Vine Snare MTG Card


Vine Snare - Magic Origins
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2015-07-17
Set symbol
Set nameMagic Origins
Set codeORI
Number205
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byIgor Kieryluk

Key Takeaways

  1. Preserving creatures on the field, Vine Snare provides a defensive edge without needing a discard.
  2. Balancing mana expenditure, it frees up resources for other spells or defenses in green decks.
  3. Its instant speed allows for surprise plays, turning the tide of combat in your favor.

Text of card

Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn by creatures with power 4 or less.

Nissa found that the vines of the marsh could ensnare just as well as forest vines could—maybe even better.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vine Snare may not directly allow you to draw cards, but it can thwart an opponent’s attack, effectively preserving the cards (creatures) you have on the battlefield. This can be a subtle form of card advantage as it may lead your opponent to lose multiple attackers while you lose none.

Resource Acceleration: Though Vine Snare itself doesn’t accelerate your resources, its cost efficiency helps conserve mana for other spells. This creates an indirect resource acceleration by freeing up mana that can be used to cast additional spells in the same turn or allowing for more robust defenses.

Instant Speed: Vine Snare’s strength lies in its instant speed, providing the flexibility to react during an opponent’s turn. This can disrupt combat calculations and turn what appeared to be a favorable attack for the opponent into a devastating setback, potentially swinging the momentum of the game in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike many other instant-speed defensive spells, Vine Snare does not impose a discard condition as part of its casting, focusing solely on its mana cost.

Specific Mana Cost: Vine Snare demands a mix of green mana and generic mana, making it potentially restrictive for multicolor decks that might struggle with color fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its three mana cost for a temporary effect, some players may find Vine Snare less appealing compared to other lower-cost fog effects that can help preserve life totals in critical turns.


Reasons to Include Vine Snare in Your Collection

Versatility: Vine Snare has the unique ability to serve as an excellent defensive tool in green decks. Its capacity to fog attackers not only fends off damage for a turn but can also disrupt combat strategies and save precious life points at critical moments.

Combo Potential: When utilized alongside cards that benefit from creatures surviving combat, Vine Snare can be an unexpected way to turn the tables. Offers synergy with cards that track the number of creatures that didn’t take damage in a turn or set up for a major counterattack.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive creature-based strategies prevail, Vine Snare provides a cost-effective method to halt the onslaught. It’s especially useful if the current competitive scene favors creature-heavy tactics, giving you a breather to stabilize and gain the upper hand.


How to beat

Vine Snare throws a wrench into combat calculations when you’re deep in a game of Magic: The Gathering. As a defensive instant, it can completely nullify the damage of creatures without flying that your opponent throws at you during a turn. However, like all cards, there are strategies to minimize its impact or circumvent it completely.

One reliable method is to capitalize on flying creatures. Since Vine Snare specifically targets non-flying creatures, having a deck that includes flyers can consistently bypass Vine Snare’s defense. Direct damage spells can also be a solution, as they can remove key creatures or even directly damage your opponent regardless of the creatures they have on the battlefield or the tricks they have up their sleeve.

Another way to beat Vine Snare is through the use of counterspells, which can prevent it from ever resolving. By keeping mana open for spells like Cancel or Negate, you can directly address any instants your opponent might play. Additionally, playing cards that grant your creatures hexproof can protect them from being targeted, thereby rendering Vine Snare less effective.

Understanding and anticipating when your opponent might have such a trick can severely limit its effectiveness and ensure your path to victory in the intricate dance of Magic: The Gathering matches.


Cards like Vine Snare

Vine Snare serves as a defensive tactic for MTG players, offering a way to thwart an opponent’s attacking creatures. This card operates within the space of combat tricks, similar to cards such as Fog. Where Vine Snare differentiates itself is in the specificity of its effect, targeting only creatures with flying. Fog, by contrast, affects all creatures, making it a more versatile option for those wide-reaching situations where you need to prevent all combat damage.

Another comparison of interest is with the card Windstorm, which also allows a targeted approach towards flying creatures but deals damage instead of preventing damage like Vine Snare. Depending on the scenario, dealing damage can be more beneficial, especially if it results in eliminating the threats, as opposed to merely stalling them with Vine Snare.

By weighing the strategic implications of Vine Snare against these others, players can appreciate the niche role it can play in defending against aerial assaults. While it may not have the broad application of Fog or the eliminative force of Windstorm, Vine Snare holds its own under the right circumstances, making it a card to consider when facing decks heavy with fliers.

Fog - MTG Card versions
Windstorm - MTG Card versions
Fog - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Windstorm - Magic 2010 (M10)

Cards similar to Vine Snare by color, type and mana cost

Foxfire - MTG Card versions
Verdigris - MTG Card versions
Team Spirit - MTG Card versions
Refresh - MTG Card versions
Vivify - MTG Card versions
Primal Boost - MTG Card versions
Sprouting Vines - MTG Card versions
Natural Affinity - MTG Card versions
Ferocious Charge - MTG Card versions
Graphic Violence - MTG Card versions
Remodel - MTG Card versions
Roar of Jukai - MTG Card versions
Rending Vines - MTG Card versions
Early Harvest - MTG Card versions
Hail Storm - MTG Card versions
Wildsize - MTG Card versions
Invigorate - MTG Card versions
Harrow - MTG Card versions
Pistus Strike - MTG Card versions
Hunter's Insight - MTG Card versions
Foxfire - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Verdigris - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Team Spirit - Unglued (UGL)
Refresh - Odyssey (ODY)
Vivify - Odyssey (ODY)
Primal Boost - Onslaught (ONS)
Sprouting Vines - Scourge (SCG)
Natural Affinity - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Ferocious Charge - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Graphic Violence - Unhinged (UNH)
Remodel - Unhinged (UNH)
Roar of Jukai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Rending Vines - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Early Harvest - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Hail Storm - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
Wildsize - Commander Legends (CMR)
Invigorate - Game Night: Free-for-All (GN3)
Harrow - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
Pistus Strike - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Hunter's Insight - Commander Masters (CMM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vine Snare MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins, 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 Vine Snare and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vine Snare has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2015-06-22 Check the power of each creature as it would deal combat damage to determine if that damage is prevented. It doesn’t matter what any creature’s power is as Vine Snare resolves.

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