Sabertooth Nishoba MTG Card


Sabertooth Nishoba - Invasion
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Cat Beast Warrior
Abilities Protection,Trample
Released2000-10-02
Set symbol
Set nameInvasion
Set codeINV
Power 5
Toughness 5
Number268
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byGary Ruddell

Key Takeaways

  1. Sabertooth Nishoba gains edge with trample and protection against blue and red removals.
  2. Demands precise mana and hand management due to its specific casting costs.
  3. Effective in metagames where avoiding blue and red spells is crucial.

Text of card

Trample, protection from blue, protection from red

They sneer at the terrestrial dangers found on peaks and shores, eager to prove themselves against new and even mightier foes.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With its protection from blue and from red, Sabertooth Nishoba can bypass common removal spells in those colors, helping to maintain your board presence without losing card equity.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct source of resource acceleration, its formidable stats means it can quickly end games, reducing the need for additional resources.

Instant Speed: While Sabertooth Nishoba itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its protections allow for safe end-of-turn plays without the fear of being easily countered or removed by specific instant speed interactions in those colors.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Sabertooth Nishoba doesn’t force a discard itself, it demands careful hand management. Accumulating the necessary mana to play it might mean holding onto cards longer, risking having to discard other valuable pieces in the mid to late game when facing hand-size limits.

Specific Mana Cost: Sabertooth Nishoba’s cost includes both green and white mana, making it a stricter fit for decks. It’s particularly challenging for multicolored decks that may have inconsistent mana bases, as having the right colors at the right time is crucial for casting it efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three generic, one green, and two white mana, this card can be a steep investment. In a meta that often prizes speed and efficiency, allocating six mana to a single creature could be a setback, as it potentially takes a whole turn’s worth of resources, delaying other plays and impacting the game’s tempo.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sabertooth Nishoba presents a multi-faceted threat with its trample and protection from blue and from red, making it a resilient choice against a variety of decks that rely on these colors for control or direct damage.

Combo Potential: It has natural synergy with effects that capitalize on its ability to deal damage without being easily blocked or targeted, bolstering its impact in creature-focused strategies.

Meta-Relevance: Given its inherent safeguards against popular removal spells, Sabertooth Nishoba can thrive in environments where blue and red spells dominate, securing its position as a formidable presence on the battlefield.


How to beat Sabertooth Nishoba

Sabertooth Nishoba may appear daunting with its blend of trample and protection from blue and from red, making it a formidable presence on the battlefield. To successfully navigate against this beast, it’s crucial to step outside the realm of conventional damage-based removal that typically originates from blue or red spells. Look towards black or white removal spells such as Path to Exile or Murder, which can effectively target Sabertooth Nishoba despite its protections. In terms of combat, since the protection does not extend to every color, creatures in black or white can also serve as apt blockers or can use spells like Doom Blade to remove it from the board.

It’s also worth noting enchantments such as Pacifism or control effects like Turn to Frog, which can nullify Sabertooth Nishoba’s potent abilities without having to remove it from play. Edict effects that force a sacrifice, such as Diabolic Edict, can also bypass its protections since sacrifices do not target. By focusing on these alternative strategies, the once intimidating Sabertooth Nishoba can be swiftly addressed, ensuring your position on the battlefield remains secure.


Cards like Sabertooth Nishoba

The allure of Sabertooth Nishoba lies in its blend of power and protection within the Magic: The Gathering universe. This fierce creature is akin to Troll Ascetic, both boasting the valuable hexproof ability, which shields them from an opponent’s targeted spells. However, Sabertooth Nishoba offers an even more robust presence by having both trample and protection from blue and from red, making it a formidable adversary against certain deck colors.

Examining another comparable card, we encounter Loxodon Smiter. While it lacks trample, the Smiter excels against control strategies by being uncounterable and entering the battlefield as a solid body for its mana cost. Yet, it doesn’t offer the same level of evasion and direct protection from colors that Sabertooth Nishoba provides.

Assessing these similar cards spotlights how Sabertooth Nishoba not only serves as a strong offensive creature but also shines defensively. This balance is what helps the card find its niche in decks designed to outlast and overpower specific metagame threats, thereby cementing its utility among creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. Players looking to withstand blue and red conflicts particularly appreciate Sabertooth Nishoba’s unique guard and assault capabilities.

Troll Ascetic - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Smiter - MTG Card versions
Troll Ascetic - Mirrodin (MRD)
Loxodon Smiter - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Cards similar to Sabertooth Nishoba by color, type and mana cost

Sir Shandlar of Eberyn - MTG Card versions
Lord Magnus - MTG Card versions
Torsten Von Ursus - MTG Card versions
Steel Leaf Paladin - MTG Card versions
Hamza, Guardian of Arashin - MTG Card versions
Dragonlord Dromoka - MTG Card versions
Arctic Nishoba - MTG Card versions
Tolsimir Wolfblood - MTG Card versions
Pale Recluse - MTG Card versions
Enlisted Wurm - MTG Card versions
Sigiled Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Krond the Dawn-Clad - MTG Card versions
Armada Wurm - MTG Card versions
Woodvine Elemental - MTG Card versions
Enduring Scalelord - MTG Card versions
Nazahn, Revered Bladesmith - MTG Card versions
Archon of Valor's Reach - MTG Card versions
Skanos, White Dragon Vassal - MTG Card versions
Aragorn and Arwen, Wed - MTG Card versions
Vernal Sovereign - MTG Card versions
Sir Shandlar of Eberyn - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Lord Magnus - Legends (LEG)
Torsten Von Ursus - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Steel Leaf Paladin - Planeshift (PLS)
Hamza, Guardian of Arashin - Commander Masters (CMM)
Dragonlord Dromoka - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Arctic Nishoba - Coldsnap (CSP)
Tolsimir Wolfblood - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Pale Recluse - Archenemy (ARC)
Enlisted Wurm - The List (PLST)
Sigiled Behemoth - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Krond the Dawn-Clad - Planechase Anthology (PCA)
Armada Wurm - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Woodvine Elemental - Conspiracy (CNS)
Enduring Scalelord - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Nazahn, Revered Bladesmith - Commander 2017 (C17)
Archon of Valor's Reach - Commander 2020 (C20)
Skanos, White Dragon Vassal - Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate (HBG)
Aragorn and Arwen, Wed - The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth (LTR)
Vernal Sovereign - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sabertooth Nishoba MTG card by a specific set like Invasion, 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 Sabertooth Nishoba and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sabertooth Nishoba has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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