Black Vise MTG Card


Black Vise transforms opponents’ card hoarding into a disadvantage, inflicting damage over time. Its artifact nature and low mana cost make it highly versatile and easy to integrate. Understanding Black Vise’s impact is crucial for both utilizing and countering its effects.
Card setsReleased in 17 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact

Text of card

If opponent has more than four cards in hand during upkeep, black vise does 1 damage to opponent for each card in excess of four.


Cards like Black Vise

Black Vise is a classic piece that taps into the powerful strategy of punishing opponents in Magic: The Gathering for having too many cards in hand. It’s often compared to The Rack, another iconic card that operates on the flip side by penalizing players for having too few cards. While Black Vise damages opponents for card abundance, The Rack targets scarcity, making them reflect two different but influential tactical angles in a player’s deck.

Another similar card in nature to Black Vise is Iron Maiden from Urza’s Legacy. Like Black Vise, Iron Maiden inflicts damage based on the cards held during the upkeep phase. However, the Maiden requires three mana to play, making Black Vise’s single mana cost quite appealing. Furthermore, Ebony Owl Netsuke follows this resemblance in effect, although it additionally requires a deck specifically designed to keep the opponent’s hand full to achieve its maximum potential.

To sum up, in the realm of MTG, Black Vise stands out for its low cost and huge potential to upset an opponent’s strategy. Its counterparts, while sharing similar effects, each bring unique considerations to the table regarding deck synergy and mana efficiency.

The Rack - MTG Card versions
Iron Maiden - MTG Card versions
Ebony Owl Netsuke - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Iron Maiden - MTG Card versions
Ebony Owl Netsuke - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Black Vise by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Library of Leng - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Helm of Chatzuk - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Ivory Tower - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Triangle of War - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Crystal Rod - MTG Card versions
Barbed Sextant - MTG Card versions
Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Library of Leng - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Helm of Chatzuk - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Ivory Tower - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Triangle of War - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Crystal Rod - MTG Card versions
Barbed Sextant - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Black Vise. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Blue PrisonMono-Blue Prison LegacyCharlotte Legacy League Season 2 Week 2
Izzet ControlIzzet Control LegacyCharlotte Legacy League Season 4 Week 12
StasisStasis PremodernEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent
SlighSligh PremodernMisty Premodern Winter Finals
MUDMUD PremodernEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent
Abzan AggroAbzan Aggro PremodernEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent
Mono-Blue ControlMono-Blue Control PremodernEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent
Mono-Red BurnMono-Red Burn LegacyBurnEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Legacy Mainevent

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Black Vise doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it provides a different kind of card advantage by punishing your opponents for holding onto their cards. This means your opponent’s card accumulation can quickly turn into a liability, providing you with indirect card advantage as they are forced to play out their hand to avoid taking damage.

Resource Acceleration: Black Vise itself does not provide traditional mana acceleration. However, its presence can pressure opponents into playing cards faster than they might like, potentially disrupting their mana curve and strategy. This acceleration of their game plan can benefit you by forcing them into suboptimal plays.

Instant Speed: Although Black Vise is an artifact that is not played at instant speed, its continuous effect works during each of your opponent’s upkeep phases. This immediacy means that every card drawn by your opponent can instantly translate into potential damage, giving Black Vise a semblance of the reactive, ever-present threat usually associated with instant speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite the allure of punishing opponents with a full hand, Black Vise demands a strategic setup. Efficiently utilizing the card’s potential requires your adversary to consistently have more than four cards in hand, which might not always align with the natural flow of a game, making it less optimal in fast-paced or top-decking scenarios.

Specific Mana Cost: Black Vise requires a singular colorless mana to activate, which seems easy to accommodate at first glance. However, this requirement can be a double-edged sword. The card’s reliance on an opponent’s hand size may divert resources from developing your own board state, potentially impeding your game plan.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although only costing one mana might appear economical, the true cost of Black Vise is revealed in its situational usefulness. In the landscape of MTG where mana efficiency is key, the card’s impact is not always proportionate to its cost, particularly when matched against other one-mana artifacts or spells that could offer immediate and more versatile benefits.


Reasons to Include Black Vise in Your Collection

Versatility: Black Vise is a flexible card that can pressure opponents right from the start of the game. As an artifact, it is easy to include in a wide variety of decks regardless of their color identity, punishing those who keep a full hand.

Combo Potential: With a multitude of strategies that revolve around forcing your opponent to draw multiple cards per turn, Black Vise becomes a powerful tool in turning their card advantage into life loss. It can be a significant part of lock-down or mill decks.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavy on control decks or ones that favor an extensive hand size, Black Vise shines by dealing damage increasingly as opponents’ hand sizes grow, offering a consistent source of pressure throughout the game.


Understanding Black Vise

Black Vise is a notorious piece of Magic: The Gathering history, known for punishing opponents who hoard cards in their hands. This artifact shines in formats where heavy draw plays, or holding onto cards, is common. It’s a relentless source of damage, targeting the Achilles’ heel of draw-heavy strategies. The magic happens as Black Vise turns opponents’ card advantage into a rapidly ticking time bomb, exacting a toll for every card above four during their upkeep.

Counterplay Strategies

Outmaneuvering Black Vise is all about agility. Maintaining a low hand size is your primary shield against the pressure it creates. Aggressive mulligans or hand disruption can help, but another effective tactic is simply emptying your hand quickly. Spell-heavy decks, particularly those that lack creatures, might find this challenging, but playing permanents and utilizing instant-speed spells during your opponent’s turn can significantly mitigate the damage taken.

Lifecycle cards like cycling lands or fast mana spells like Lotus Petal can also offer a quick hand dump solution. Players adept in resource management, and those who incorporate strategies to keep their hand lean, will experience less strain from Black Vise’s punishing grasp. It’s a game of balance where cautious playing and calculated hand-size control can diffuse the threat of this classic MTG card.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Black Vise MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Black Vise and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Black Vise Magic the Gathering card was released in 15 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 2331993NormalBlackRichard Thomas
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 2341993NormalBlackRichard Thomas
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 2341993NormalWhiteRichard Thomas
41993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 2341993NormalBlackRichard Thomas
51993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 2341993NormalBlackRichard Thomas
61994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 2361993NormalWhiteRichard Thomas
71994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 2361993NormalBlackRichard Thomas
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 2361993NormalWhiteRichard Thomas
91995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 2991993NormalWhiteRichard Thomas
101995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 2991993NormalBlackRichard Thomas
111996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC mj2991993NormalGoldRichard Thomas
121996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC bl299sb1993NormalGoldRichard Thomas
132009-09-07Masters Edition IIIME3 1911997NormalBlackRichard Thomas
142010-08-27From the Vault: RelicsV10 22003NormalBlackDan Scott
152016-09-30Kaladesh InventionsMPS 322015NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk
162022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 2292015NormalBlackRichard Thomas
172022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 5261997NormalBlackRichard Thomas

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Black Vise has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 You choose one opposing player as it enters the battlefield and it only affects that one player. This choice is not changed even if Black Vise changes controllers. It becomes useless but stays on the battlefield if that player leaves the game.
2009-10-01 If the chosen player has four or fewer cards in their hand as Black Vise’s ability resolves, the ability just won’t do anything that turn.