Vendetta MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Vendetta excels in removing creatures instantly, crucial for maintaining board control and tempo.
  2. At one black mana, it’s resource-efficient, enabling diverse play options within a turn.
  3. It’s versatile but comes with a life cost, adding a layer of strategic depth to gameplay.

Text of card

Destroy target nonblack creature. It can't be regenerated. You lose life equal to that creature's toughness.

Starke knew the voice was Takara's, but the venom was Volrath's.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vendetta offers a significant shift in board presence by removing a key creature from the opponent’s side, indirectly contributing to card advantage due to potential card attrition your opponent may suffer as a result.

Resource Acceleration: While Vendetta itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, its low mana cost allows you to preserve resources for other plays within the same turn, effectively maintaining tempo and resource allocation.

Instant Speed: Vendetta operates at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their turn or in response to an action, which can be a game-changer in the dynamic landscape of an MTG match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Vendetta makes you lose life equal to the creature’s power you destroy. This non-negotiable loss could turn risky in games where your life total is already hanging by a thread.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell requires black mana, which confines it to black decks or those running a suitable mana base to accommodate such specific costs, potentially limiting its versatility in a multi-color deck environment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The need to pay life proportional to the targeted creature’s power may seem steep when options like Fatal Push offer creature removal at a potentially lower overall cost, especially considering the fast-paced and aggressive nature of many MTG formats.


Reasons to Include Vendetta in Your Collection

Versatility: Vendetta is a powerful staple in black’s removal suite, seamlessly slotting into any deck that leans into black for its control tools. Its ability to remove nearly any creature at instant speed for a single black mana makes it a flexible and efficient choice for various strategies.

Combo Potential: This card can play a role in decks that thrive on life loss for various mechanics or that benefit from having creatures in the graveyard, whether it’s for reanimation targets or fueling delirium.

Meta-Relevance: Vendetta shines in metas where powerful creatures dominate. As a low-cost removal, it allows players to handle major threats without losing tempo, proving its worth in fast-paced and competitive environments.


How to beat

Vendetta is a powerful removal spell in the vast arsenal of black cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its strength lies in its ability to destroy nearly any creature for a mere single black mana at instant speed, albeit at the cost of life points equivalent to the creature’s power. To effectively counteract Vendetta, players should consider the life cost as a strategic element they can exploit. Processing your creatures to fizzle the spell or presenting creatures with lower power and high toughness, minimizes the life loss when Vendetta is used against you.

It’s also crucial to have a range of creature types in your deck, as Vendetta can’t target black creatures. Including indestructible or hexproof creatures can also nullify Vendetta’s threat. Timing is key, and holding up mana for a counterspell when you suspect your opponent holds Vendetta could save your key creatures from being picked off. Another angle is to bait out Vendetta on a less critical creature before playing your main threats, thereby clearing a safer path for them.

Recognizing when to play around Vendetta and when to force it out positions you better in managing your board state against black removal spells, enabling you to maintain creature advantage and ultimately control the game’s tempo.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic depth of MTG is epitomized by how players utilize cards like Vendetta. Its capability to remove significant threats for a minimal cost can make it an asset in various gameplay scenarios. If you’re interested in honing your deck to take full advantage of the nuanced play Vendetta offers, understanding the trade-off between life points and board control is crucial. Deliberate use of this card could very well turn the tide of battle in your favor. Dive deeper with us to sharpen your skills and optimize your deck strategies. Ready for the next level in MTG gameplay? Visit us now for more insights.


Cards like Vendetta

Vendetta is a remarkably efficient removal spell that finds its roots in a deep tradition of one-mana black spells in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relative might be Fatal Push, a card renowned for its ability to deal with small to mid-sized creatures. What sets Vendetta apart is its lack of restrictions based on the creature’s converted mana cost, allowing it to target virtually any creature irrespective of its size. However, this comes at a cost, inflicting damage to the caster proportionate to the creature’s power.

On the other side of the spectrum, we encounter Dismember, which also serves as a flexible removal tool capable of targeting creatures of varied sizes. Dismember’s Phyrexian mana cost offers versatility at the expense of life points or mana, which can be invaluable in a tight situation. Similarly, Vendetta’s low mana cost provides a significant advantage, allowing players to manage their board state efficiently early in the game.

In conclusion, while other cards like Dismember and Fatal Push offer alternatives with their perks, Vendetta’s ability to handle a wide array of threats for just a single black mana renders it a valuable asset for any player focusing on speed and efficiency in their removal suite.

Fatal Push - MTG Card versions
Dismember - MTG Card versions
Fatal Push - Aether Revolt (AER)
Dismember - New Phyrexia (NPH)

Cards similar to Vendetta by color, type and mana cost

Howl from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Dark Ritual - MTG Card versions
Sacrifice - MTG Card versions
Darkness - MTG Card versions
Marsh Gas - MTG Card versions
Deathlace - MTG Card versions
Gravebind - MTG Card versions
Misinformation - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Tutor - MTG Card versions
Dredge - MTG Card versions
Coffin Purge - MTG Card versions
Defile - MTG Card versions
March of Wretched Sorrow - MTG Card versions
Fatal Push - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Fade from Memory - MTG Card versions
Duh - MTG Card versions
Aesthetic Consultation - MTG Card versions
Stop That - MTG Card versions
Disembowel - MTG Card versions
Howl from Beyond - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Dark Ritual - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
Sacrifice - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Darkness - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
Marsh Gas - The Dark (DRK)
Deathlace - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Gravebind - Ice Age (ICE)
Misinformation - Alliances (ALL)
Vampiric Tutor - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Dredge - Invasion (INV)
Coffin Purge - World Championship Decks 2002 (WC02)
Defile - Modern Horizons 1 Timeshifts (H1R)
March of Wretched Sorrow - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Fatal Push - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - The List (PLST)
Fade from Memory - Onslaught (ONS)
Duh - Unhinged (UNH)
Aesthetic Consultation - Unhinged (UNH)
Stop That - Unhinged (UNH)
Disembowel - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vendetta MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques and World Championship Decks 2001, 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 Vendetta and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vendetta Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-10-04 and 2010-04-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-10-04Mercadian MasquesMMQ 1701997normalblackDan Frazier
22001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 tvdl1701997normalgoldDan Frazier
32010-04-23Rise of the EldraziROE 1302003normalblackKarl Kopinski

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vendetta has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2010-06-15 If the targeted creature is an illegal target by the time Vendetta resolves, the spell doesn’t resolve. You won’t lose life.
2010-06-15 If the targeted creature isn’t destroyed due to totem armor’s effect, Vendetta continues to resolve. You lose life equal to the creature’s current toughness (after the Aura with totem armor has been destroyed).
2010-06-15 The destroyed creature’s last existence on the battlefield is checked to determine its toughness.

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