@A3kitsune: Instill Energy doesn't actually give haste, it just lets the creature attack as though it had haste. Giving actual haste is better for a creature that you're going to get an extra untap out of. (Priest of Titania tapping twice the turn you play it??)
@Psuedonaut: Again, instill energy isn't worded the same, and the untap can only be used on your turn. And as an enchantment, it can only be played on your turn. Touch of Vitae, as an instant, could be used on your opponent's turn to untap a creature and block with it. And with this being a delayed cantrip, it replaces itself.
This card is much better utility than Instill Energy. As a combo piece, instill energy may be better, but this is a better card overall, in my opinion.
And @Thorns: Congratulations, you just invented a two-card, 4GBB cost, easily counterable Terminate (that can be regerated through).
Posted By:
PeabodyET
(7/20/2011 2:05:25 PM)
The extra {2} actually comes from the slowtrip... Would have been much better without.
Posted By:
Lord_of_Tresserhorn
(3/9/2012 9:00:16 AM)
Passionate rant about an ambiguous card ahead.
I think this card is quite underrated. When do you need haste? Only on the turn that creature comes out, for that creature. There are tons of things that can be done to instants though, so it may normally be a one-time thing, but potentially much stronger in a combo. An obvious comparison for this is Instill Energy. Instill Energy is 2 cheaper, and gives a free untap every single turn, vs a much more expensive instant which happens to give actual haste, and gives you a card. So, one extra mana for the ability to play it instantly, which plays into the whole playing against an enemy and not for the most efficient thing, and then one extra mana for the card at the next turn's upkeep. Maybe I'm wrong about this next part, but maybe not, but it doesn't say the beginning of the next turn's first upkeep, so this might combo with Paradox Haze.
Back to comparisoning. A choice of Elvish Archdr... (see all)
Posted By:
Psuedonaut
(1/23/2011 12:42:54 AM)
Instant, one-turn-only version of Instill Energy. And with the original being underpriced, this is priced at about the correct price. For the aura. For this one-off, it's too high.
Posted By:
A3Kitsune
(7/19/2010 10:34:25 PM)
What about using this with Bounty Hunter?
Posted By:
ThornsofChristos
(6/20/2011 4:28:35 PM)
Who else said "OH MY GOD PSIONIC GIFT"
then saw the "activate this ability only once"?
Posted By:
MacBizzle
(8/21/2011 12:51:44 AM)
The problem with Touch of Vitae is its mana cost. This card and Instill Energy are most often used on a creature you just summoned, of course, so you can attack right away with it (and then untap it afterwards to serve as a blocker!) So, Instill Energy, being a single green mana, means you just need 1 mana more than your creature's casting cost, but Touch of Vitae requires 3 extra mana. That makes a big difference, and means doing it later in the game, or just using it on tiny creatures. Sure, green has lots of fast mana, but it still takes time to get that mana available. Every point of mana is significant, otherwise Craw Wurm would be a great card.
Of course, the combos available with Instill Energy, the classics like Birds of Paradise and Prodigal Sorcerer, are another reason why the original mean green machine outclasses the hand with the spotty background. Long live Instill Energy!
Posted By:
DrJack
(7/6/2012 5:13:11 PM)
Why don't they errata-it so it says Untap target Creature and Draw a card at the beginning of next turn's upkeep.
Posted By:
atemu1234
(8/14/2012 7:07:08 PM)
Meh, too expensive. It would be a neat card for one 
.
Posted By:
SgtPepperjack
(8/15/2012 12:15:29 PM)