Viridian Longbow MTG Card


Viridian Longbow turns your creatures into reusable, powerful removal tools, optimizing the value of each card. With instant speed equipping, this artifact offers flexible responses to dynamic game states. Consider its mana requirements and tap activation to ensure it complements your deck strategy.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip

Text of card

Equipped creature has ": This creature deals 1 damage to target creature or player." Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery. This card comes into play unattached and stays in play if the creature leaves play.)


Cards like Viridian Longbow

The Viridian Longbow is a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering, offering a persistent way to deal damage to creatures or players by tapping a creature. It’s reminiscent of equipment like Heavy Arbalest, which also grants a tap-to-damage ability. Yet, the Longbow is more efficient with a lower equip cost, making it a choice gear for creatures with deathtouch or those who can untap easily.

Analogous to the Longbow is the surestrike Trident – a piece of equipment that can only be used at sorcery speed, but it allows for directing damage equal to the creature’s power instead of a single point. The Longbow’s advantage lies in its flexibility, enabling damage during any phase of the game. Another comparison is made with Thornbite Staff, which has a similar tap ability and synergizes incredibly well with shaman creatures. While that staff can untap the creature after another creature dies, the Viridian Longbow excels with its low cost, simplicity, and universal damage application regardless of creature type.

Ultimately, the Viridian Longbow occupies a special niche within Magic: The Gathering’s equipment options. It shines in its ease of use, ease of activation, and ability to meticulously pick off threats across the board.

Heavy Arbalest - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Thornbite Staff - MTG Card versions
Heavy Arbalest - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Thornbite Staff - MTG Card versions

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Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - 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
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Devoted ComboDevoted Combo ModernDevoted ComboModern League 2023-11-17
UU ModernModern Challenge 32 2024-04-29
Devoted DruidDevoted Druid ModernDevoted Combo#26 Last Chance Qualifier: Modern
Hammer TimeHammer Time ModernHammer TimeModern Challenge 64 2024-03-31
ElvesElves PauperElvesPauper League 2023-12-23
WBWB PauperPauper Challenge 32 2024-01-20
DecklistDecklist Free formd00mwake's Pure Modern Subscriber Tournament #4
Mono-Green ElvesMono-Green Elves PauperElvesPauper for Duals - Badlands Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Viridian Longbow enables you to eliminate key creatures on your opponent’s board without expending additional cards from your hand. By equipping it to a creature with deathtouch or multiple creatures successively, you can control the battlefield and effectively derive more value from each card you play.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, Viridian Longbow enhances the utility of your creatures, effectively converting them into reusable removal resources. This allows for a more efficient use of the creatures you already have in play, accelerating your impact on the game without needing extra mana investment.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of Viridian Longbow shines as it can be attached at instant speed, giving you the ability to respond to changing board states on the fly. This enables tactical advantages during your opponent’s turn, ensuring that you can always maximize the potential of your creatures as removal tools without committing to a strategy too early.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite its ability to turn any creature into a potential pinger, the Viridian Longbow requires a creature to tap as part of its activation cost. This means you’re losing the ability to attack with that creature, which could be a significant drawback if you’re aiming for an offensive strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The initial casting cost of the Viridian Longbow is deceptively low, but it requires green mana, which may not seamlessly fit into all deck builds. This can potentially restrict its inclusion to those decks already committed to green or those with a mana base flexible enough to accommodate the color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The activation cost to attach the Viridian Longbow to a creature is not only a one-time investment but also an additional mana each time you wish to switch it between creatures. For decks where mana efficiency is crucial, this can be a costly investment, particularly in the early game when mana resources are at a premium.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Viridian Longbow can be a utility piece in numerous deck builds. Its ability to grant any creature a tap-to-deal-damage effect makes it compatible with strategies that emphasize creature control or need ways to deal direct damage.

Combo Potential: The card shows remarkable synergy when combined with creatures that have deathtouch or those that untap frequently. This turns it into a recurring source of creature destruction or even direct damage to opponents.

Meta-Relevance: Its relevance escalates in metas where small utility creatures dominate, allowing it to become an efficient removal tool. Furthermore, in formats like Commander where single influential creatures can dictate the pace of a game, Viridian Longbow provides an ever-present threat to opponents’ key creatures.


How to beat

The Viridian Longbow is an intriguing artifact in Magic: The Gathering, bestowing any creature the ability to deal damage directly to another target. This can be a thorn in your side, especially if the opposing creature has deathtouch or untapping capabilities. To combat this card effectively, there are a few strategies you can employ.

First, prioritize the removal of creatures with untap abilities or deathtouch that are wielding the Longbow, as their combination can be detrimental. Simple destruction spells, bounce effects, or even mass removal spells can clear the path for your victory. Also, enchantment removal spells that deal with artifacts directly can dismantle an opponent’s strategy by targeting the Longbow itself. Consider cards like Naturalize or Disenchant, which are efficient answers in your arsenal.

Moreover, if the Longbow hasn’t been equipped yet, use your instant-speed interaction wisely to disrupt the equip action and keep the board under control. The key is to be proactive and aware of potential threats the Longbow can empower. Effective threat assessment and timely removal are your best defenses against this seemingly benign but potentially dangerous artifact.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the mechanics and strategic applications of the Viridian Longbow can be a game-changer for MTG enthusiasts. As an artifact that converts creatures into versatile tools of removal, it can sway the tide of battle in your favor. The synergy it creates with deathtouch creatures or those capable of untapping makes it a formidable inclusion in many decks. Adaptability, after all, is a key factor in prevailing over your opponents. If you’re eager to harness the potential of Viridian Longbow and weave it into your strategic repertoire, engage with our insights to optimize your deck’s performance and outmaneuver your adversaries at every turn.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Viridian Longbow MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Forgotten Realms Commander, 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 Viridian Longbow and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Viridian Longbow Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by Jeremy Jarvis.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-10-02MirrodinMRD 2702003NormalBlackJeremy Jarvis
22021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 2212015NormalBlackJeremy Jarvis

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Viridian Longbow has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal