Vazal, the Compleat is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Megalegendary (Your deck can have only one copy of this card.) Vigilance, trample Vazal, the Compleat has the activated abilities of all other permanents on the battlefield.
Complete guide
Vazal, the Compleat is a terrifying Phyrexian artifact creature that embodies the ultimate potential of the collective. As a Megalegendary threat, it stands unique in your deck, ready to dominate the battlefield by absorbing the utility of every other permanent in play. This massive 7/7 creature doesn't just provide raw power; it provides every possibility.
What it Does
Vazal, the Compleat has two key keyword abilities: Vigilance and Trample. However, its most powerful trait is its ability to gain the activated abilities of all other permanents on the battlefield. An activated ability is always written in the format '[Cost]: [Effect]'. This includes keyword abilities like Equip or Crew, though these specifically may have no effect when used by Vazal. It only gains activated abilities, not triggered abilities (starting with 'When', 'Whenever', or 'At') or static abilities.
How it Resolves Step by Step
When Vazal is on the battlefield, it continuously checks for all other permanents in play. For each permanent, it identifies any ability containing a colon. Vazal gains these abilities as they are written, replacing instances of the original card's name with 'Vazal, the Compleat'. If two activated abilities on a card are linked (such as one ability exiling a card and another returning it), they remain linked when Vazal copies them. This process is automatic and does not use the stack; as soon as a permanent enters the battlefield, Vazal has its activated abilities.
Common Mistakes
The most frequent error is trying to copy triggered abilities. For example, if a permanent says 'Whenever you cast a spell, draw a card,' Vazal does not gain this because it lacks a colon. Another common mistake involves the Megalegendary rule; even in formats like Sealed or Draft where you might pull two copies, you are strictly limited to one copy in your deck. Additionally, remember that while Vazal gains the abilities, it does not gain the types or static traits of the other cards, such as protection or cost-reduction effects.
When to Play It
Vazal is a high-cost finisher meant for the late game when the board is full of utility. It thrives in environments with mana sinks or cards that have powerful tap abilities. Because it has Vigilance, you can attack for 7 trample damage and still have Vazal ready to use any defensive or utility activated abilities you have acquired during your opponent's turn.
Interaction examples
Seedborn MuseIf Seedborn Muse and Vazal, the Compleat are both on the battlefield, Vazal gains nothing from the Muse. This is because Seedborn Muse has a static ability ('Untap all permanents...') rather than an activated ability. Vazal only copies abilities formatted with a colon.
Avenger of ZendikarWhen Avenger of Zendikar is on the field, Vazal, the Compleat does not gain the ability to create Plant tokens or the Landfall ability to add +1/+1 counters. Both of these are triggered abilities starting with 'When' and 'Whenever'. Vazal remains a 7/7 Vigilance Trample creature unless other permanents with activated abilities are present.
Imagine a card on the battlefield has the ability '{1}: Untap this creature.' Vazal, the Compleat gains '{1}: Untap Vazal, the Compleat.' The ability functions perfectly for Vazal because any self-reference to the original card name is automatically treated as referencing Vazal instead.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Vazal, the Compleat
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If you’re fortunate enough to have two copies of Vazal in a Limited event, you can still put only one into your deck. The other remains in your sideboard.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Activated abilities contain a colon. They’re generally written “[Cost]: [Effect].” Some keyword abilities (such as equip) are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text. Vazal won’t gain triggered abilities (which start with “when,” “whenever,” or “at”).
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If an activated ability references the card it’s printed on by name, treat Vazal’s instance of that ability as though it referenced Vazal by name instead.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If Vazal gains an activated ability that’s normally linked to a non-activated ability of the card it came from, the ability Vazal has isn’t linked to any ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If Vazal gains an activated ability that’s normally linked to another activated ability of the card it came from, those two abilities Vazal gains are linked for as long as Vazal remains on the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If Vazal has a crew or equip ability, activating it won’t cause anything to happen.
No other card is named in this ruling.
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Meta decks with Vazal, the Compleat
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