Chambered Nautilus MTG Card


Chambered Nautilus can draw cards, boosting strategic options each turn through card advantage. This card aids in early casting of high-cost spells via resource acceleration. Utilizing instant speed synergies with Chambered Nautilus offers significant tactical advantages.
Chambered Nautilus - Mercadian Masques
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Nautilus Beast
Released1999-10-04
Set symbol
Set nameMercadian Masques
Set codeMMQ
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number64
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJohn Matson

Text of card

Whenever Chambered Nautilus becomes blocked, you may draw a card.

What's merely a home for the nautilus can become exquisite jewelry in the hands of Saprazzan artisans.


Cards like Chambered Nautilus

The intrigue of Chambered Nautilus lies in its ability to be an adaptable component in decks that capitalize on +1/+1 counters and creature interactions within the game of Magic: The Gathering. It echoes the mechanics found in creatures like Managorger Hydra, which shares the ability to grow in power and toughness through the accumulation of +1/+1 counters in response to spells cast. However, Chambered Nautilus stands out with its ease of triggering the effect, needing only to be targeted by a spell to gain a counter.

Examining other creatures in this vein, we encounter Crystalline Crawler, which also benefits from +1/+1 counters but goes a step further by converting them into mana of any color. Though both cards provide persistent benefits throughout the match, they offer different strategic advantages. Crystalline Crawler brings mana flexibility to the table whereas Chambered Nautilus offers a more defensive capacity by becoming larger with each spell cast by an opponent. Avian Oddity is yet another comparable card that can gain counters, but it requires a more involved process to trigger its growth.

Comparatively, Chambered Nautilus thrives on its straightforward ability to counteract an opponent’s strategies while bolstering its own might, demonstrating its unique prowess among creatures that grow through player actions in Magic: The Gathering.

Managorger Hydra - MTG Card versions
Crystalline Crawler - MTG Card versions
Avian Oddity - MTG Card versions
Managorger Hydra - MTG Card versions
Crystalline Crawler - MTG Card versions
Avian Oddity - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Chambered Nautilus by color, type and mana cost

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Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Reef Pirates - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Clam Session - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Wormfang Drake - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Having a Chambered Nautilus in play can consistently enhance your hand since it can be used to draw a card every time it deals damage to an opponent. This can significantly boost your strategic options each turn.

Resource Acceleration: When Chambered Nautilus enters the battlefield, it plays a subtle but pivotal role in resource acceleration by potentially untapping lands or other mana-generating sources, which in turn can be vital for casting high-cost spells earlier than expected.

Instant Speed: The fact that spells or abilities that synergize with Chambered Nautilus can often be at instant speed provides a tactical advantage. It allows you to react promptly to your opponent’s moves, waiting for the ideal moment to generate card advantage or accelerate your resources without sacrificing the tempo of your own turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One disadvantage of the Chambered Nautilus card is the mandatory discard a player must enact to leverage its abilities. This stipulation can hamper the player’s hand, especially in tight situations where card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both blue and green mana, Chambered Nautilus demands a dual-color deck build. This specific mana requirement can complicate deck construction and restrict the card’s integration into a wider variety of MTG decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Casting Chambered Nautilus comes at a notable mana valuation that might not align with the card’s impact on the game. In the rapidly evolving MTG landscape, players may find that there are alternative cards that can provide enhanced utility or board presence at a lower cost threshold.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Chambered Nautilus is a card that seamlessly integrates into a variety of decks. Its adaptability comes from its morph ability, allowing it to surprise opponents when revealed at the right moment, making it a flexible asset in both offensive and defensive scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card is known for its synergy with effects that care about turning face-up creatures, multiple types of interactions, or evolving game states. Its ability to enhance and be enhanced by other cards creates a dynamic that seasoned players will find irresistible for constructing intricate and powerful combos.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where many players utilize creatures with static abilities, Chambered Nautilus offers a proactive solution. Its strategic reveal can turn the tide of battle and fits within the contemporary metagame by offering an element of surprise against more predictable strategies.


How to beat

The Chambered Nautilus is a unique creature card that can present challenges to opponents due to its increasing power as enchantments come into play. To effectively counter this card, it is essential to limit the number of enchantments on the battlefield or to have reliable removal spells at the ready. Since the Chambered Nautilus benefits significantly from enchantment synergy, an effective strategy would be to use instant speed removal such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, to remove it before it becomes a formidable threat. Additionally, focusing on cards that counter enchantments or creatures can also prevent the Nautilus from leveraging its full potential. Enchantment removal like Disenchant or even universal answers like Oblivion Ring can help maintain control over the game. Board wipes also serve as an excellent countermeasure, with cards such as Wrath of God or Damnation resetting the field and thus mitigating the impact of the Nautilus. Effective planning and a well-constructed deck with these types of responses can ensure that the Chambered Nautilus does not dominate the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chambered Nautilus MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Chambered Nautilus and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chambered Nautilus has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal