Magic the Gathering (MTG) Tech Talk - Vivien, Arcbow Ranger

As Day 2 of the Mythic Championship Arena is done for today, let's look at a card that was spoiled in this event.

Vivien, Arcbow Ranger

Legendary Planeswalker - Vivien

+1: Distribute two +1/+1 counters among up to two target creatures. They gain trample until end of turn.

-3: Target creature you control deals damage equal to it's power to target creature or planeswalker.

-5: You may choose a creature card you own from outside the game, reveal it, and put it into your hand.

CMC: 1GGG
Starting Loyalty: 4

Looking at this card converted mana cost, it is very steep. Although in exchange, it does come in on board with a good number of loyalty. For now, let's take a look at the abilities for Vivien.

Her +1 ability for those that remember Vurdurous Gearhulk back in Kaladesh, it is a reminisce of the card as it you are able to either put those +1/+1 counters on two different creatures or onto only one creature or you can choose to put no counters at all.

Otherwise with this effect, this gives the deck a way to push through damage as it gives those creatures trample.

Her -3 ability gives you a way to deal with creatures you don't generally want to trade with in combat or with planeswalkers or a way to put lethal damage on board without the creature being blocked.

Her -5. So for those who have played with Karn, the Great Creator, his -2 ability let's you be able to get a card from your sideboard for artifacts. Her effect gives you a way to grab creatures from the sideboard so if you need a way to get Experimental Frenzy off the board, you can get either Thrashing Brontodon or Reclamation Sage from the sideboard or if you need a way to attack the graveyard, you can grab Deathgorge Scavenger. For the most part, this card lets you be able to be flexible with what you want to pack when you go to an tournament as being able to have access to your sideboard in game 1 is very powerful. If you are ever in a second color, you can have access to cards like Trostani from the sideboard against decks that play mass manipulation.

Otherwise I am actually looking forward to playing this card in the Standard Mono Green Ramp/Tron.

For now I will stop here.