Goryo's Vengeance MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeInstant — Arcane
Abilities Splice

Key Takeaways

  1. Enables cost-effective, game-altering plays with quick creature revival from the graveyard.
  2. Instant speed allows surprise actions and complex strategic gameplay.
  3. Requires specific setup to optimize its powerful reanimation effect.

Text of card

Return target legendary creature card from your graveyard to play. That creature gains haste. Remove it from the game at end of turn. Splice onto Arcane (As you play an Arcane spell, you may reveal this card from your hand and pay its splice cost. If you do, add this card's effects to that spell.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Goryo’s Vengeance stands out as a powerful reanimation spell that enables players to bring high-cost creatures onto the battlefield at a fraction of their mana cost. This potent effect can not only bypass the traditional summoning costs but also swing the momentum of the game by instantly bringing back a formidable threat from your graveyard to the fore.

Resource Acceleration: This particular card accelerates your board state significantly by allowing for an immediate and impactful play using only two mana. This swift play can often catch your opponent off guard and can serve as a catalyst in executing powerful combos early in the game, thereby potentially shortcutting your route to victory.

Instant Speed: The fact that Goryo’s Vengeance can be played at instant speed grants an element of surprise and flexibility, enabling players to strategically navigate through their opponent’s turn. Whether it’s end-of-turn deployment to maximize usage of mana or as an unexpected interrupt during an opponent’s game plan, the tempo gain and tactical advantage it provides can be game-changing.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Goryo’s Vengeance necessitates the player to have a legendary creature in the graveyard which adds an extra layer of setup and can be inconvenient if your hand doesn’t align with this condition.

Specific Mana Cost: Unlike more flexible spells, this card requires black mana, which might not be readily available in multicolor decks, therefore constraining its inclusion to mostly black-focused or dedicated reanimator strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of one black and one generic mana, there are scenarios where the cost could be considered high given that the reanimated creature is exiled at the beginning of the next end step, potentially offering only a brief advantage.


Reasons to Include Goryo’s Vengeance in Your Collection

Versatility: Goryo’s Vengeance is a flexible card that can bring back powerful legendary creatures for a surprise attack or an unexpected defense, fitting seamlessly into reanimator strategies or decks built around legendary creatures.

Combo Potential: This instant can be the linchpin in combo decks, enabling game-ending sequences by reanimating a high-impact creature for a critical turn, and works exceptionally well with creatures that have enter-the-battlefield or leave-the-battlefield effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where games can be decided quickly, this card offers a chance to turn the tide by reintroducing a formidable threat at instant speed, ensuring your strategy stays relevant against various competitive decks.


How to beat

Goryo’s Vengeance is a powerful reanimation spell that enables MTG players to rapidly bring back formidable creatures from the graveyard for a surprise attack or a decisive move. To disrupt this strategy, smart play and the right counters are essential. Begin by targeting the opponent’s graveyard with spells like Rest in Peace or Tormod’s Crypt, which can exile cards from the graveyard, thus preventing Goryo’s Vengeance from having any viable targets. Graveyard interaction is a key part of many decks, and having answers to those interactions can be critical.

Another tactic involves instant-speed removal countering the reanimated creature as soon as it enters the battlefield. Having removal such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile can effectively mitigate the threat. Hand disruption is also an effective preemptive measure. By using cards like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, you can remove Goryo’s Vengeance from the opponent’s hand before they have a chance to use it, thereby avoiding the problem before it manifests on the battlefield. Understanding the mechanics and timing of how to dismantle an opponent’s strategy with Goryo’s Vengeance is key to mastering the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the dynamic play of MTG highlights the importance of strategic card selection, and Goryo’s Vengeance has proven its worth as a formidable reanimation spell. With the ability to disrupt the game’s pace and set the stage for victory, it’s essential for reanimator enthusiasts and strategists to consider this card’s potential. Integrating Goryo’s Vengeance into your deck means mastering the art of surprise and tactical prowess. We invite all who seek to deepen their gameplay and turn the tides of battle swiftly to explore further with us. Discover your next game-changing strategy and begin the journey of reanimation mastery with Goryo’s Vengeance.


Cards like Goryo's Vengeance

Goryo’s Vengeance is an impactful spell in MTG that specializes in reanimating legendary creatures from the graveyard for a surprise offensive. Cards like Exhume also bring creatures back from the graveyard, however, they lack the unique focus on legendary creatures and the instant speed that defines Goryo’s Vengeance. The one-turn duration to use the reanimated creature from Goryo’s Vengeance provides a strategic depth that Exhume does not possess.

Looking at another peer, Shallow Grave instantly returns the top creature card from your graveyard to play, much like Goryo’s Vengeance, but it targets any creature without the legendary restriction. What is significantly different though, is Shallow Grave’s trait of exiling the creature at the beginning of the next end step, whereas Goryo’s Vengeance has the creature leave play only if it would leave the battlefield. This nuance can be game-changing, providing potential for additional interactions within that single turn.

Ultimately, Goryo’s Vengeance shines in MTG as a quintessential reanimation spell tailored for powerful, game-ending plays utilizing legendary creatures, making it a potent choice for players looking to craft a surprise-attack strategy within their gameplay.

Exhume - MTG Card versions
Shallow Grave - MTG Card versions
Exhume - Urza's Saga (USG)
Shallow Grave - Mirage (MIR)

Cards similar to Goryo's Vengeance by color, type and mana cost

Word of Command - MTG Card versions
Terror - MTG Card versions
Simulacrum - MTG Card versions
Transmutation - MTG Card versions
Headstone - MTG Card versions
Soul Rend - MTG Card versions
Wicked Reward - MTG Card versions
Urborg Justice - MTG Card versions
Imps' Taunt - MTG Card versions
Rapid Decay - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Edict - MTG Card versions
Tainted Pact - MTG Card versions
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Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Cast Down - MTG Card versions
Smother - MTG Card versions
Hero's Demise - MTG Card versions
Sickening Shoal - MTG Card versions
Chill Haunting - MTG Card versions
Word of Command - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Terror - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Simulacrum - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Transmutation - Legends (LEG)
Headstone - Homelands (HML)
Soul Rend - Mirage (MIR)
Wicked Reward - Visions (VIS)
Urborg Justice - Weatherlight (WTH)
Imps' Taunt - Tempest (TMP)
Rapid Decay - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Diabolic Edict - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Tainted Pact - Odyssey (ODY)
Toxic Stench - Judgment (JUD)
Doom Blade - Magic 2012 (M12)
Go for the Throat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Cast Down - Commander Legends (CMR)
Smother - Worldwake (WWK)
Hero's Demise - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Sickening Shoal - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Chill Haunting - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goryo's Vengeance MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa and Ultimate Masters, 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 Goryo's Vengeance and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Goryo's Vengeance Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2005-02-04 and 2018-12-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-02-04Betrayers of KamigawaBOK 672003normalblackIttoku
22018-12-07Ultimate MastersUMA 992015normalblackRandy Vargas

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goryo's Vengeance has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-06-07 A card with a splice ability can’t be spliced onto itself because the spell is on the stack (and not in your hand) when you reveal the cards you want to splice onto it.
2013-06-07 If all of the spell’s targets are illegal when the spell tries to resolve, it won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen.
2013-06-07 You choose all targets for the spell after revealing cards you want to splice, including any targets required by the text of any of those cards. You may choose a different target for each instance of the word “target” on the resulting spell.
2013-06-07 You reveal all cards you intend to splice at the same time. Each individual card can be spliced only once onto any one spell.
2018-12-07 If the returned creature leaves the battlefield before the end step, it will remain in its current zone. It won’t be exiled.

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