Nighthaze MTG Card


Nighthaze offers flexible instant-speed utility, enabling surprise combat strategies or card cycling. Its swampwalk ability can exploit land compositions, particularly against decks with Swamps. Despite benefits, Nighthaze demands careful mana planning, potentially straining resources.
Nighthaze - Rise of the Eldrazi
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Released2010-04-23
Set symbol
Set nameRise of the Eldrazi
Set codeROE
Number118
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byTomasz Jedruszek

Text of card

Target creature gains swampwalk until end of turn. Draw a card.

"To evade the brood lineages, one must be made dark to all the senses." —Traga, Zulaport runner


Cards like Nighthaze

Nighthaze stands as a unique spell in the wide array of options available in Magic: The Gathering. This card offers players the ability to grant a single creature the ability to block flying creatures for the turn, which can be pivotal in combat strategies. It’s akin to cards like Leap, which also gives a creature flying until end of turn. However, Nighthaze is notable for its swampwalk ability rather than the actual flight, allowing for subtlety in gameplay maneuvers.

Comparing further, we encounter Peppersmoke, which similarly affects power dynamics for a turn by weakening a creature. Peppersmoke goes a step further, with the potential to eliminate a weakened creature while drawing a card if you have a faerie in play. Against this, Nighthaze offers no direct creature weakening but focuses instead on evasion and land-related abilities. Then there’s Filigree Crawler, which also involves creature evasion but in the form of artifact creature benefits upon death.

When dissecting the tactical uses and potential card synergies, Nighthaze presents an intriguing option for MTG players looking to exploit land-specific abilities and combat tricks, enabling strategic plays that could tip the scales in a game.

Leap - MTG Card versions
Peppersmoke - MTG Card versions
Filigree Crawler - MTG Card versions
Leap - MTG Card versions
Peppersmoke - MTG Card versions
Filigree Crawler - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nighthaze provides the benefit of modifying a creature’s capabilities while also letting you cycle through your deck, potentially uncovering key pieces to your strategy faster.

Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct resource accelerant, Nighthaze can be a cog in the engine of decks that capitalize on spell casting or graveyard synergies, indirectly accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed allows you to cast Nighthaze at the most opportune moment, whether that’s during combat on your turn or as a surprise element on your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nighthaze may demand discarding cards at times, placing strain on your hand and potentially forcing you to give up key pieces of your strategy prematurely.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring explicit black mana, Nighthaze can challenge deck fluidity, especially in multicolored decks that might struggle to meet the mana color criteria consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When stacked against alternatives, Nighthaze carries a relatively steep mana cost for its effect, which might slow down your tempo and give competitors an edge during pivotal turns.


Reasons to Include Nighthaze in Your Collection

Versatility: Nighthaze offers a unique spin on utility spells that can be utilized in a multitude of decks. As a card that grants swampwalk until the end of turn to a target creature, it can serve as both an offensive tool and a surprise defensive measure, slipping through for damage or avoiding potential blockers.

Combo Potential: This card might be a key piece in decks that revolve around land type modifiers and benefits from having creatures unblockable by certain lands. The swampwalk ability can seamlessly work with other cards that change lands into swamps or benefit from the number of swamps you or your opponent control.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where many players utilize black mana and swamp lands, Nighthaze can gain unexpected utility by making your creatures essentially unblockable. Its low cost also ensures that it can be played alongside other spells in a turn, keeping up with the pace of the current fast-paced meta-game.


How to beat

Nighthaze is a card that can often catch players off guard by granting swampwalk to a target creature until the end of turn. This ability allows the buffed creature to become unblockable as long as the opponent controls a Swamp. To effectively outmaneuver this tactic, consider adjusting your land base if possible—limiting or eliminating Swamps from your deck reduces the chances of Nighthaze altering the battlefield in your opponent’s favor. Additionally, keep an eye out for instant-speed removal that can disrupt your opponent’s plans mid-combat, eliminating the threat before it can take advantage of the swampwalk ability.

Maintaining tactical flexibility is also key when facing cards like Nighthaze. Prioritize creatures that can block or interact with creatures regardless of their abilities, such as those with reach or “can block any number of creatures” to ensure you’re not left defenseless. Artifact or enchantment-based removal can also neutralize the enhanced creature before it can exploit the swampwalk ability granted by Nighthaze. By preparing for these situations, you can overcome the challenges posed by this sneaky card and keep the upper hand in your matches.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nighthaze MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi, 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 Nighthaze and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nighthaze has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Nighthaze card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2010-06-15 If the targeted creature is an illegal target by the time the ability resolves, the ability doesn’t resolve. You won’t draw a card.