Armament of Nyx MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
| Released | 2014-05-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Journey into Nyx |
| Set code | JOU |
| Number | 4 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Slawomir Maniak |
Key Takeaways
- Enhancement and restraint offered by the card’s dual-nature lead to better battlefield control and flexibility.
- Affordably costed, it allows for resource-efficient plays that maintain momentum and board presence.
- Armament of Nyx is an adaptable asset in enchantment-centric decks, boosting combo potential considerably.
Text of card
Enchant creature Enchanted creature has double strike as long as it's an enchantment. Otherwise, prevent all damage that would be dealt by enchanted creature. (A creature with double strike deals both first-strike and regular combat damage.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Armament of Nyx is a versatile enchantment that provides strategic flexibility on the battlefield. The dual-mode nature of the card allows a player to either upgrade their own creature or neuter an opponent’s threat, effectively serving as either a boost or a hindrance, which can translate into card advantage by dealing with multiple scenarios using a single card.
Resource Acceleration: While Armament of Nyx does not directly accelerate resources in the form of mana or tokens, its low casting cost allows you to deploy your strategy while keeping mana available for other plays. Keeping your game plan efficient and fluid can indirectly accelerate your board state by allowing you to establish dominance or respond to threats effectively.
Instant Speed: Although the enchantment is not an instant itself, playing Armament of Nyx at the right moment during your main phase can be as disruptive as an instant. It requires foresight, allowing savvy players to shift the tides of combat unexpectedly in their favor or disrupt an opponent’s combat calculations.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: The Armament of Nyx requires a combination of one white mana plus two of any other color. This specific mana cost can restrict its addition to a deck that doesn’t have a solid white mana base, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, players might find this cost slightly on the higher side for the type of effect it offers. In competitive play, there are options that may provide a similar enchantment effect or creature protection at a lower cost, potentially making it less appealing for decks that aim for high efficiency and tempo.
Discard Requirement: Though Armament of Nyx does not have a discard requirement itself, it can sometimes lead to card disadvantage. In particular, if the enchanted creature or the Armament of Nyx itself is removed from the battlefield, it can result in a two-for-one loss, leaving you down a card and potential defenses against your opponent’s plays.
Reasons to Include Armament of Nyx in Your Collection
Versatility: Armament of Nyx can play a dual role in your deck, either boosting your creatures with a significant power increase or nullifying an opponent’s threat by negating their creature’s abilities.
Combo Potential: This card shines in enchantment-focused decks, synergizing well with strategies revolving around constellation abilities or enchantments that benefit from being on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where aura and enchantment decks are prevalent, Armament of Nyx can act as a key piece to outmaneuver opponents, adapting to the shifting play patterns and maintaining its usefulness across various matchups.
How to beat
Armament of Nyx is a unique aura in Magic: The Gathering that can turn the tides of a match by either beefing up your own creature or neutralizing an opponent’s threat. To effectively overcome a creature enchanted with Armament of Nyx, consider using enchantment removal cards like Disenchant or Naturalize to get rid of the aura directly. This disrupts the balance and can quickly swing the momentum back in your favor.
If those aren’t at hand, control abilities that bypass enchantments, such as pacifism effects or permanent exile cards like Path to Exile, are reliable alternatives. Combat tricks can also play a pivotal role. Take advantage of instant-speed spells that can surprise your opponent during the combat phase. Lastly, making good use of sacrifice effects can be crucial, as they force your opponent to sacrifice the enchanted creature regardless of its power. It’s essential to have a strategic approach, combined with flexibility in dealing with threats and making optimal use of your hand.
Understanding the mechanics and having the right countermeasures ready can ensure that even the most formidable enchanted creature doesn’t stand in your way for long.
Cards like Armament of Nyx
Armament of Nyx stands out in the realm of enchantments in Magic: The Gathering with its dual functionality. It bears resemblance to cards that offer either buffing or debuffing effects, but Armament of Nyx combines these in a single card. For instance, take Ethereal Armor, a card that provides a boost to a creature based on the number of enchantments you control. Unlike Ethereal Armor, Armament of Nyx can alternatively be used to neutralize an opponent’s threat by rendering its damage harmless if the creature is enchanted for its negative aspect.
Comparable to Armament of Nyx in terms of versatility is Pacifism. It shares the controlling aspect by preventing a creature from attacking or blocking. However, it doesn’t offer the potential power increase for your own creatures. Conversely, Glorious Anthem is another popular enchantment which grants a blanket power and toughness boost to your own creatures but lacks any means of hindering an opponent’s offensive capabilities. Given these variations, Armament of Nyx proves itself as a unique tool for players who value flexibility and control on the battlefield.
Understanding these dynamics showcases why Armament of Nyx occupies a valuable niche among MTG enchantments, providing adaptability that can be harnessed for both offensive and defensive strategies.
Cards similar to Armament of Nyx by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Armament of Nyx MTG card by a specific set like Journey into Nyx, 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 Armament of Nyx and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Armament of Nyx has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Armament of Nyx card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-04-26 | Armament of Nyx continuously checks to see whether the creature it's enchanting is an enchantment or not. If the creature isn't an enchantment and becomes one, or it is an enchantment and stops being one, the effect will change. |
