Sulfuric Vortex MTG Card


Sulfuric Vortex creates a persistent advantage by dealing continuous damage and countering life gain strategies. Demands specific mana but can be a centerpiece in red deck strategies, emphasizing offensive play. Its relevance in various metagames makes it a critical inclusion for players favoring aggressive tactics.
Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

At the beginning of each player's upkeep, Sulfuric Vortex deals 2 damage to that player. If a player would gain life, that player gains no life instead.


Cards like Sulfuric Vortex

Sulfuric Vortex is a unique enchantment in the world of MTG that consistently deals damage to each player during their upkeep. It shares similarities in mechanics with cards like Havoc Festival which also hurries the game to an end by halving players’ life totals every turn. While Havoc Festival affects life totals directly and limits any attempts to gain life, Sulfuric Vortex deals a steady stream of damage and also prohibits life gain.

Another parallel can be drawn with Manabarbs, an enchantment that punishes players for tapping lands for mana by inflicting damage. Though Manabarbs focuses on the casting phase and can be strategically played around, Sulfuric Vortex delivers inevitable damage that continues regardless of players’ actions. Additionally, we see a resemblance with Spellshock, which punishes players whenever they cast spells by causing harm, contrasting with the impartial, time-based damage of Sulfuric Vortex.

When cataloguing devastating enchantments, Sulfuric Vortex establishes its place with its relentless damage output and its impact on life gain strategies, making it a formidable force in many aggressive MTG decks.

Havoc Festival - MTG Card versions
Manabarbs - MTG Card versions
Spellshock - MTG Card versions
Havoc Festival - MTG Card versions
Manabarbs - MTG Card versions
Spellshock - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sulfuric Vortex by color, type and mana cost

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Gravity Sphere - MTG Card versions
Goblin War Drums - MTG Card versions
Aggression - MTG Card versions
Heat Wave - MTG Card versions
Goblin Warrens - MTG Card versions
Heat Stroke - MTG Card versions
Hand to Hand - MTG Card versions
Seismic Assault - MTG Card versions
Torch Song - MTG Card versions
Ghitu War Cry - MTG Card versions
Fervor - MTG Card versions
Spellshock - MTG Card versions
Mana Cache - MTG Card versions
Citadel of Pain - MTG Card versions
Insolence - MTG Card versions
Granite Grip - MTG Card versions
Steam Vines - MTG Card versions
Magma Vein - MTG Card versions
Pyromania - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Red AggroMono-Red Aggro Legacy*HALF PRICE FRIDAY* $1K - Legacy - SCG CON Atlanta - Friday - 1:30 pm
BurnBurn LegacyBurnLegacy Preliminary 2023-12-06 (1)
Mono-Red BurnMono-Red Burn PremodernEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent
RGRG VintageVintage Challenge 32 2024-03-09
SlighSligh PremodernEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Unlike most enchantments that don’t inherently provide card advantage, Sulfuric Vortex offers continuous effects that potentially disrupt your opponent’s strategies. By dealing damage during each player’s upkeep, the card creates a persistent threat that extends the advantage as the game progresses, especially in formats where life gain is prevalent.

Resource Acceleration: While Sulfuric Vortex doesn’t directly provide traditional resource acceleration like additional mana or treasure tokens, it accelerates the game towards a conclusion. In aggressive red decks, this speed can be a resource in itself, as it magnifies the value of every damage-dealing spell by effectively lowering the opponent’s life total required to win.

Instant Speed: Sulfuric Vortex is a permanent that operates at the speed of your upkeep, ensuring a consistent effect without the need for instant timing. However, its impact on the game can be as critical as an instant-speed spell by applying constant pressure and dictating the pace of play, leading to rushed decisions or limiting the windows in which your opponents can effectively use life-gain spells or abilities.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some other threats or enchantments, Sulfuric Vortex doesn’t require you to discard cards, which could be seen as a pro rather than a con. However, it’s important for players to remember the requirement to keep a continuous effect that could harm you as well.

Specific Mana Cost: Sulfuric Vortex demands a dedicated color commitment with two red mana in its cost. This makes it less flexible and harder to incorporate into multicolored decks that might not reliably produce the required mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three total mana, including two that must be red, Sulfuric Vortex is comparatively high for its effect. In the early game, this could potentially slow down your development of board presence or delay other critical plays.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sulfuric Vortex is a powerful enchantment that fits seamlessly into red-based aggressive strategies. Its constant damage output works well in both multiplayer and single-player formats, offering a direct approach to diminishing your opponents’ life totals.

Combo Potential: This card pairs well with effects that prevent life gain, ensuring that your opponents feel its full impact. Additionally, it can be a key piece in burn decks, working in tandem with instant and sorcery spells to quickly close out games.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that caters to longer duels and life gain strategies, Sulfuric Vortex shines by nullifying those tactics. It becomes particularly potent in environments where stalling for time or establishing a pillow fort through life gain is common, thereby securing its relevance in current and evolving metas.


How to beat Sulfuric Vortex

Sulfuric Vortex is a persistent enchantment that can rapidly tip the scales in a game by dealing damage to players during each upkeep. To navigate around this formidable card, your strategy should focus on life gain prevention and consistent damage output. Cards like Destructive Revelry offer a direct way to remove Sulfuric Vortex, not only destroying it but also dealing damage to its controller. Naturally, enchantment removal spells are your best line of defense.

Looking at alternative tactics, countering Sulfuric Vortex before it hits the battlefield can be key. Blue players might lean on counter spells like Dissipate to prevent it from ever taking effect. Additionally, life gain strategies become null with Sulfuric Vortex in play, so shifting to life link creatures or spells that provide a buffer can prove counterproductive. Instead, prioritize establishing a board presence that applies pressure, forcing your opponent to deal with your threats rather than capitalizing on the Vortex’s damage. It’s about resource management and maintaining control over the pace of the game.

In essence, overcoming Sulfuric Vortex requires a mixture of preemptive disruption and post-enchantment solutions, aiming to either prevent or swiftly address the threat it poses to your life total.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the MTG battlefield means knowing the strengths and weaknesses of cards like Sulfuric Vortex. Whether you’re ramping up your aggressive red deck or learning how to counteract persistent threats, understanding this enchantment is key. It accelerates the game’s pace and counters life gain tactics, but it also demands a specific mana investment and offers a higher mana cost. Seek to balance your strategy with timely removal and pressure, and you’ll harness the full potential of cards like Sulfuric Vortex. Eager to optimize your deck and outmaneuver your opponents? Dive deeper into our insights and become a more formidable player today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sulfuric Vortex MTG card by a specific set like Scourge and World Championship Decks 2003, 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 Sulfuric Vortex and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sulfuric Vortex Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2003-05-26 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by Greg Staples.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-05-26ScourgeSCG 1061997NormalBlackGreg Staples
22003-08-07World Championship Decks 2003WC03 we106sb2003NormalGoldGreg Staples
32013-03-15Duel Decks: Sorin vs. TibaltDDK 682003NormalBlackGreg Staples
42014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 1522003NormalBlackGreg Staples
52014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 1902015NormalBlackGreg Staples
62016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 1502015NormalBlackGreg Staples
72023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 1442015NormalBlackGreg Staples
82023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3321997NormalBlackGreg Staples

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sulfuric Vortex has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal