Vault Skirge MTG Card


Vault Skirge presents card advantage through its durable board presence and indirect life gain. Its low Phyrexian mana cost enables strategic flexibility, allowing resource conservation for other plays. Despite restrictive mana specifics, it adds value in life gain and flying to various deck strategies.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Phyrexian Imp
Abilities Flying,Lifelink
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

({B/P} can be paid with either or 2 life.) Flying Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.)

From the remnants of the dead, Geth forged a swarm to safeguard his throne.


Cards like Vault Skirge

Vault Skirge finds its niche within the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering’s creature offerings due to its affordability and life-gain ability. Its most direct comparison might be to Auriok Champion, which shares the lifelink ability, increasing a player’s life total with damage dealt. However, Vault Skirge steps ahead with its accessible Phyrexian mana cost, making it a quick play for a wide variety of decks looking for early game advantages.

Signal Pest is another creature that often comes up in discussions about Vault Skirge for its low cost and potential impact on the battlefield. Though lacking lifelink, Signal Pest poses a threat by boosting fellow creatures’ attack power. Vault Skirge, while not altering others’ stats, brings resilience and a flying trait, making it harder for opponents to block successfully.

Glint Hawk Idol, as an artifact creature with the ability to fly, also shares some similarities with Vault Skirge. It lacks the lifelink but compensates with a potentially higher power. Choosing between these cards will depend on the deck’s strategy—whether prioritizing life gain, offensive capabilities, or versatility in a tight mana game.

Auriok Champion - MTG Card versions
Signal Pest - MTG Card versions
Glint Hawk Idol - MTG Card versions
Auriok Champion - MTG Card versions
Signal Pest - MTG Card versions
Glint Hawk Idol - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Vault Skirge by color, type and mana cost

Charcoal Diamond - MTG Card versions
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Transmogrant's Crown - MTG Card versions
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Gisa's Favorite Shovel - MTG Card versions
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Netherborn Altar - MTG Card versions
Malefic Scythe - MTG Card versions
Draugr's Helm - MTG Card versions
Poet's Quill - MTG Card versions
Charcoal Diamond - MTG Card versions
Blade of the Oni - MTG Card versions
Transmogrant's Crown - MTG Card versions
Razorlash Transmogrant - MTG Card versions
Mukotai Soulripper - MTG Card versions
Cranial Plating - MTG Card versions
Glaze Fiend - MTG Card versions
Scepter of Fugue - MTG Card versions
Leaden Myr - MTG Card versions
Salvage Slasher - MTG Card versions
Metalspinner's Puzzleknot - MTG Card versions
Implement of Malice - MTG Card versions
Wishclaw Talisman - MTG Card versions
Giant's Skewer - MTG Card versions
Gisa's Favorite Shovel - MTG Card versions
Lucille - MTG Card versions
Netherborn Altar - MTG Card versions
Malefic Scythe - MTG Card versions
Draugr's Helm - MTG Card versions
Poet's Quill - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Whilst Vault Skirge doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it offers a consistent presence on the battlefield that can deter opponents from attacking and provides an avenue for incremental life gain, indirectly contributing to card advantage by maintaining a solid board state.

Resource Acceleration: This Phyrexian creature may not produce mana or tokens, but it employs an alternative form of resource acceleration. With its low Phyrexian mana cost, it allows you to deploy threats while still holding resources for other strategic plays early in the game.

Instant Speed: Vault Skirge doesn’t operate at instant speed itself; however, its low cost complements an instant-speed strategy. You can cast other spells at instant speed while saving just enough mana to deploy Vault Skirge, ensuring you maintain tempo and board presence.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In order to maximize Vault Skirge’s potential through its Phyrexian mana cost, you may find yourself paying life points instead of conventional mana. This trade-off can be risky, especially if facing an aggressive opponent or if you’re already at a low life total.

Specific Mana Cost: While Vault Skirge does have the flexibility with its Phyrexian mana, the alternative cost is a specific black mana. This requirement narrows the card’s synergy primarily to black or artifact-centric decks, potentially limiting your deckbuilding choices.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: If you’re not utilizing its Phyrexian mana cost due to strategic reasons or life total preservation, the regular cost of one colorless and one black mana can be steep for a 1/1 creature. Other options in the MTG card pool might offer more value or lower mana costs for similar or greater effects on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Vault Skirge has the flexibility of being a low-cost creature with flying, which allows it to be a suitable fit in a variety of decks, from aggressive strategies seeking to chip away at an opponent’s life total to defensive decks valuing life gain.

Combo Potential: This card’s synergies are well-noted, especially when paired with effects that benefit from life gain or artifacts. Its ability to complement such strategies makes it a valuable addition to decks utilizing those synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Due to its accessibility and the advantage of gaining life while putting pressure on your opponent, Vault Skirge maintains relevance in metagames where early board presence is critical, and life totals are closely contested.


How to beat

Vault Skirge is a noteworthy creature card in Magic: The Gathering with the potential to affect the battlefield early due to its low casting cost and Phyrexian mana payment option. Not only does it fly, but this pesky artifact creature also comes with lifelink, granting its controller life equal to the damage it deals.

Overcoming this nimble creature requires strategic card choices and timing. Artifact removal spells such as Abrade or Naturalize can directly target Vault Skirge, efficiently removing it from play without regard for its lifelink ability. Mass removal spells, like Wrath of God or Damnation, also prove effective against a board populated with creatures, including Vault Skirge. Additionally, flying blockers or cards with reach can act as a strong defensive wall against it, nullifying the advantages its flying trait provides.

In essence, while Vault Skirge can be an irritant if left unchecked on the battlefield, a mix of pinpoint artifact removal, sweepers, or even aerial blockers can counteract its presence. Understanding how to dismantle its advantages allows players to mitigate the threat this card poses and maintain control of the game state.


BurnMana Recommendations

Considering Vault Skirge’s strengths and weaknesses can be an essential part of refining your MTG strategy. With its low cost and lifelink abilities, it remains a strong contender for various deck themes, offering both defense and incremental advantage. Should you be pursuing efficiency within your deck or exploring new synergies, mindful inclusion of Vault Skirge could bolster your position in the game. We encourage you to weigh the card’s attributes against the needs of your deck and opposing strategies you commonly face. For deeper insights into the integration of Vault Skirge and similar cards, visit us and expand your MTG arsenal with informed decisions.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vault Skirge MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and DCI Promos, 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 Vault Skirge and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vault Skirge Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2006-01-02 and 2021-05-27. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 400762003NormalBlackLars Grant-West
22006-01-02DCI PromosPDCI 712003NormalBlackLars Grant-West
32011-05-13New PhyrexiaNPH 762003NormalBlackBrad Rigney
42021-05-27Historic Anthology 5HA5 112015NormalBlackBrad Rigney

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vault Skirge has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2011-06-01 A card with Phyrexian mana symbols in its mana cost is each color that appears in that mana cost, regardless of how that cost may have been paid.
2011-06-01 As you cast a spell or activate an activated ability with one or more Phyrexian mana symbols in its cost, you choose how to pay for each Phyrexian mana symbol at the same time you would choose modes or choose a value for X.
2011-06-01 If you’re at 1 life or less, you can’t pay 2 life.
2011-06-01 Phyrexian mana is not a new color. Players can’t add Phyrexian mana to their mana pools.
2011-06-01 To calculate the converted mana cost of a card with Phyrexian mana symbols in its cost, count each Phyrexian mana symbol as 1.