Vesperlark MTG Card

Modern Horizons (MH1)
2019-06-14 - Number 35

Vesperlark - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)

Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
2021-08-26 - Number 156

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Elemental
Abilities	Evoke,Flying
Power	2
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Vesperlark’s revival mechanic grants substantial advantage by reanimating powerful, low-power creatures.
Instant speed invocation disrupts opponents’ strategies and facilitates unexpected defense.
Resource reanimation can be a game-changer by retrieving key mana enablers or utility creatures.

Text of card

Flying When Vesperlark leaves the battlefield, return target creature card with power 1 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. Evoke (You may cast this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it's sacrificed when it enters the battlefield.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vesperlark offers unique value by potentially retrieving creatures from your graveyard when it leaves the battlefield. This retrieval effect can bolster your board presence or reuse powerful enter-the-battlefield abilities, giving you an edge in card utility.

Resource Acceleration: Although Vesperlark itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it works to quickly bring back key low-power creatures that can. Reanimating a mana dork or a creature with a land fetching ability can ramp up your resources, keeping the momentum in your favor.

Instant Speed: The Evoke cost of Vesperlark allows you to utilize its ability at instant speed. You can strategically trigger its leave-the-battlefield effect on your terms, even during your opponent’s turn, which could disrupt their plans or provide surprise blockers.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Vesperlark’s evoke ability necessitates the discard of the creature itself as a trade-off for its effect, potentially costing you an essential creature from your hand when you might be needing to maintain board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Vesperlark demands a precise mana arrangement of one white and one generic mana, which could constrain its inclusion in multi-colored decks or those with a less stable mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its power and toughness of 1/1, Vesperlark’s full casting cost might be seen as steep, especially when other cards could provide more impactful board presence or abilities for the same or lower investment.

Reasons to Include Vesperlark in Your Collection

Versatility: Vesperlark boasts the ability to function in a variety of deck builds, courtesy of its Evoke mechanic and the reanimation of small creatures. It’s a solid pick for decks that aim to capitalize on enter-the-battlefield effects or need a dependable blocker.

Combo Potential: This card is a powerhouse in combo setups, capable of bringing back key pieces from the graveyard to the battlefield. It pairs exceptionally well with persist creatures and sacrifice outlets, paving the way for infinite loops and game-winning synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where graveyard interaction is crucial, Vesperlark finds its niche. It’s increasingly relevant in formats like Commander, where its capacity to recur value-generating creatures can make a significant difference on the board.

How to Beat Vesperlark

Vesperlark, known for its evocative ability to return a modest creature back into play, stands as a nuanced entity in the MTG universe. Its power stretches across formats, making it an asset for any deck focusing on enter-the-battlefield strategies or graveyard synergies. An intriguing fact about Vesperlark is that it can only target creatures with power 1 or less when it leaves the battlefield, creating a perfect opportunity to strategize against it.

To triumph over a Vesperlark, the first tip is to manage your opponent’s graveyard. Graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Scavenging Ooze can disrupt the Vesperlark combo, effectively neutering its potential before it takes off. Additionally, incorporating removal spells that exile rather than destroy, like Swords to Plowshares, can prevent comeback tricks Vesperlark could facilitate because of its “leave the battlefield” triggered ability.

Strategic hand disruption also plays a crucial role. Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek can pry Vesperlark, and its combo pieces, right from your opponent’s grasp before they have a chance to employ them. Removing the threats preemptively simplifies your pathway to victory. In tandem, keeping control of the board and maintaining pressure can tilt the scales in your favor against a Vesperlark-based strategy.

Cards like Vesperlark

Vesperlark stands out as an intriguing utility creature within Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with cards like Body Double, which also mimics the power of being able to resurrect creatures from the graveyard. However, Vesperlark is unique in its limitation to creatures with power 1 or less, allowing for niche but potentially powerful interactions in the right deck.

Consider Karmic Guide, another creature with a revival ability. Karmic Guide brings back any creature regardless of power but comes at a higher mana cost. This versatility is offset by Vesperlark’s lower cost and Evoke ability, granting additional flexibility in gameplay. Additionally, Reveillark operates on a similar mechanic but impacts creatures with power 2 or less, offering a broader range of targets at a higher mana value.

In weighing the strategic advantages of these similar cards, players may find Vesperlark’s specific constraints to be a valuable asset in certain decks that focus on small, impactful creatures. In such builds, Vesperlark could potentially turn the tide of a game with its cost-efficient resurrection ability.

Cards similar to Vesperlark by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vesperlark MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Vesperlark and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vesperlark Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Raoul Vitale.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2019-06-14	Modern Horizons	MH1		35	2015	Normal	Black	Raoul Vitale
2	2021-08-26	Jumpstart: Historic Horizons	J21		156	2015	Normal	Black	Raoul Vitale

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vesperlark has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Commander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2019-06-14	The ability that causes you to sacrifice an evoked creature is a triggered ability. Players may respond to this triggered ability while the creature is still on the battlefield.