Nerf War MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Mythic
Type	Sorcery
Released	2017-09-20
Set symbol
Set name	HasCon 2017
Set code	H17
Number	2
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Silver
Illustred by	Victor Adame Minguez

Key Takeaways

Nerf War offers card replenishment and strategic instant speed flexibility.
It challenges players with a discard requirement and specific mana cost.
The card’s versatility makes it a potential asset in diverse MTG playstyles.

Text of card

Fire a Nerf® blaster until empty at target library from at least two meters away. For each card knocked off that library, put it into its owner's graveyard and Nerf War deals ½ damage to that player. (Foam darts only.)

"I'll tell you one thing—it's not nothin'!" —Garj Grabclaw, goblin sergeant

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Nerf War card can potentially replenish your hand, thereby maintaining a strong position or giving you the edge over an opponent by increasing the options available to you.

Resource Acceleration: This card has the potential to expedite your game plan by providing additional resources. These can be crucial in facilitating faster execution of strategies or outsizing your opponent’s capabilities.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Nerf War at instant speed allows strategic players to adapt to the evolving board state, reacting to threats as they arise or maximizing the impact of their own plays during the opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nerf War requires the player to discard a card, which can be unfavorable when your hand is already depleted or if the card you have to discard holds strategic importance for later plays.

Specific Mana Cost: With its particular alignment to red mana, Nerf War might not seamlessly fit into multi-colored or non-red decks, therefore reducing its versatility across different deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The investment to get Nerf War into play is significant when weighed against its benefits. This can delay your game plan, especially when competing cards may offer similar or better effects with less mana expenditure.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Nerf War is a unique card that brings fun and functionality to your deck. Its ability to impact multiple aspects of the game means it can slide into a variety of deck builds, making it a versatile pick for both casual and competitive players.

Combo Potential: With its playful yet impactful effects, Nerf War has the potential to create surprising combos. It works well with strategies that capitalize on targeting creatures and can set off a chain reaction of beneficial effects for its user.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capability to disrupt opponent strategies while bolstering your own, Nerf War ensures relevance in many metagame scenarios. Its presence is especially felt in matches where control and precision can turn the tide in your favor.

How to beat

Nerf War is a unique card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering that can catch some players off guard. Mastering the tempo and flow of your game is crucial when going against this card. Successfully suppressing Nerf War’s value involves a proactive strategy that hinges on limiting the benefits it can provide to your opponent. Central to this approach is prioritizing the removal of small, utility creatures that could be targeted by Nerf War to leverage card draw or control effects. Consider, for instance, including instant-speed removal or counterspells in your deck to thwart your opponent’s efforts to resolve Nerf War effectively.

Moreover, playing around the potential setback Nerf War can impose means keeping your key creatures safeguarded or waiting to cast them until after Nerf War resolves. Additionally, utilizing cards that punish or redirect targeted spells could turn Nerf War’s effect against your opponent, giving you the advantage. By crafting your gameplan to anticipate and neutralize Nerf War, you can dampen its impact and maintain control over the game’s progression.

Ultimately, while Nerf War may present an unusual and quirky challenge in a match, with careful play and deck building strategy, you can mitigate its effects and render this playful disruption a minor obstacle on your path to victory.

Cards like Nerf War

In the realm of creature control in Magic: The Gathering, Nerf War stands as a unique spell. It offers an interesting parallel to cards like Pacifism, which also restricts a creature’s ability to attack or block. Yet, whereas Pacifism is a permanent aura, Nerf War introduces a temporary twist on limiting creatures’ combat capabilities. It effectively acts as a pacifying agent for just a turn, potentially disrupting the opponent’s strategies at a critical moment.

Comparable cards such as Gideon’s Reproach also allow for surprise combat phase interaction, dealing damage to attacking or blocking creatures. But while Gideon’s Reproach can eliminate threats, it lacks the preemptive flair of Nerf War which, instead, prevents combat damage altogether for the turn. Sleep, another similar spell, taps multiple creatures and keeps them from untapping during the next untap step. It offers more widespread control but lacks the immediacy of Nerf War’s effect.

All things considered, Nerf War offers a short term solution that could indeed be pivotal in the throes of combat, offering a tactical advantage that can align with certain playstyles that favor flexibility and surprise over the more traditional combat control spells in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Nerf War by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nerf War MTG card by a specific set like HasCon 2017, 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 Nerf War and other MTG cards: