Braids, Arisen Nightmare MTG Card
2022-09-09 - Number 329
2022-09-09 - Number 84
2022-09-09 - Number 288
2022-09-09 - Number 84s
2022-09-09 - Number 84p
2002-06-24 - Number 105692
2022-09-09 - Number 23
2022-09-09 - Number 66
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Nightmare |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
At the beginning of your end step, you may sacrifice an artifact, creature, enchantment, land, or planeswalker. If you do, each opponent may sacrifice a permanent that shares a card type with it. For each opponent who doesn't, that player loses 2 life and you draw a card.
Cards like Braids, Arisen Nightmare
Braids, Arisen Nightmare stands out in the realm of MTG’s enchantment creatures, offering a unique blend of control and advantage. Its closest kin includes cards like Sheoldred, Whispering One, which also revolves around recurring disruption of the opponent’s board. Both creatures have the power to dictate the pace of the game, yet Braids, Arisen Nightmare is versatile, transforming from an enchantment into a creature.
Another analog is Smokestack, an artifact that shares the cumulative upkeep concept, forcing players to sacrifice permanents each turn. While Smokestack affects all players, Braids leans towards a more targeted approach, with optional graveyard disruption that can strategically dismantle an opponent’s plan. Lastly, we consider It That Betrays, a creature that steals opponents’ permanents when they’re sacrificed, but without Braids’ ability to impact the board directly from the graveyard.
Braids, Arisen Nightmare weaves a complex web, carefully balancing persistent pressure with self-reanimation potential, placing it within a niche category of MTG cards that can turn the tide of a match if left unchecked.
Cards similar to Braids, Arisen Nightmare by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Braids, Arisen Nightmare. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Orzhov Midrange | Standard | Orzhov Midrange | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 22, 2024 |
 | UB | Standard | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 22, 2024 | |
 | Mono-Black Midrange | Standard | Mono-Black Midrange | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 1, 2024 |
 | Rakdos Aggro | Standard | Rakdos Midrange | Japan Standard Cup: Murders at Karlov Manor |
 | Mardu Sacrifice | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 09 2024 | |
| Dimir Tempo | Standard | Dimir Midrange | Geek Central RCQ Round 6 |
 | B/W Mid | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | |
| Golgari Midrange | Standard | Golgari Midrange | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 18, 2024 |
| Mardu Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 11 2024 | |
 | Rakdos Sacrifice | Standard | Rakdos Sacrifice | MTGA |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Braids, Arisen Nightmare provides consistent card advantage by allowing you to reveal the top two cards of your library at the beginning of your upkeep, playing into a strategy that thrives on keeping options plentiful and your hand full. This subtle yet steady engine can tilt the scales in your favor over the course of a game.
Resource Acceleration: Alongside drawing cards, Braids offers a powerful form of resource acceleration. Should you reveal a permanent card this way, you may put it onto the battlefield. This not only potentially ramps your board state ahead of the curve but also bypasses casting costs, providing both a surprise factor and an economic edge.
Instant Speed: Despite being a creature, Braids interacts with the stack at instant speed due to its triggered ability. This allows you to set up during your opponent’s end of turn, making sure you’re well-prepared on your upkeep and adapting to the evolving board state without skipping a beat. Strategic players can utilize this to ensure that the nightmares don’t end when their turn does.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Players must discard a card to get Braids, Arisen Nightmare onto the battlefield unless they pay its soar cost. This prerequisite can hinder your strategy, especially when your hand is holding pivotal cards needed for upcoming plays.
Specific Mana Cost: Braids require black mana for casting, which can limit its integration into multicolored or colorless decks. This cost confines its applicability to primarily black or black-dominant decks, reducing versatility across different playstyles.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With her casting cost standing tall at four mana, including a triple black cost, Braids may show up later in the game than desired. This slower pace allows opponents ample time to establish their own boards or accrue answers, potentially diminishing her impact when she finally wades into battle.
Reasons to Include Braids, Arisen Nightmare in Your Collection
Versatility: Braids, Arisen Nightmare brings a lot of flexibility to the table. With its ability to disrupt opponents’ strategies while simultaneously providing you with card advantage, it’s a great fit for decks looking to maintain control and leverage psychological pressure.
Combo Potential: This card has excellent synergy with other cards that profit from sacrifices or discards. Whether you’re enhancing a reanimator strategy or triggering morbid abilities, the combo possibilities are vast, making it a dynamic inclusion in your deck.
Meta-Relevance: Considering the current gameplay dynamics, Braids, Arisen Nightmare can be particularly disruptive against finely-tuned or predictable strategies. The constant need for opponents to sacrifice their important cards can tilt the game in your favor, making it a potent choice for competitive play.
How to beat Braids, Arisen Nightmare
Battling against Braids, Arisen Nightmare in MTG can be quite the challenge. This imposing blue and black legendary creature has the capability to sway the game by forcing each player to sacrifice a permanent or discard a card every turn. The key to outmaneuvering this card lies in reducing its opportunities to impact the board.
First, maintaining instant-speed removal in your arsenal can be a game-changer. By removing Braids from the battlefield before your upkeep, you prevent the sacrifice trigger from occurring. Look for spells that can be cast at the end of your opponent’s turn or during their upkeep for maximum efficiency. Furthermore, holding onto an array of disposable permanents, such as tokens or inexpensive creatures, can minimize the damage Braids inflicts on your key resources.
Last but not least, strategy flexibility is paramount. Braids, Arisen Nightmare’s symmetrical effect means your opponent is also subject to its demands unless they maneuver around it. Being able to capitalize on their sacrifices or discarded cards, perhaps with graveyard retrieval or punishment effects, might not only level the playing field but turn Braids’ nightmare into an advantage for you.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Braids, Arisen Nightmare MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Dominaria United Art Series, 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 Braids, Arisen Nightmare and other MTG cards:
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- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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- ABU Games
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Printings
The Braids, Arisen Nightmare Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2022-09-09 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 105692 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anastasia Balakchina | ||
| 2 | Dominaria United Art Series | ADMU | 23 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Heonhwa Choe | ||
| 3 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United | DMU | 329 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dibujante Nocturno | |
| 4 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United | DMU | 84 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heonhwa Choe | |
| 5 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United | DMU | 288 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dibujante Nocturno | |
| 6 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United Promos | PDMU | 84s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heonhwa Choe | |
| 7 | Dominaria United Art Series | ADMU | 66 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | |||
| 8 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United Promos | PDMU | 84p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heonhwa Choe |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Braids, Arisen Nightmare has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Braids, Arisen Nightmare card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-09-09 | If the permanent that you sacrifice as you resolve Braids’s triggered ability has more than one card type, each opponent may choose to sacrifice any permanent they control that shares any card type with it. For example, if the permanent you sacrifice is an artifact creature, one opponent might choose to sacrifice an artifact and another opponent might choose to sacrifice a creature. |