Whitewater Naiads MTG Card
2014-05-02 - Number 58
2018-08-09 - Number 112
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment Creature — Nymph |
| Abilities | Constellation |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Enchantment casting triggers Naiads’ ability, offering repeatable unblockability for strategic creature evasion.
- Supports deck acceleration by enhancing enchantment synergies and potential mana utilization.
- Can execute surprise plays during combat, impacting the game’s outcome at pivotal moments.
Text of card
Constellation — Whenever Whitewater Naiads or another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, target creature can't be blocked this turn.
Stand against the crash of the river's rapids and you will know the power of the naiads.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Whitewater Naiads’ ability to grant another creature unblockability upon casting an enchantment encourages repeatable instances of evasion tactics. This can potentially lead to consistent card advantage by drawing out and removing your opponents’ resources as they attempt to deal with the threats you create.
Resource Acceleration: This enchantment creature fits into a deck strategy centered around resource acceleration. By playing into enchantment synergies, it’s possible to untap the potential of other cards in your deck, thereby unlocking mana and playing key spells ahead of curve.
Instant Speed: Although Whitewater Naiads itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the enchantments triggering its ability can be. This affords the opportunity to surprise an opponent by rendering a creature unblockable at a critical moment, which can be pivotal in swaying the game in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Whitewater Naiads itself does not require a discard, it synergizes with cards that have the constellations mechanic, potentially pressuring you to play other cards that might. This can strain your hand if the synergistic cards need discards.
Specific Mana Cost: This enchantment creature demands both blue and colorless mana, which can be a hurdle in multicolored decks that are not heavy on blue. If your land base isn’t set up correctly, casting Whitewater Naiads could become challenging.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana for a 4/4 creature, it sits on the higher end of the mana curve. There are creatures and enchantments that may offer more immediate or impactful abilities for a similar or lower investment, making the Naiads less mana-efficient in some scenarios.
Reasons to Include Whitewater Naiads in Your Collection
Versatility: Whitewater Naiads is a flexible card that can adapt to various playstyles. Being a creature with an enchantment-based ability, it fits well in both aggressive and control-oriented decks seeking to capitalize on spell casting.
Combo Potential: The ability of Whitewater Naiads to grant unblockable to creatures can be key in setting up lethal combinations or enhancing strategies that focus on direct player damage, supporting both voltron and wide aggressive strategies.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where ground stalls are common, giving your heavy hitters a clear path to swing at your opponents can turn the tide. Its relevance rises with the presence of enchantment-friendly decks and formats that emphasize creature-based combat.
How to beat
Whitewater Naiads can be quite a threat in a game of MTG due to its ability to make creatures unblockable whenever you cast an enchantment spell. This effect can swiftly turn the tide of battle in favor of the Naiads’ controller, making it vital to have a strategy to counteract this potentially game-ending ability.
Direct removal spells are the most straightforward way to handle Whitewater Naiads. Cards like Doom Blade, Go for the Throat, or Path to Exile can eliminate the Naiads before they become a problem. Moreover, countering the enchantment spells that trigger the Naiads’ ability is also an effective tactic. Cards such as Negate or Dispel can thwart the unblockable ability from being activated.
Board wipes, like Wrath of God or Damnation, can also clear the field of Whitewater Naiads, regardless of the number of enchantments in play. Finally, using creatures with “reach” or “flash” can provide a defense against the creatures turned unblockable. Being aware of these options and keeping the right answers in hand will help you maintain control of the game despite the presence of Whitewater Naiads.
Cards like Whitewater Naiads
Within the realm of enchantment creatures in MTG, Whitewater Naiads holds a distinct place for players fond of dictating the flow of the battlefield. This card bears resemblance to other enchantment creatures like Thassa’s Emissary, which not only provides card draw upon dealing combat damage but also has the bestow mechanic, giving it a versatility Whitewater Naiads doesn’t possess.
However, when it comes to enabling unblockable combat phases, Aqueous Form proves to be an inexpensive alternative. It enchants a creature directly to make it unblockable, whereas the Naiads provide a broader approach, affecting any creature you cast that’s targeted with a spell. Yet, the Naiads offer a heftier body on the board which Aqueous Form lacks. Then there’s Cloak of Mists, a historic parallel offering unblockability without the conditional trigger of casting spells, albeit it’s not a creature itself.
Assessing the strengths of Whitewater Naiads, we see a card that blends tactical depth with solid creature stats. Its potential to turn any creature into an evasive threat positions it uniquely among both older and newer MTG card offerings within this thematic group.
Cards similar to Whitewater Naiads by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Whitewater Naiads MTG card by a specific set like Journey into Nyx and Commander 2018, 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 Whitewater Naiads 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 MTG Products
Printings
The Whitewater Naiads Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2014-05-02 and 2018-08-09. Illustrated by William Wu.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-05-02 | Journey into Nyx | JOU | 58 | 2003 | Normal | Black | William Wu | |
| 2 | 2018-08-09 | Commander 2018 | C18 | 112 | 2015 | Normal | Black | William Wu |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Whitewater Naiads has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Whitewater Naiads 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 | A constellation ability triggers whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control for any reason. Enchantments with other card types, such as enchantment creatures, will also cause constellation abilities to trigger. |
| 2014-04-26 | An Aura spell without bestow that has an illegal target when it tries to resolve won't resolve and will be put into its owner's graveyard. It won't enter the battlefield and constellation abilities won't trigger. An Aura spell with bestow won't be countered this way. It will revert to being an enchantment creature and resolve, entering the battlefield and triggering constellation abilities. |
| 2014-04-26 | When an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, each constellation ability of permanents you control will trigger. You can put these abilities on the stack in any order. The last ability you put on the stack will be the first one that resolves. |
