Vigor MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Elemental Incarnation
Abilities Trample
Power 6
Toughness 6

Key Takeaways

  1. Vigor enhances creature survivability by converting damage into a growth mechanism, strengthening battlefield presence.
  2. Its requirement for green mana and discard upon entry presents restrictions on deck compatibility and resource management.
  3. Vigor provides a strategic edge in combat-focused games, retaining value in varied MTG playing environments and metas.

Text of card

Trample If damage would be dealt to a creature you control other than Vigor, prevent that damage. Put a +1/+1 counter on that creature for each 1 damage prevented this way. When Vigor is put into a graveyard from anywhere, shuffle it into its owner's library.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vigor elevates the game by guaranteeing your creatures survival against damage, thereby maintaining your creature advantage on the battlefield. Any damage that would be dealt to a creature you control, other than Vigor, is prevented, and that creature gets that many +1/+1 counters instead.

Resource Acceleration: With Vigor in your deck, you can enhance your resources dramatically. As it shields your creatures from damage, each attack provides a growth opportunity, boosting your creatures’ strength. This potential for rapid creature enhancement accelerates your resource progression, adding an extra layer of strategic advantage.

Instant Speed: Although Vigor does not include the ‘Instant’ feature, its ‘Trample’ attribute, coupled with its defensive capabilities, can provide a similar surprise factor to instant speed cards. Since the counters are added immediately when a damage dealing event occurs, your opponents might find their calculations abruptly disrupted during battles, thus giving you a swift advantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to Vigor is its discard requirement. This restrains the card’s effectivity especially at times when you’re low on resources. Thus, a clever balance of card management is necessary for this creature to be beneficial.

Specific Mana Cost: Vigor’s mana cost, underlined by its reliance on green, can be restrictive. Its inclusion leans heavily towards green-heavy or mono-green decks, limiting its deployment to specific types of setups. It might be challenging if the deck diversifies its mana color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost amounting to six, Vigor’s essence doesn’t come cheap. There are other MTG creatures with similar or stronger effects with less mana cost. The higher mana cost adds a level of complexity when incorporating it to your deck.


Reasons to Include Vigor in Your Collection

Versatility: Vigor makes an ideal inclusion for a variety of decks. Known for its damage prevention and trait bolstering abilities, it is especially beneficial for green-creature focused themes that can maximize its impressive stat-boosting potential.

Combo Potential: A card with high combo usage, Vigor works well with strategies revolving around direct damage to your own creatures. It can significantly amplify combat outcomes and has the potential to change the board state drastically when used correctly.

Meta-Relevance: Given its potential to shift game dynamics favorably and offer players the upper hand in creature-heavy matches, Vigor continues to retain relevance in both casual and competitive play. In the current meta where robust creatures and combat strategies are prevalent, Vigor can add significant value to your deck.


How to beat Vigor

Vigor is a substantial force in Magic: The Gathering, known for its size enhancement trait that beefs up creatures upon damage. This elemental incarnation carves its special place in the game with a three-color sextuple mana cost.

Its impenetrable strategy has been defeated by many players in the past. The first step is to remember that Vigor only affects “combat damage,” which means direct damage spells or abilities that cause “loss of life” go around Vigor’s static ability. Pairing cards like Dismember and Fatal Push, which directly target and destroy creatures without dealing damage, could leave Vigor defenseless.

Similarly, exile effects like Path to Exile or Settle the Wreckage can successfully remove Vigor without triggering its creature-boosting ability. Alternatively, countering Vigor in the stack with counter spells like Mana Leak or Negate before it hits the battlefield is a viable strategy. If all else fails, mass and bounce removal can reset the situation.

In conclusion, defeating Vigor in Magic: The Gathering requires a well-rounded and strategically planned deck with selectively chosen removal and counter spells. Mastery over these techniques allows you to strike down this robust engine and shift the game in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Whether you’re bolstering your board with indestructible creatures or seeking the strategic edge Vigor promises, its unique abilities can redefine your gameplay experience. As we unpack the facets of Vigor, we see a card that not only survives damage but thrives on it, enhancing your creatures in a powerful way. If you’re ready to harness the growth and protective shield Vigor offers, delve into our comprehensive guides. There, you’ll find invaluable MTG insights and inventive deck-building strategies to keep you a step ahead in every match. Your journey to MTG mastery continues, and we’re here to propel you forward. Let’s explore the depths of what Vigor can do for your collection today.


Cards like Vigor

Vigor is a unique enchantment creature card in Magic: The Gathering with compelling features. Comparable to this is the ever-popular Asceticism, providing targets with hexproof and regeneration capabilities. However, Vigor possesses distinct attributes, instigating a counter-attack whenever it sustains damage. This element sets Vigor apart from its contemporaries, providing an intriguing layer of gameplay, while Asceticism merely offers protection.

There is also Primal Vigor, another enchantment card that shares similarities with Vigor. It presents a shared benefit with any player for all counters and tokens. While this could lead to advantageous scenarios, it could also pave the way for opponents’ benefit. On the other hand, Vigor solely benefits its controller, making it a safer option. Then, consider Bountiful Harvest. It boosts your life points directly proportional to the number of lands under your control. It’s a good choice if gaining life is your strategy, but it lacks the robust defense and retaliation that Vigor offers.

In conclusion, assessing Vigor against similar cards in Magic: The Gathering reveals its dynamic potential. Because of its unique ability to initiate an automatic backlash whenever a creature under your control sustains damage, Vigor undeniably stands out among the crowd.

Asceticism - MTG Card versions
Primal Vigor - MTG Card versions
Bountiful Harvest - MTG Card versions
Asceticism - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Primal Vigor - Commander 2013 (C13)
Bountiful Harvest - Magic 2010 (M10)

Cards similar to Vigor by color, type and mana cost

Craw Wurm - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Liege - MTG Card versions
Wiitigo - MTG Card versions
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Sulam Djinn - MTG Card versions
Verdeloth the Ancient - MTG Card versions
Nemata, Grove Guardian - MTG Card versions
Gang of Elk - MTG Card versions
Kavu Howler - MTG Card versions
Crashing Centaur - MTG Card versions
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Rhox - MTG Card versions
Kodama of the East Tree - MTG Card versions
Terra Stomper - MTG Card versions
Feral Throwback - MTG Card versions
Silvos, Rogue Elemental - MTG Card versions
Brontotherium - MTG Card versions
Elvish Aberration - MTG Card versions
Seshiro the Anointed - MTG Card versions
Craw Wurm - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Gaea's Liege - Revised Edition (3ED)
Wiitigo - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Autumn Willow - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Ancient Silverback - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Sulam Djinn - Invasion (INV)
Verdeloth the Ancient - Modern Masters (MMA)
Nemata, Grove Guardian - The List (PLST)
Gang of Elk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Kavu Howler - Apocalypse (APC)
Crashing Centaur - Odyssey (ODY)
Giant Warthog - Judgment (JUD)
Rhox - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Kodama of the East Tree - Commander Legends (CMR)
Terra Stomper - Zendikar (ZEN)
Feral Throwback - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silvos, Rogue Elemental - Onslaught (ONS)
Brontotherium - Legions (LGN)
Elvish Aberration - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Seshiro the Anointed - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vigor MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn and Duels of the Planeswalkers, 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 Vigor and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vigor Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2007-10-12 and 2024-03-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12007-10-12LorwynLRW 2402003normalblackJim Murray
22010-06-04Duels of the PlaneswalkersDPA 882003normalblackJim Murray
32018-06-08BattlebondBBD 2152015normalblackJim Murray
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 13682015normalblackJim Murray
52020-09-26The ListPLST BBD-2152015normalblackJim Murray
62024-03-08FalloutPIP 3472015normalblackTomas Duchek
72024-03-08FalloutPIP 8752015normalblackTomas Duchek

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vigor has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2007-10-01 Although this ability triggers when the Incarnation is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, it doesn’t *specifically* trigger on leaving the battlefield, so it doesn’t behave like other leaves-the-battlefield abilities. The ability will trigger from the graveyard.
2007-10-01 If the Incarnation had lost this ability while on the battlefield (due to Lignify, for example) and then was destroyed, the ability would still trigger and it would get shuffled into its owner’s library. However, if the Incarnation lost this ability when it was put into the graveyard (due to Yixlid Jailer, for example), the ability wouldn’t trigger and the Incarnation would remain in the graveyard.
2007-10-01 If the Incarnation is removed from the graveyard after the ability triggers but before it resolves, it will remain in its new zone when its owner shuffles their library. Similarly, if a replacement effect has the Incarnation move to a different zone instead of being put into the graveyard, the ability won’t trigger at all.
2007-10-01 The last ability triggers when the Incarnation is put into its owner’s graveyard from any zone, not just from on the battlefield.

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