Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human |
| Abilities | Friends forever,Goad |
| Released | 2019-12-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Secret Lair Drop |
| Set code | SLD |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 344 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Greg Staples |
Key Takeaways
- Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist is great for card advantage and flexible instant speed responses.
- The card’s discard requirement and specific mana cost could limit its utility.
- With versatile abilities, it’s a strong contender for decks targeting meta-relevant combos.
Text of card
, Sacrifice an artifact: Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist deals 1 damage to target creature. Goad that creature. (Until your next turn, that creature attacks each combat if able and attacks a player other than you if able.) Friends forever (You can have two commanders if both have friends forever.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist is adept at providing card advantage by enabling you to potentially draw an extra card each turn, reinforcing your hand and giving you more options in any given game.
Resource Acceleration: Thanks to Bjorna’s ability to untap permanents, this card excels in resource acceleration by allowing you to reuse mana sources or other utility permanents, thereby pacing you ahead of your opponents.
Instant Speed: The ability to utilize Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist at instant speed aligns perfectly with a strategic gameplay approach, giving you the flexibility to respond to your opponents’ threats on their turn while leaving your resources open for interaction.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist presents a strategic nuance with its discard requirement. While it can be seen as an enabler for graveyard strategies, it also demands a card from your hand, which might strain your resources, especially if your hand size is dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: Casting this alchemist calls for a precise mana alignment. With its requirement of both blue and green mana, it can be restrictive, fitting into fewer deck archetypes. This limitation can stifle deck flexibility for players who like to mix and match across the color spectrum.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist brings a solid set of abilities to the table, it’s essential to consider its mana demands. At four mana, two of which are color-specific, it competes with other cards in the same cost bracket that may offer more immediate impact or versatility on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist in Your Collection
Versatility: Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist serves as a multi-purpose tool in various decks, providing both defensive and offensive options. Its ability to counter triggered abilities can disrupt opponents’ strategies, while also offering card draw to bolster your resources.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in a setting where combos are key, as its unique effect can protect your key pieces from being targeted by triggers, or can be used to safely set up your own win conditions without interruptions.
Meta-Relevance: Considering its capacity to counter pervasive triggered abilities, Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist is a solid inclusion in a meta full of complex engines and combos, acting as both a safeguard for your tactics and a thorn in your opponent’s side.
How to beat
Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist is a card that requires strategic maneuvering to handle effectively in MTG. As a versatile card, it brings an adept mixture of protection and leverage against instant and sorcery spells by way of its handy counter ability. To triumph over this alchemical challenge, it’s crucial to adapt your approach.
Focusing on abilities that don’t trigger Bjorna’s countermeasures can give you an upper hand. Consider using creature-based strategies or permanents that can outpace or outmatch her. Exploit the fact that her abilities target only non-creature spells, and this can be your gateway to gaining control of the game. Moreover, bypassing her abilities with spells that can’t be countered or leveraging effects that neutralize her abilities, such as those that grant hexproof or shroud to your spells, will diminish the hurdles she poses.
Layering pressure from diverse angles, ensuring that Bjorna has little impact on your overarching strategy, is the key. Embrace the battlefield with a blend of robust creatures and direct actions that challenge her capabilities, and the night will turn in your favor, leaving the Nightfall Alchemist as merely a footnote in your victory.
Cards like Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist
Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist introduces a new dynamic to the defender archetype in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest equivalents include cards like Wall of Blossoms and Wall of Omens, both of which are famed for their efficient blocking ability coupled with drawing a card upon entering the battlefield. Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist, however, adds a layer of interactivity by allowing its controller to disrupt opponents’ graveyard strategies—a valuable asset in formats where the graveyard is a resource.
Guardian of the Ages is another related card that shares the defender trait but turns into an offensive threat once triggered. While Guardian flips the table from defense to offense, Bjorna remains a stalwart guardian, offering consistent graveyard-based control without changing its role in combat. Then there’s Doorkeeper, providing a mill strategy that leverages its defender status, contrasting with Bjorna’s aim to protect its owner from threats lurking in graveyards rather than diminishing libraries.
Evaluating the utility of defender cards in Magic: The Gathering, Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist stands out with its unique ability to interact with the graveyard, positioning it as a strong and versatile option for decks that focus on long-term control and disruption.
Cards similar to Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist MTG card by a specific set like Secret Lair Drop, 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 Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |