Nightscape Familiar MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Zombie
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Enables cost-effective card play by reducing mana for blue and black spells, fostering a smooth game flow.
  2. As a less versatile card, it may not fit every deck, particularly those not centered on blue or black spells.
  3. Nightscape Familiar’s flexibility and combo potential make it an essential piece in many MTG collections.

Text of card

Blue spells and red spells you play cost o1 less to play. o1o B: Regenerate Nightscape Familiar.

Nightscape masters don't stop at raising the spirit of a fallen battlemage. They raise the flesh along with it.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nightscape Familiar is valuable for players aiming to maintain a steady flow of cards. Reducing the casting cost of blue and black spells allows for more efficient plays, potentially leading to drawing more cards over the course of a game.

Resource Acceleration: This card indirectly accelerates your resources by lowering the mana cost of key spells, enabling quicker deployment and leaving mana available for other strategic moves. This can lead to a dominant board presence if utilized effectively.

Instant Speed: While Nightscape Familiar itself isn’t an instant, it makes casting your own instant spells more manageable, energy-wise. Having this card on the field means your high-impact instants come out faster, catching opponents off guard during critical moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Nightscape Familiar can offer cost reduction for specific spells, it comes with no ability that directly requires discarding. However, its synergies often pair with strategies that might prompt discarding, indirectly leading to resource depletion.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s cost reduction ability is restricted to blue and red spells, making it a less versatile option in decks that do not primarily use these colors. Players running multicolored or other single-color decks might find the familiar’s benefits underwhelming.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana for a 1/1 creature, Nightscape Familiar can be considered mana-intensive for its base stats. Other creatures in the same mana range could offer more immediate board presence or impactful abilities.


Reasons to Include Nightscape Familiar in Your Collection

Versatility: Nightscape Familiar is a flexible card that can seamlessly integrate into various deck builds, particularly those emphasizing blue and red spells. Its mana-reduction ability makes it a staple for casting high-impact spells more efficiently.

Combo Potential: This creature excels in combo-centric decks, providing a cost reduction that can be pivotal in executing intricate combos more swiftly. It can also regenerate, which allows it to stand as a recurrent component in your gameplay strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where control or combo decks predominate, the cost-efficiency provided by Nightscape Familiar can play a vital role. Its recurring nature and interaction with commonly played blue and red spells make it a robust contender in various competitive scenes.


How to beat

Nightscape Familiar is a versatile creature card that holds considerable value in many Magic: The Gathering decks. Its ability to reduce the mana cost of red and blue spells can accelerate your opponent’s strategy, allowing them to cast multiple spells in a single turn. Overcoming this advantage requires a tactical approach.

To effectively counter Nightscape Familiar, consider removal options that can bypass its cost-reduction benefit. Direct removal spells like Path to Exile or Doom Blade can dispatch the creature before your opponent capitalizes on its abilities. Alternatively, board wipes such as Wrath of God prevent the familiar from being a recurring threat. Play control-centric strategies to keep the board clear and deny your adversary the opportunity to build momentum with their cost-efficient spells.

Managing your resources smartly and maintaining control over the pace of play will diminish Nightscape Familiar’s influence in a match. Your aim should be to neutralize key combo pieces early on, preventing your opponent from gaining the upper hand that typically comes from this card’s powerful potential for tempo gain.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the ebb and flow of MTG is akin to art, a delicate balance of tactics and knowledge. Nightscape Familiar, with its mana cost reduction for blue and red spells, serves as a linchpin for agile and dynamic deck strategies. It empowers casters to weave a tapestry of impactful plays, influencing the pace and power of the game. Endeavoring to fortify your deck’s performance? Embrace the intricate dance of card synergy, using Nightscape Familiar to unlock new possibilities and command the game’s rhythm. Plunge deeper into strategic deck building with us and harness the full potential of today’s MTG metagame. Discover more and enhance your repertoire now.


Cards like Nightscape Familiar

Nightscape Familiar is a versatile creature card that has made its mark among Magic: The Gathering players, catering to strategies that seek to reduce spell casting costs. One card it draws comparison to is Goblin Electromancer, which similarly reduces the cost of instant and sorcery spells. What sets Nightscape Familiar apart is its broader influence on both red and blue spells, as Goblin Electromancer applies its cost reduction only to red and sorcery spells. Moreover, Nightscape Familiar also offers regeneration, providing a resilience that Goblin Electromancer lacks.

In examining Stonybrook Banneret, another cost-reducer, the comparison is intriguing. While Stonybrook Banneret decreases the mana needed for Merfolk or Wizard spells, it’s limited by its tribal affiliations, unlike the more universally applicable Nightscape Familiar. Additionally, Baral, Chief of Compliance offers a similar cost-reduction effect for instant and sorcery spells, but Baral also grants the added ability of looting — drawing and then discarding a card — when a counter spell is cast. However, this narrower focus makes Nightscape Familiar a better fit for decks not centered around counterspells.

Comparing these cards underlines the Nightscape Familiar’s broad scope and its role in longevity on the board. It is this combination that enables Nightscape Familiar to stand out in decks aimed at casting numerous spells efficiently.

Goblin Electromancer - MTG Card versions
Stonybrook Banneret - MTG Card versions
Baral, Chief of Compliance - MTG Card versions
Goblin Electromancer - Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari (DDJ)
Stonybrook Banneret - Morningtide (MOR)
Baral, Chief of Compliance - Aether Revolt Promos (PAER)

Cards similar to Nightscape Familiar by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Stromgald Crusader - MTG Card versions
Scarred Vinebreeder - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cuombajj Witches - Chronicles (CHR)
Order of the Ebon Hand - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bog Imp - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Corpses - Mirage (MIR)
Rabid Rats - Stronghold (STH)
Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
Ravenous Rats - Invasion (INV)
Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
Bloodcurdler - Odyssey (ODY)
Nantuko Shade - Commander 2014 (C14)
Piper of the Swarm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Undead Augur - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Skullsnatcher - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Cutthroat - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Stromgald Crusader - Coldsnap (CSP)
Scarred Vinebreeder - Lorwyn (LRW)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nightscape Familiar MTG card by a specific set like Planeshift and World Championship Decks 2002, 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 Nightscape Familiar and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nightscape Familiar Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2001-02-05 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by Jeff Easley.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12001-02-05PlaneshiftPLS 481997normalblackJeff Easley
22002-08-14World Championship Decks 2002WC02 cr481997normalgoldJeff Easley
32011-09-02Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol BolasDDH 442003normalblackJeff Easley
42013-11-01Commander 2013C13 832003normalblackJeff Easley
52014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 1312015normalblackJeff Easley
62017-06-16Archenemy: Nicol BolasE01 352015normalblackJeff Easley
72023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 942015normalblackJeff Easley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nightscape Familiar has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 Can never affect the colored part of the cost.
2004-10-04 If this card is sacrificed to pay part of a spell's cost, the cost reduction still applies.
2004-10-04 The effect is cumulative.
2004-10-04 The generic X cost is still considered generic even if there is a requirement that a specific color be used for it. For example, “only black mana can be spent this way”. This distinction is important for effects which reduce the generic portion of a spell's cost.
2004-10-04 The lower cost is not optional like with some other cost reducers.
2004-10-04 This can lower the cost to zero, but not below zero.
2022-12-08 A spell you cast that’s blue and red costs less, not less.
2022-12-08 Activating the ability creates a replacement effect that acts like a shield, replacing the next time Nightscape Familiar would be destroyed that turn. This shield works against effects that try to destroy Nightscape Familiar or lethal damage that would be dealt to Nightscape Familiar.
2022-12-08 Nightscape Familiar can regenerate even if it isn’t in combat, it’s already tapped, or it’s undamaged.
2022-12-08 You can activate the regeneration ability even if Nightscape Familiar isn’t at risk of being destroyed.

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