I love that the artwork for the sword is the same as the one one Akroma, Angel of Wrath weilds - combined with the flavour text. Three mana to equip is usually a steep cost but this card makes your creatures fight like the angel herself, so it might be worth it. I guess flying and protection from black and red are her angelic abilities and not provided by her sword. Hopefully the competitive players will stay a way so the rest of us can get a powerful peice of equipment to play with.
nammertime
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(20 votes)
Sacred Wolf is just ASKING to be equipped with this. Also, flavorwise, it'd be funny to see a wolf wielding this sword with vengeance in his eyes.
It's a nice card, I think Loxodon Warhammer will remain my favorite equipment for now. The haste on this card seems pretty hard to take advantage of with an equip cost of 3.
FogRaider
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(3 votes)
Seems about on par with Behemoth Sledge, which is reasonable IMO.
Akroma dropped her sword that means...She will be back to get it.
ZEvilMustache
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
jumpenrun wins the discussion!
Wraique
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
At prerelease this card, an Æther Adept, and a Doom Blade almost won me a game by themselves.
LTJZamboni
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I think the haste really puts this weapon over the top. Will be a 1-of in my Naya Deck alongside the package (Basilisk Collar/Behemoth Sledge). Turning Vengevine into a first striking trampling war machine at a reasonable 6 mana is enough for this card to make the cut. 4.5/5
TreeTrunkMaster
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(3 votes)
Phylactery Lich could use some nice abilities. (and if this card is already out that is an artifact to put a counter on too, bonus)
Paleopaladin
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(8 votes)
Should've called it "sword of wrath" imo.
Kryptnyt
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(2 votes)
My kind of equipment that.
Anggul
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Throw this in any deck ever and laugh.
darkfury
★☆☆☆☆ (1.3/5.0)(3 votes)
this thing looks at Loxodon Warhammer and says you are an uncommon, goto hell, do not pass go, do not collect redemption
klaff
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
I pulled a lot of crappy creature at the prerelease, which has helped me develop my stance that any creature, even the most seemingly insignificant ones are a force to be reckoned with if they have this sword. After a Day of Judgment from an opponents stopping me from overruning him, a topdecked Viscera Seer was played, had this equipped and promptly spent the next two turns beating him down. I can't wait to see this hit constructed, I honestly think its good enough to see some seriously play.
This is a great card. I lost a few games at the M11 pre-release tournament. I got the card in a prize booster pack and won a few more in the next tournament. This card deserves a place in every deck.
I'm surprised this wasn't made a Legendary Artifact as well as put a the Mythic Rare lever... but I'll take it...Go Kor Duelist !!!
JaxsonBateman
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Finally cracked one of these at a release party sealed event, and put it in my UW flier deck. Simply insane. It turns most creatures into serious, serious threats. An Augury Owl that swings for 3 then can first strike kill a large number of creatures? Yessir. Azure Drake that is more effective than a Serra Angel? Sure thing. A Steel Overseer that can swing for a fair portion of damage, and still tap and add +1/+1 counters? Done.
While there are certainly some more powerful cards in limited (I'd imagine it'd be hard to go past a Sun Titan comboing with Quag Sickness, or Inferno Titan, or Vengeful Archon in the late game), Sword of Vengeance can turn most creatures into a serious threat for a very low cost. And it's colourless. Just full of win.
dunnjames
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(2 votes)
this card is great if you can play it at the beginning of the game
Take that back, the original printing of Akroma has this sword in it.
circu196
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(3 votes)
Equip to a nighthawk for a mini Akroma, with benefits of first strike deathtouch
linksdeity
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(8 votes)
People saying this is Akroma's sword should read the flavor text.
I like to give this sword to Volrath so that he can be Volrath, Evincar of Wrath. (buh-dum-tish)
Jokergius
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@nammertime: kinda reminds me of the Okami... d>.<b
guardianbeastbreeder
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
This card won 3 games for me at a booster draft last night. I had it on an acidic slime. the first strike, deathtouch, vigilance is a nightmare for anyone. Even if they kill your creature, just equip the next thing you drop (if you have the 3 mana) and go to town with haste!! Excellent card. 5/5
Sword of Vengeance is the same sword as the one wielded by Akroma, Angel of Wrath, in the Legions, and Time Spiral "Timeshifted" printings, and also the same as the one held by the statue of Akroma's Memorial, in its Future Site printing.
The sword bears the same golden triangle tipped pommel, the same equally spaced ringed grip, the same horned cross guard, golden, embedded with a single azure gem, the exact same fuller, edge and central ridge in the blade, and the same golden tip. The flavor text is probably derived from one of the books, but the sword itself is beyond a doubt, the same sword as Akroma's.
It is note worthy to mention that the red and white Akromas share only three abilities, flying, protection from certain colors, and trample. Flying is a result of their angelic nature, not the weapon they are wielding, and the same with the their respective protection from colors. Trample is probably the result of both the Sword of Vengeance like sword that Akroma, Angel of Wrath wields, and the weapon Akroma, Angel of Fury wields (and also a practicality, since fire breath + flying - trample = sadness, fire breath + flying + trample = oh, yeah!).
To conclude, Akroma, Angel of Wrath wields the same sword as the Sword of Vengeance, and her memorial hold a similar weapon. Akroma, Angel of Fury on the other hand wiled a different weapon and thus possesses different abilities.
Let's give it to....slippery bogle!! I'm sure he'll know what to do with it!
scumbling1
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I really like the flavor text. It's perfect for characterizing Akroma as the insanely fanatical nutjob that she is. She's probably the single most iconic creature for white, and she's a total jerk!
Leggzy
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Works nicely in an infect deck!
Equip an infect creature and attack. First strike, wither a blocke awayr; trample, deal a little poison to the other player; haste, do it now; vigilance, be ready as a blocker on your opponent's turn!
This sword goes best in a green deck though, since it gives lots of abilities to off-set green's high p/t vanilla's
kiseki
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(4 votes)
I'll take bonesplitter over this all the time. It is just too expensive for the effect. The first equip costs 4 more than the bonesplitter, and you get four abilities for it. The only ability worth that mana is trample. For the other three, I would give them each up for one mana less for either the equip or casting cost. Haste? Really? It is ridiculous to think about paying over the cost of the creature to make use of that. Are you made of mana? If so play something more exciting! I love big splashy cards but the outrageous cost of this kills the excitement. I just couldn't justify taking up an entire slot in my decks for this.
CrowJonSnow
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
how it happens when someone plays this in my group of friends:
someone plays it, then equips it.
opponent: "ok, so it has +2/+0, trample, and first strike?" "no, +2/+0, trample, first strike, and haste." "oh, ok. you attacking?" "yeah. oh, wait, it has vigilance too." "so, it has all that? screw it, i resign."
DavidF
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
This card is just plain silly; all these attributes for only 3 mana and people actually think it's expensive.
Don't let Grimgrin, Corpse Born equip this sword. Trample and Vigilance on him = Jason Voorhees
Kitty_the_Kat
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
This thing wrecks in EDH. Seriously, throw it in your deck.
tedkang3582
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Personally, I've beaten more people with this and the Emrakul, the Aeons Torn combo than anything else.
1. You summon Emrakul. 2. You equip Sword of Vengeance to Emrakul. 3.Attack, and watch your opponent despair. 4.Attack, and watch your opponent lose.
Negated
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@tedkang3582: Emrakul, the Aeons Torn is a combo unto itself. Annihilate 6 will crush your opponent.
I do agree that Flying chumps are annoying for a turn or 2, but not much longer. They've gotta have a wrath right there or lose the game, because they'll be outta mana.
However, Vigilance IS a criminally underrated mechanic.
DragonLord132
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Sword of all the Abilities!
tironi91
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@nammertime
Great Grey Wolf Sif much?
JackTheStripper
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
It is yet another part of my quest... To have ALL the keywords!!!
You know the funny thing about Kaalia? Her biggest problem now is she is as much of a public enemy as Jace, the Mind Sculptor (maybe not as big a threat, but I feel the community is that divided over loving her/hating her bc of sheer annoyance).
SO because playing her will make a target of her so very instantly, she is *only* good if you play....Tinker-Belle. (Stoneforge Mystic) to make sure you can search up all your armors, and the Black Tutors so you can plunk Avacyn down a.s.a.p.
Well, when you are ''forced'' to play such sick one-two combos as Tinker-Belle + Worldslayer + Avacyn for your 'stay alive support', you MIGHT as well go all in and:
The joke in my playgroup when this was first printed was that this was "Trustier Machete" since it was printed just after Zendikar block.
GoodLordigans
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@HairlessThoctar: Yep, and she costs {W}{W}. :P
Lash_of_Dragonbreath
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
So, another thread with a completely unrelated comment by DarthParralax on how Kaalia of the Vast is "TEH MOST POWRFUL EDH GENERAL EVER!!111!!". Something tells me he's never taken his kaalia to a real table, she draws tons of early game hate and, unless she was expertly built, runs out of gas on turn 5, when the other decks are preparing to rape the table.
And you don't want to throw this into a Kaalia deck BTW. Doesn't give her almost any protection and costs ten million mana to play and equip. But I have to agree it is one nice piece of equipment. Look at how many keyword abilities it grants! And the flavor! Not as broken as the Swords of X and Y (Sword of War and Peace, et al) but that's OK since those are too powerful anyway.
j_mindfingerpainter
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
My man Wurmcoil, who is awesome already, tends to be more awesome when he can destroy 8 creatures that block him without being dealt damage.
Some people say "What was Wizards thinking, making this cost {3} and its equip cost {3}?" I say, what are you thinking?
Wizards, I would've loved a reprint. Maybe next time.
@nammertime: Sacred Wolf + this... That's basically the premise of Ameratsu from Okami.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love how cheap this thing is!! If it had equip cost of 2 like the other sword of X and Y, then it would be more expensive. Solid card none the less.
RPGfan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
With a combined CMC and Equip cost of 6 it can LOOK expensive, but anyone who knows how to use artifacts can get around that easy. And since all of its abilities have such great synergy this card is pretty much ballin' in Equip focused decks like Human tribal.
Red-White
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ HairlessThoctar
Yes, she is a 4/6 flying protection from black and red angel, but she would also cost only 5 mana, which would make her way better for hard casting decks that play her, but make her so much less of an game ender.
MICKEY.KNOX
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I have to agree with phatpack on this one. Used to love shutting down Walletslayer Angels with this and Nighthawk. Of course, this two card team jus screams 'come at me, bro.' But we all know first strike and deathtouch is the shizz in combat... toss vigilance and trample in the mix and watch your opponent scramble for artifact or creature removal cuz they know it's comin at 'em every turn. Awesome equipment.
Arachnos
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@raptorman333: more like Great Grey Wolf Sif from Dark Souls.
@HairlessThoctar: The best part about it is that if you read the Onslaught Cycle books, that actually makes a helluva lot of sense. The Vorthos appeal is strong with this one.
Umbric
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is the card that introduced me to the swords oddly enough. It's a great card 4/5
Comments (63)
Take this away from Akroma, and all of a sudden she's an 4/6 flying, pro red and black angel. :P
VIGILANCE. IS NOT TO BE UNDERESTIMATED.
While there are certainly some more powerful cards in limited (I'd imagine it'd be hard to go past a Sun Titan comboing with Quag Sickness, or Inferno Titan, or Vengeful Archon in the late game), Sword of Vengeance can turn most creatures into a serious threat for a very low cost. And it's colourless. Just full of win.
Take that back, the original printing of Akroma has this sword in it.
I like to give this sword to Volrath so that he can be Volrath, Evincar of Wrath. (buh-dum-tish)
d>.<b
turn one- llanowar elves; two- sword of vengeance; three- kor duelist, equip, swing for 6;
four- play and equip cloak and dagger...
woah!
The sword bears the same golden triangle tipped pommel, the same equally spaced ringed grip, the same horned cross guard, golden, embedded with a single azure gem, the exact same fuller, edge and central ridge in the blade, and the same golden tip. The flavor text is probably derived from one of the books, but the sword itself is beyond a doubt, the same sword as Akroma's.
It is note worthy to mention that the red and white Akromas share only three abilities, flying, protection from certain colors, and trample. Flying is a result of their angelic nature, not the weapon they are wielding, and the same with the their respective protection from colors. Trample is probably the result of both the Sword of Vengeance like sword that Akroma, Angel of Wrath wields, and the weapon Akroma, Angel of Fury wields (and also a practicality, since fire breath + flying - trample = sadness, fire breath + flying + trample = oh, yeah!).
To conclude, Akroma, Angel of Wrath wields the same sword as the Sword of Vengeance, and her memorial hold a similar weapon. Akroma, Angel of Fury on the other hand wiled a different weapon and thus possesses different abilities.
Still loving it though. Here you go, Phylactery Lich.
Equip an infect creature and attack. First strike, wither a blocke awayr; trample, deal a little poison to the other player; haste, do it now; vigilance, be ready as a blocker on your opponent's turn!
GG
This sword goes best in a green deck though, since it gives lots of abilities to off-set green's high p/t vanilla's
The first equip costs 4 more than the bonesplitter, and you get four abilities for it.
The only ability worth that mana is trample. For the other three, I would give them each up for one mana less for either the equip or casting cost.
Haste? Really? It is ridiculous to think about paying
I love big splashy cards but the outrageous cost of this kills the excitement. I just couldn't justify taking up an entire slot in my decks for this.
someone plays it, then equips it.
opponent: "ok, so it has +2/+0, trample, and first strike?"
"no, +2/+0, trample, first strike, and haste."
"oh, ok. you attacking?"
"yeah. oh, wait, it has vigilance too."
"so, it has all that? screw it, i resign."
1. You summon Emrakul.
2. You equip Sword of Vengeance to Emrakul.
3.Attack, and watch your opponent despair.
4.Attack, and watch your opponent lose.
I do agree that Flying chumps are annoying for a turn or 2, but not much longer. They've gotta have a wrath right there or lose the game, because they'll be outta mana.
However, Vigilance IS a criminally underrated mechanic.
Great Grey Wolf Sif much?
You know the funny thing about Kaalia? Her biggest problem now is she is as much of a public enemy as Jace, the Mind Sculptor (maybe not as big a threat, but I feel the community is that divided over loving her/hating her bc of sheer annoyance).
SO because playing her will make a target of her so very instantly, she is *only* good if you play....Tinker-Belle. (Stoneforge Mystic) to make sure you can search up all your armors, and the Black Tutors so you can plunk Avacyn down a.s.a.p.
Well, when you are ''forced'' to play such sick one-two combos as Tinker-Belle + Worldslayer + Avacyn for your 'stay alive support', you MIGHT as well go all in and:
Griselbrand digging for Gisela
or Worldslayer + Animate Dead
or Liliana Vess to Miracle-ize Reforge the Soul
And you don't want to throw this into a Kaalia deck BTW. Doesn't give her almost any protection and costs ten million mana to play and equip. But I have to agree it is one nice piece of equipment. Look at how many keyword abilities it grants! And the flavor! Not as broken as the Swords of X and Y (Sword of War and Peace, et al) but that's OK since those are too powerful anyway.
Some people say "What was Wizards thinking, making this cost {3} and its equip cost {3}?" I say, what are you thinking?
Wizards, I would've loved a reprint. Maybe next time.
EDIT: It's her sword so I feel it should have this card's name.
Yes, she is a 4/6 flying protection from black and red angel, but she would also cost only 5 mana, which would make her way better for hard casting decks that play her, but make her so much less of an game ender.
http://www.g33kwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/sif.png