Nils, Discipline Enforcer MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Cleric
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers card advantage via counter proliferation, enhancing creature power and synergistic play.
  2. Speeds up resource accumulation, meshing well with +1/+1 counter strategies for a stronger board presence.
  3. Imposes card discard requirements, which may limit hand size and affect overall board strategy.

Text of card

At the beginning of your end step, for each player, put a +1/+1 counter on up to one target creature that player controls. Each creature with one or more counters on it can't attack you or planeswalkers you control unless its controller pays , where X is the number of counters on that creature.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nils Discipline Enforcer promotes superior hand control by its ability to proliferate counters, letting you incrementally outpace opponents in resources. Every token or counter you manage leverages your position, turning a simple creature into a source of ongoing advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Linking well with strategies that focus on +1/+1 counters, this card can easily amplify the potency of your creatures. This sort of enhancement doesn’t just bulk up your offense and defense; it also primes your playing field for any synergistic effects, leading to swift and overwhelming resource snowballing.

Instant Speed: While Nils Discipline Enforcer itself does not operate at instant speed, it melds seamlessly into decks that do. Its static ability applies at all times, which means any counters added on your turn or your opponent’s—for instance, through instant speed interactions—become far more potent. This creates an environment where every instant action possesses the potential to significantly alter the board state in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nils, Discipline Enforcer necessitates that you part with cards to bolster its strategic advantage. While managing the board state, having to discard could deplete your hand, leaving you vulnerable to your opponent’s moves.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise combination of white and green mana for its casting, which could potentially clash or not synergize with the mana base of multi-colored or off-theme decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in with a mana cost on the higher end of the spectrum for its effects, Nils, Discipline Enforcer might find competition with other cards that accomplish similar goals with greater economic efficiency.


Reasons to Include Nils Discipline Enforcer in Your Collection

Versatility: Nils Discipline Enforcer brings a unique dynamic to decks centered around +1/+1 counters, as he allows players to carefully manage and distribute counters during each end step. This card can be a fine addition to a variety of white or multicolored decks, enhancing their tactical flexibility.

Combo Potential: With his ability to spread +1/+1 counters, Nils becomes a key piece in combos that capitalize on counter proliferation. His synergy with cards that double counters or benefit from them can lead to powerful and unexpected board states that tilt the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature strategies prevail, Nils Discipline Enforcer proves to be a valuable asset. As he can potentially buff up creatures each turn, he can create substantial threats that require immediate answers, keeping you competitive in an ever-evolving battlefield.


How to beat Nils Discipline Enforcer

Nils Discipline Enforcer presents an intriguing challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This commander staple is known for its ability to bolster the strength of your creatures each time they acquire a counter. To effectively counteract Nils, one reliable strategy involves minimizing the number of counters that get distributed in the game. This impedes the capability of Nils to magnify its army and curb the escalating threat.

Direct removal spells like Path to Exile or Doom Blade can dispatch Nils promptly, thus dissipating its counter-distributing threat. Artifact and enchantment removals also come in handy, as they can dismantle the support system that often backs Nils, including tools like Hardened Scales. In lieu of spot removal, board wipes such as Wrath of God can reset the state of play, ensuring Nils and its bolstered creatures are cleared from the board before they can dominate the game.

By deftly handling the counter-centric synergy that Nils Discipline Enforcer thrives on, players can maintain a stable board and mitigate the impact of this formidable card to help secure victory in their Magic: The Gathering matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is an ongoing quest for excellence, strategy, and deck optimization. Nils Discipline Enforcer can be a linchpin in a deck designed around counters, yet knowing its strengths and limitations is crucial. By understanding the challenges and edge it brings to the table, you can make informed decisions to enhance your gameplay. Stay ahead of the meta and make your deck a force to be reckoned with by adding versatile, powerful cards like Nils to your arsenal. Dive deeper into the world of MTG with us, and discover strategies to optimize your deck’s performance and outplay your opponents.


Cards like Nils, Discipline Enforcer

Nils, Discipline Enforcer offers unique gameplay dynamics in Magic: The Gathering, sharing some characteristics with other counter-based creatures. It bears a resemblance to Juniper Order Ranger, which also grants counters to creatures, though Nils specifically focuses on creatures with counters already present. Unlike the Ranger, Nils boasts the additional ability to prevent opponents from attacking with creatures of a certain size, reinforcing strategic board control.

Comparing Nils to Good-Fortune Unicorn, another card that adds counters to creatures, Nils stands out with its ability to affect opponents’ creatures as well. While the Unicorn continuously adds counters when other creatures enter the battlefield, Nils requires a more thoughtful approach, managing the board state each turn. Another related card is Shalai, Voice of Plenty, which provides a blanket of protection with its ability to give creatures and other permanents hexproof, though it doesn’t influence the number of counters like Nils does.

The versatility of Nils, Discipline Enforcer in supporting counter-centric decks and disrupting opponent strategies makes it a compelling choice for players who want to maintain dominance over the battlefield while nurturing their own threats.

Juniper Order Ranger - MTG Card versions
Good-Fortune Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Shalai, Voice of Plenty - MTG Card versions
Juniper Order Ranger - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Good-Fortune Unicorn - Modern Horizons (MH1)
Shalai, Voice of Plenty - Dominaria (DOM)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nils, Discipline Enforcer MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Commander 2021, 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 Nils, Discipline Enforcer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nils, Discipline Enforcer Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by Magali Villeneuve.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 899762015normalblackMagali Villeneuve
22021-04-23Commander 2021C21 3472015normalblackMagali Villeneuve
32021-04-23Commander 2021C21 202015normalblackMagali Villeneuve

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nils, Discipline Enforcer has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-04-16 All counters on a creature are considered when determining the value of X, not only +1/+1 counters.
2021-04-16 For each player, choosing a target creature that player controls is optional.
2021-04-16 Your opponents can choose not to pay to attack with a creature with one or more counters on it that attacks “if able.” If there’s no other player or planeswalker to attack, the creature simply doesn’t attack.

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