Demonic vs Vampiric
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Aug. 14, 2015, 7:19 a.m. by -Fulcrum
Demonic Tutor vs Vampiric Tutor: which is superior?
Before we start, I want to mention I'm not asking which one I should play, I have both.
Obviously there are situations where is one better than the other and vice versa and so on and so forth and et cetera.
But, in a vaccuum, which is the superior tutor?
PRO: Cheaper
PRO: Instant
CON: Life Loss
CON: Top Deck
PRO: Straight to Hand
PRO: No Downside
CON: Sorcery
CON: 1 Extra mana
Some may argue the lifeloss from Vamp is negligible. The same can be argued about the 1 extra mana for Demonic.
Should this be a poll?
Straight up, Demonic Tutor is better. Going to hand is far better than to top, which dictates you having a way to draw, and gives your opponents more options to interact and prevent you from getting the card you tutored for. That being said, any deck that needs tutors should definitely run both- they are the two best tutors in the game.
August 14, 2015 7:36 a.m.
Tyrant-Thanatos says... #4
Vampiric Tutor is mad superior imho.
I can see the appeal of Demonic Tutor, but the advantage of straight to hand is negated entirely by the sorcery speed imo.
Example: Turn 3, you want a specific 4drop on Turn 4, and have the land drop to do it.
With Vampiric Tutor you can drop a 2drop and save the mana for Tutoring during your opponent's end step. Whereas with Demonic Tutor you have to blow two mana on it now, leaving you with only a 1drop this turn.
The advantage Demonic may have in a scenario like this is that you still get your draw. Maybe in some ways it depends on your build. End step Tutoring is insanely valuable in a control build, much like end step draw. Sorcery speed just won't work for a control build, but maybe an aggro build won't suffer so much?
As far as the life loss on Vampiric Tutor is concerned, it is negligible. Look at Thoughtseize.
August 14, 2015 7:36 a.m.
Demonic Tutor - one mana less, but at least you are not virtually down a card (since you lose your draw next turn with Vampiric Tutor). Also, Grim Tutor>all.
August 14, 2015 7:54 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #6
The life loss from Vampiric Tutor does not matter.
The extra mana on Demonic Tutor potentially matters, and it does so quite a bit more than any life loss.
For most casual and semicompetitive decks, Demonic Tutor is better because the extra 
is not so pressing and the card-to-hand tutor is more valuable.
In competitive, Vampiric Tutor fills a very specific niche in combo and control because it's an insanely cheap way to sneak a tutor past most disruption. Plus you can turn one tutor with it and be ready to kickstart your turn two.
August 14, 2015 8:53 a.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #7
The fact that Vampiric Tutor is banned in Duel while Demonic is not should tell you all you need to know.
End step tutoring is nuts.
August 14, 2015 9:56 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #8
I vote Demonic Tutor because card advantage is a thing, but Vampiric Tutor does mesh with miracles.... Hmm...
August 14, 2015 10:32 a.m.
Vampiric tutor without a doubt. Instant speed tutoring for 1 mana is just silly.
August 14, 2015 10:39 a.m. Edited.
slovakattack says... #10
Vamp is the stronger card, but... why not both? Seriously.
EDIT: I DO NOT READ THINGS AND AM A BAD. MOVE ON, EVERYONE, NOTHING TO SEE HERE ---->
August 14, 2015 11:14 a.m. Edited.
Vampiric is usually better in high level play. If you sequence card properly, you should be able to combo off with protection up easier with it. Still, if you can run both, do so. They're both stupidly good cards.
August 14, 2015 11:49 a.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #13
The lifeloss is a complete non-issue in EDH. But the other differences are not. Definitely situational.
August 14, 2015 2:05 p.m.
Example if on turn 8 I have 6 mana available I could demonic for Damnation but on the other hand turn one putting your Sol Ring on top to draw T2 is quite effective
xworkoutxfiendx says... #2
Id go Demonic Tutor just cause it goes straight to hand.
August 14, 2015 7:29 a.m.