Nessian Courser MTG Card

Future Sight (FUT)
2007-05-04 - Number 148

Theros (THS)
2013-09-27 - Number 165

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Centaur Warrior
Power	3
Toughness	3

Key Takeaways

A 3/3 for three mana, Nessian Courser can create card advantage by pressuring resources.
Lacking extra abilities, it may be outclassed by creatures with added benefits.
Its consistent stats make it a versatile addition to green-themed decks and strategies.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Though Nessian Courser doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its solid presence as a body on the board can effectively force card advantage by requiring opponents to deal with it, often at the cost of using up more resources than you invested.

Resource Acceleration: While the Nessian Courser doesn’t offer traditional resource acceleration, its efficient cost-to-power/toughness ratio can help you maintain a strong board state without depleting your mana resources. This leaves you more flexibility to deploy other strategies simultaneously.

Instant Speed: The Nessian Courser, as a creature, doesn’t work at instant speed. However, its straightforward nature allows you to deploy it during your main phase and keep mana open for actual instant-speed interactions or bluff the possession of reactive cards against your opponent.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nessian Courser requires no discarding, thus it lacks the potential card advantage mechanics or synergies with graveyard strategies common in many green decks.

Specific Mana Cost: While boasting a solid body, its green mana cost makes it exclusively a green deck component and can’t be easily slotted into multicolored mana bases without proper fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For three mana, this simple creature lacks additional abilities, which can be outclassed by other creatures at the same cost that offer added benefits or flexibility.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Nessian Courser’s straightforward 3/3 body for three mana makes it an excellent inclusion in various decks. This card offers reliable and solid performance whether you need a well-proportioned creature for aggression or defense in your green-based decks.

Combo Potential: Due to its efficient stats and creature type, Nessian Courser can synergize well with other cards that benefit from having a creature on the field, such as those that use the Centaur creature type or cards that care about the number of creatures you control.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where the board presence of sturdy creatures at a low mana cost can be crucial, Nessian Courser can become an essential piece in outpacing your opponents’ strategies, especially in Limited formats or creature-centric Constructed decks.

How to beat Nessian Courser

Nessian Courser, a creature card from the world of Theros, stands as a solid staple in green decks that focus on efficient creature strategies. Its straightforward approach is its main strength: a vanilla 3/3 for three mana that fits well into the curve of many decks aiming for board presence in the early game. To tip the scales against it, players should consider using removal options like Shock or Lightning Bolt, which can dispose of the Courser before its 3 toughness becomes a threat.

Regarding combat strategies, Nessian Courser can be outclassed by stronger creatures or those with evasive abilities such as flying or deathtouch. It’s also vulnerable to negative enchantments like Pacifism, which effectively neutralizes it without having to remove it from the battlefield. Lastly, instant speed interaction is key; keeping mana open to respond to the Courser’s casting can prevent it from impacting the board state, given its lack of protection or immediate impact upon entering the battlefield.

In essence, while Nessian Courser presents a solid body for its cost, its simplicity can be its undoing. Players well-equipped with instant-speed removal, larger creatures, or control elements will often find themselves at an advantage.

Cards like Nessian Courser

Nessian Courser stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a solid creature, favorably compared with other 3-drop green creatures. On the surface, it shows similarities with cards like Centaur Courser, which shares the same mana cost and a 3/3 body. However, what sets Nessian Courser apart is the minimal requirement for green mana, allowing for a more flexible deck construction.

Examining the venerable Leatherback Baloth reveals a beast with a higher power threshold at a 3-drop position, boasting a significant 4/5 stats. While this card requires dedication to green with three green mana, it can dominate the board more effectively than Nessian Courser. Yet the flexibility of the Courser might fit better in multicolored decks.

Centaur Healer is another card that comes to mind, introducing a similar body with an added bonus of life gain when it enters the battlefield. Although it requires white mana in addition to green, the hybrid multifaceted functionality could sway players’ preferences based on their deck’s strategy.

Ultimately, Nessian Courser holds its ground by offering consistency and reliability, proving to be a suitable choice for players constructing green-centric decks that require versatile and cost-effective creatures.

Centaur Healer - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Cards similar to Nessian Courser by color, type and mana cost

Hungry Hungry Heifer - MTG Card versions

Territorial Scythecat - MTG Card versions

Reki, the History of Kamigawa - MTG Card versions

Taoist Mystic - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)

Steel Leaf Champion - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Realmwalker - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)

Topiary Stomper - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Territorial Scythecat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Reki, the History of Kamigawa - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)

Wood Elves - New Capenna Commander (NCC)

Rot Wolf - Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia (TD2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nessian Courser MTG card by a specific set like Future Sight and Theros, 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 Nessian Courser and other MTG cards: