Vow of Malice MTG Card


Instant speed allows flexibility in gameplay, reacting to shifts with enchantments like Vow of Malice. Discarding a card and specific mana needs make Vow of Malice a selective but potent card choice. Vow of Malice’s combo and meta relevance offer strategic depth to black and green decks in MTG.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +2/+2, has intimidate, and can't attack you or a planeswalker you control.

"I grant you blades—on the condition that they are not pointed at me." —Damia, Sage of Stone


Cards like Vow of Malice

Vow of Malice stands out in the MTG repertoire as it equips a creature with not only a power boost but also intimidation, enabling the creature to become a significant threat that’s difficult to block for opponents without black creatures. Delving into cards with a similar flavor, we acknowledge Dark Favor, which also offers a power increase but at the cost of life points and without the added evasive ability of intimidation.

Diving further into comparisons, there’s Unholy Strength, an enchantment that provides a simpler and more direct increase in power and toughness with no additional effects, positioning Vow of Malice as a more strategic option for evasion tactics. Meanwhile, Shade’s Form grants the enchanted creature not just a power boost but also regeneration, a different form of resilience that contrasts with Vow of Malice’s focus on evasion.

In evaluating these enchantments, it’s clear that Vow of Malice provides a unique combination of power enhancement and strategic evasion, making it a considerable choice for players looking to make a creature an unblockable force in the game of Magic: The Gathering.

Dark Favor - MTG Card versions
Unholy Strength - MTG Card versions
Shade's Form - MTG Card versions
Dark Favor - MTG Card versions
Unholy Strength - MTG Card versions
Shade's Form - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Vow of Malice by color, type and mana cost

Gloom - MTG Card versions
Season of the Witch - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Gate - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Chant - MTG Card versions
Withering Wisps - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Funeral March - MTG Card versions
Casting of Bones - MTG Card versions
Blanket of Night - MTG Card versions
Hecatomb - MTG Card versions
Krovikan Fetish - MTG Card versions
Dauthi Embrace - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Recurring Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Contamination - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Lurking Evil - MTG Card versions
Maggot Therapy - MTG Card versions
Murderous Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Noxious Field - MTG Card versions
Gloom - MTG Card versions
Season of the Witch - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Gate - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Chant - MTG Card versions
Withering Wisps - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Funeral March - MTG Card versions
Casting of Bones - MTG Card versions
Blanket of Night - MTG Card versions
Hecatomb - MTG Card versions
Krovikan Fetish - MTG Card versions
Dauthi Embrace - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Recurring Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Contamination - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Lurking Evil - MTG Card versions
Maggot Therapy - MTG Card versions
Murderous Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Noxious Field - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vow of Malice provides significant card advantage by letting you enchant a creature and potentially draw cards if the enchanted creature dies.

Resource Acceleration: This enchantment aligns well with strategies seeking to harness the power of permanents leaving the battlefield, fueling resource acceleration through synergies with cards that benefit from death triggers.

Instant Speed: Casting enchantments at instant speed offers flexibility, allowing players to respond to threats or opportunities swiftly without having to commit during their own turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Vow of Malice demands a card from your hand to be discarded, which can deplete your in-game options, especially when you’re managing a slender hand size or crucial combo pieces.

Specific Mana Cost: This enchantment asks for specific colors in its mana cost, making it less adaptable for decks that don’t run black mana or that are struggling to manage a more complex mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing three mana might be costly, considering there are other enchantments or spells available that could provide similar or better benefits for the same or lowered mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Vow of Malice adapts well to different gameplay situations, offering black and green decks a helpful boost. By enchanting your creature, it gains intimidate and a power increase, making it a formidable threat that’s tougher to block.

Combo Potential: This enchantment can become a key piece in various strategies centered around creatures. It can enhance creatures that benefit from power boosts or those that utilize evasion to press advantages on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: Given the presence of creature-based decks in the meta, Vow of Malice can provide an edge by turning a simple creature into a significant threat, disrupting your opponent’s plans. Its relevance escalates especially in formats where enchantments are harder to deal with.


How to beat

Vow of Malice, with its ability to empower creatures while also restricting them to attack only opponents and not you, can be quite a strategic spell in MTG. To navigate around this enchantment, it’s crucial to pivot your strategy towards removal spells or abilities that can target either the enchanted creature or the aura itself. Cards such as Naturalize or Disenchant are prime examples since they can directly dispose of the enchantment, nullifying its effect and providing a clear path to victory.

Another effective tactic is to use counterspells when your opponent casts Vow of Malice. Counters like Cancel or Negate work well by preventing the spell from taking effect in the first place. It’s important to keep mana available for such instances. Lastly, strategies that don’t rely heavily on blockers or combat can inherently circumvent the restrictions imposed by Vow of Malice. Combining these approaches can keep you one step ahead, ensuring that your opponent’s creatures never pose too significant a threat, even with enhanced power and evasion.

As you build your deck and plan your play, incorporating versatile answers to auras and enchantments will undoubtedly strengthen your game against cards like Vow of Malice. By staying prepared and adaptable, you can keep your opponents on their toes and secure your path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Through the lens of gameplay strategy, Vow of Malice emerges as a versatile enchantment to consider for your MTG arsenal. As you balance the pros and cons, remember that MTG is a game of nuanced tactics and adaptation. The card’s ability to enhance a creature’s power and grant evasion could pivot a match in your favor. When thinking about integration into your deck, consider the synergies and meta relevance it brings. Want to delve deeper into mastering enchantments like Vow of Malice and bolstering your creature-based strategies? Immerse yourself in our comprehensive guides that cover everything from deck building to advanced gameplay. Join our community and perfect your strategy to outmaneuver opponents and dominate the battlefield. Learn more with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vow of Malice MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2011 and Commander 2015, 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 Vow of Malice and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vow of Malice Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2011-06-17 and 2018-06-08. Illustrated by Jesper Ejsing.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 1072003NormalBlackJesper Ejsing
22015-11-13Commander 2015C15 1402015NormalBlackJesper Ejsing
32015-11-18Legendary Cube Prize PackPZ1 512015NormalBlackJesper Ejsing
42017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 732015NormalBlackJesper Ejsing
52018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 822015NormalBlackJesper Ejsing

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vow of Malice has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal