Nethroi, Apex of Death MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Cat Nightmare Beast
Abilities Deathtouch,Lifelink,Mutate
Power 5
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Nethroi excels at reviving creatures, turning graveyard assets into powerful board presences.
  2. Using other creatures can accelerate resources, potentiating successive, game-changing plays.
  3. Nethroi demands a precise board state and specific mana, posing both strengths and constraints.

Text of card

Mutate {G/W} (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.) Deathtouch, lifelink Whenever this creature mutates, return any number of target creature cards with total power 10 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nethroi, Apex of Death excels at providing card advantage to a player once it mutates. With its ability to return any number of creature cards with total power 10 or less from the graveyard to the battlefield, this enables a significant swing in board presence and potential hand replenishment when paired with creatures that draw cards upon entering the battlefield or dying.

Resource Acceleration: Although Nethroi itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its reanimation ability can be leveraged to bring back creatures that do. By targeting mana dorks or creatures with land-fetching effects from the graveyard, a player can quickly ramp up their available mana for successive turns, turning the tide in their favor.

Instant Speed: While Nethroi’s mutate ability isn’t at instant speed, it being a creature means it can be brought back from the graveyard during the end step before your turn through instant-speed reanimation spells. This sets up a powerful move, allowing you to make a significant play by reanimating Nethroi and mutating it onto another creature without giving your opponents a chance to prepare during your turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nethroi, Apex of Death necessitates a very particular board state to maximize its mutate ability, requiring creatures in the graveyard to reap the full benefits, which can be a significant drawback if you’re unable to reliably fill your graveyard.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Nethroi is decidedly specific, needing white, black, and green mana to cast. This tri-color requirement can create complications for deck building, limiting Nethroi to decks that can support such a color-intensive card.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mutate cost of seven mana, including three different colors, Nethroi’s mutate ability is considered high. In fast-paced games, this cost may be prohibitive, and there might be instances where you’d want a card that can affect the board state sooner rather than later.


Reasons to Include Nethroi Apex of Death in Your Collection

Versatility: Nethroi Apex of Death’s mutate ability allows it to adapt to various deck archetypes, from graveyard-centric strategies to those leveraging creature abilities. Its power to bring creatures back from the graveyard adds value in different play styles.

Combo Potential: With Nethroi, you can resurrect a multitude of creatures with a total power of 10, setting the stage for powerful combos. Its synergy with low-power, high-impact creatures can lead to game-ending plays, harnessing the full potential of the graveyard.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-evolving MTG landscape, a card that capitalizes on recurring creatures can be a resilient threat. Nethroi offers a significant advantage in matchups where endurance and recovery from board wipes are crucial, making it a formidable addition to any collection.


How to beat

Nethroi, Apex of Death boasts a formidable presence in MTG, bringing creatures back from the graveyard with its mutate ability. To tackle this powerhouse, it’s crucial to disrupt the graveyard synergy. Graveyard hate cards like Tormod’s Crypt or Rest in Peace can swiftly remove the tools necessary for Nethroi’s effectiveness. Utilizing counterspells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto when your opponent attempts to mutate can prevent Nethroi from hitting the battlefield entirely.

Exile effects are especially potent against this card. Cards such as Path to Exile or Scavenging Ooze not only remove Nethroi before it mutates, but also limit the graveyard for potential revival of other creatures. It’s also wise to keep board wipes within reach; a well-timed Wrath of God can reset the board before Nethroi’s abilities trigger.

Staying ahead in the game against a Nethroi deck means keeping a keen eye on the graveyard and being ready to disrupt your opponent’s plans with targeted removal or universal graveyard management. By being proactive and reactive with the right spells, you can ensure Nethroi, Apex of Death doesn’t lead to your downfall.


BurnMana Recommendations

The path of MTG mastery is lined with cards that alter the battlefield, and Nethroi, Apex of Death certainly fits the bill. Right strategy and timing can bring an armada of creatures back from the brink, offering a game-changing advantage. Whether you’re hunting for the perfect piece to round out a graveyard strategy or eager to initiate unstoppable combos, Nethroi’s versatility in tri-color decks cannot be ignored. Mastery of its mechanics will undoubtedly reward the skilled tactician. Interested in evolving your gameplay with this apex predator? Delve deeper with us and unearth the full potential of Nethroi in your MTG duels.


Cards like Nethroi, Apex of Death

Delving into the verdant groves of creature recursion, Nethroi, Apex of Death stands out with its mutation ability in Magic: The Gathering. It echoes the semblance of cards like The Mimeoplasm, which also skillfully combines traits from the graveyard to form a formidable presence. Nethroi distinguishes itself by allowing you to bring back multiple creatures with its mutation trigger – an effect with a total power of 10 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.

Another akin entity is Meren of Clan Nel Toth, which offers incremental value each turn by returning creatures based on experience counters. While Meren has a consistent engine, Nethroi boasts a one-time powerful surge potentially turning the tide in a single swoop. Karador, Ghost Chieftain also shares a kinship with Nethroi, providing a sturdy, ongoing avenue to cast creatures from the graveyard. Although Karador offers more flexibility in choice, Nethroi can overwhelm with quantity.

Ultimately, while these commanders navigate the afterlife of creatures in their unique ways, Nethroi, Apex of Death claims its apex predator status by offering a dramatic pivot potentially resurrecting a full menagerie in one fell swoop, a tidal wave of rebirth to tip the scales in your favor.

The Mimeoplasm - MTG Card versions
Meren of Clan Nel Toth - MTG Card versions
Karador, Ghost Chieftain - MTG Card versions
The Mimeoplasm - Commander 2011 Oversized (OCMD)
Meren of Clan Nel Toth - Commander 2015 (C15)
Karador, Ghost Chieftain - Commander 2011 (CMD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nethroi, Apex of Death MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online Promos, 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 Nethroi, Apex of Death and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Nethroi, Apex of Death Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 809832015mutateblackTomasz Jedruszek
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 809052015mutateblackTorstein Nordstrand
32020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 3802015mutateborderlessTorstein Nordstrand
42020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 1972015mutateblackSlawomir Maniak
52020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths PromosPIKO 197s2015mutateblackSlawomir Maniak
62020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 3032015mutateborderlessTomasz Jedruszek
72020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths PromosPIKO 197p2015mutateblackSlawomir Maniak
82022-09-09Dominaria United CommanderDMC 1632015mutateblackSlawomir Maniak

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nethroi, Apex of Death has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-04-17 If the power of the target creature cards change while in your graveyard, most likely because one has a characteristic-defining ability that defines a * in its power, the total power of the creatures may become greater than 10. If this happens, the entire selection of targets is illegal and nothing is returned to the battlefield.
2020-04-17 Nethroi's triggered ability can return any combination of creatures whose powers total 10 or less. For example, it could target ten 1/1 creature cards, two 5/5 creature cards, and so on. Regardless of what other creature cards you choose as targets, you can also choose any number of creature cards with power 0 as targets.
2020-04-17 Use the power of the creature cards as they exist in your graveyard to determine whether they can be the targets of Nethroi's triggered ability. For example, a 0/0 creature card that will enter the battlefield as a copy of a 15/15 creature can be returned, as can five 0/0 creature cards that will each enter the battlefield with three +1/+1 counters on them.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks