Price$0.51 – $27.87
Buy on TCGplayerVault of the Archangel
Land
LegalRank #450
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, : Creatures you control gain deathtouch and lifelink until end of turn.
Why is this card good?
Vault of the Archangel is one of the best "free" utility lands in Orzhov, because the activated ability turns even a modest board into a defensive wall and a life-swing engine. Deathtouch means every blocker trades up — your token army or even a single creature suddenly deters massive attacks, and lifelink can buy huge life totals in a single combat.
This shines in token and go-wide decks (Teysa, Elenda, Ghave-adjacent BW builds) where granting the whole board deathtouch+lifelink makes alpha strikes lethal and blocks suicidal for opponents. It's also strong in lifegain/aristocrats shells that want to spike life totals, and in any grindy Orzhov deck that values surviving combat.
The catch is the cost: plus the tap is steep for a land, so it's a late-game ability you rarely use early. It also only makes colorless mana, so it can clog your early curve.
Skip it in fast combo decks or decks light on creatures — you need a board to leverage it.
plus the tap is steep for a land, so it's a late-game ability you rarely use early. It also only makes colorless mana, so it can clog your early curve.
Skip it in fast combo decks or decks light on creatures — you need a board to leverage it.Related cards
Sandsteppe Citadel
Another WB-producing utility land for the same color identity.
Scoured Barrens
WB dual land that also gains life, fits the lifegain theme.
Caves of Koilos
Painland producing W or B for two-color fixing.
Godless Shrine
WB shockland providing efficient dual-color fixing.
Silverbluff Bridge
Colorless utility land alternative producing relevant mana.
Whip of Erebos
Grants lifelink to your creatures, similar combat-anchor effect.
Basilisk Collar
Equipment giving deathtouch and lifelink, mirroring the activated ability.
Gift of Doom
Aura that grants deathtouch as a combat trick like the land's ability.
Printings (8)
Played by these commanders
Zurgo Stormrender100% of 1
Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos100% of 1
Nalia de'Arnise100% of 1
Clavileño, First of the Blessed100% of 1
Olivia, Opulent Outlaw100% of 1
Combos (1)
- Volcano Hellion + Vault of the Archangel
→ Infinite lifegain
Rulings (2)
- 2011-01-22
Multiple instances of deathtouch or lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
- 2011-01-22
Vault of the Archangel's last ability affects only creatures you control when that ability resolves. It won't affect creatures that come under your control later in the turn.