2015-11-13. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-07-21ColdsnapCSP 1152003normalblackKev Walker
22014-03-14Duel Decks: Jace vs. VraskaDDM 572003normalblackKev Walker
32015-11-13Commander 2015C15 1942015normalblackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ohran Viper has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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