, Sacrifice another creature: Search your library for a creature card with mana value equal to 1 plus the sacrificed creature's mana value, put that card onto the battlefield, then shuffle. Activate only as a sorcery.
Vannifar is a repeatable Birthing Pod on a stick: each turn you sacrifice a creature to tutor the next mana value up directly onto the battlefield. You build a toolbox of value creatures at every point on the curve, climbing the chain toward a combo finish or just out-valuing the table. The deck wants cheap, expendable creatures (tokens especially) to feed Vannifar and protect her so she can activate every turn.
Repeatable, untapped creature tutoring that fetches answers and threats onto the battlefield, dodging counters and saving mana
Extremely consistent—you can assemble combo pieces step by step regardless of what you draw
Strong toolbox flexibility: blink, ramp, removal-on-a-stick, and combo enablers all live in the same 99
Synergizes with token makers and ETB value creatures for endless incremental advantage
Sorcery-speed and once per turn (without untappers), so she's slow and telegraphed
Hard removal-dependent: as a creature commander she gets killed easily and is the engine
Needs fodder—runs out of gas if you have no spare creatures to sacrifice
Vulnerable to graveyard hate and summoning sickness slowing the chain
A flexible high-MV pod target that copies a creature to close combos or replay value.
Add fast mana (Mana Crypt, dorks) and untappers (Thousand-Year Elixir, Quick Draw, Intruder Alarm) to get multiple activations per turn. Tighten the curve so every MV slot has a meaningful target and bake in a compact combo line—pod into pieces like Restoration Angel, Karmic Guide, or Felidar Guardian loops with a sac outlet. Finally, protect the engine with counterspells and recast insurance so Vannifar keeps ticking.
Legendary Creature — Elf Ooze Wizard
, Sacrifice another creature: Search your library for a creature card with mana value equal to 1 plus the sacrificed creature's mana value, put that card onto the battlefield, then shuffle. Activate only as a sorcery.