Nacatl Outlander MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Cat Scout
Abilities	Protection
Released	2009-02-06
Set symbol
Set name	Conflux
Set code	CON
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	119
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Key Takeaways

Provides early game advantage and consistency to multicolor decks with its reliable presence.
Its protection ability offers significant flexibility and strengthens deck defense against mono-colored strategies.
While specialized, can be outclassed without proper support or against a diverse range of removal spells.

Text of card

Protection from blue

Survival in the wilds of Naya left Tiyan well equipped to win the civilized battles of Bant.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nacatl Outlander’s seamless fit into multicolor decks enhances overall deck consistency by offering a reliable board presence. Having a creature early in the game ensures you’re not falling behind on the battlefield, contributing to your card advantage over time.

Resource Acceleration: Although Nacatl Outlander does not directly provide mana or resource acceleration, its mere cost of two mana makes it an efficient play. It allows you to develop your mana base comfortably while applying pressure on your opponent early in the match.

Instant Speed: Nacatl Outlander isn’t an instant-speed spell, but its Exalted ability can significantly impact combat at instant speed. This ability can unexpectedly increase your damage output during the attack phase, catching opponents off guard and forcing them to reconsider their blocks and spells in response.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nacatl Outlander doesn’t have a discard requirement, but its effectiveness is somewhat limited without additional card synergy or tribal support. Without a consistent strategy to capitalize on its creature type or make use of its protection ability, the card may not reach its full potential.

Specific Mana Cost: Nacatl Outlander demands one green and one white mana, which can be a hurdle in decks that are not geared towards a Naya or multicolor build. This makes it less flexible than colorless or single mana cost creatures that could more easily fit into various deck compositions.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a two mana 2/2 creature is decent, in the context of MTG’s evolving gameplay, there are numerous two-drop creatures that offer more value or have additional abilities. Consequently, Nacatl Outlander may be overlooked in favor of cards that give players a competitive edge for the same or lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include Nacatl Outlander in Your Collection

Versatility: Nacatl Outlander boasts a protection ability from one of MTG’s core colors, making it a resilient addition to multicolored decks, particularly those that face a high volume of mono-colored opponents.

Combo Potential: With the Nacatl’s protection feature, this card synergizes well with strategies that capitalize on avoiding specific color interactions, helping you maintain a board presence against decks reliant on that color.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where certain colors dominate, this two-drop creature can be an efficient way to stymie the efforts of popular mono-colored decks, providing both an offensive and defensive edge.

How to Beat

Nacatl Outlander provides MTG players with early board presence, thanks to its decent stats and protection from a specific color. This green and white multicolored Cat Scout offers a unique challenge due to its protection from red, thwarting direct burn spells or damage-based removal abilities from one of the most common removal colors in the game. To effectively deal with this creature, consider using removal spells outside the red spectrum. Black spells such as Doom Blade or white options like Path to Exile can bypass the protection mechanic, removing the Nacatl Outlander from the battlefield without triggering its protective abilities.

Another strategy involves using colorless removal, like that found in artifacts or devoid spells from the Battle for Zendikar block, which are not affected by color-based protection. Cards such as Oblivion Ring can also be an effective answer, as they don’t target the creature but rather exile any nonland permanent irrespective of its color protections. Board wipes like Supreme Verdict can also clear Nacatl Outlander regardless of its protection, as these spells do not target individual creatures. Deploying blockers with higher toughness can stall the Outlander, enabling more time to draw into the appropriate answers you need.

Remember, understanding the protection mechanic is key. By adapting your removal strategies and keeping your deck versatile, Nacatl Outlander becomes less of an obstacle and more of a minor nuisance on your path to victory.

Cards like Nacatl Outlander

Nacatl Outlander is a unique creature in the diverse card pool of MTG. It’s a low-cost creature that provides a reliable block against creatures of specific colors due to its protection ability. This makes it somewhat similar to cards like Crimson Acolyte, which gives protection from red and has the flexibility to extend that protection to another target.

Nacatl Outlander’s comparison goes further with cards like Tivadar of Thorn because both share a protection ability that can influence how they are deployed in play. However, unlike Tivadar, Nacatl Outlander doesn’t bring along any creature destruction abilities which makes it less impactful on the board when facing off against specific creature types.

In evaluating its place amongst similar cards, Nacatl Outlander stands out for its strength in a specific matchup. Its particular brand of protection offers strategic advantages in decks geared towards exploiting color weaknesses, positioning it as a valuable asset in the right context.

Cards similar to Nacatl Outlander by color, type and mana cost

Gallia of the Endless Dance - MTG Card versions

Hajar, Loyal Bodyguard - MTG Card versions

Burning-Tree Emissary - MTG Card versions

Disciple of the Old Ways - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nacatl Outlander MTG card by a specific set like Conflux, 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 Nacatl Outlander and other MTG cards: