Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Nahiri
Loyalty 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Nahiri offers card advantage by creating tokens and equipping them at no extra cost.
  2. Her abilities grant resource acceleration, enhancing your deck’s efficiency and strategy.
  3. While powerful, she requires careful deck building and mana base considerations.

Text of card


+1: Create a 1/1 white Kor Warrior creature token. You may attach an Equipment you control to it.
-2: Look at the top six cards of your library. You may reveal a Warrior or Equipment card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
-3: Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients deals damage to target creature or planeswalker equal to twice the number of Equipment you control.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients offers a consistent means of card advantage through its second ability, enabling you to create a 1/1 white Kor Warrior creature token. By doing so, you also have the potential to attach an Equipment you control to it, possibly drawing from an already established board state to enhance your position.

Resource Acceleration: The first loyalty ability of Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients allows you to look at the top six cards of your library, potentially revealing a Warrior or Equipment card among them, which can be added to your hand. This not only accelerates your access to key resources but also thins your deck, increasing the likelihood of drawing impactful cards in subsequent turns.

Instant Speed: While Nahiri herself doesn’t operate at instant speed, she synergistically enhances your gameplay by allowing you to equip weapons at instant speed post her -3 loyalty ability. This can lead to unexpected combat tricks, disrupt opponent strategies, and offer protection to your warriors in reaction to the changing state of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients demands precise deck construction to leverage her abilities. Players might find themselves discarding valuable cards to create equipment tokens or draw cards, which can inflict serious resource setbacks in tight situations.

Specific Mana Cost: The requirement of both red and white mana to cast Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients can be restrictive, often confining her to specific Boros builds or multi-color decks with a well-tuned mana base, which might not be ideal for every player’s strategy or collection.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four mana, including specific color requirements, her initial impact on the game can be less dramatic compared to other planeswalkers or impactful four-cost cards. This can sometimes lead to lost tempo, especially when faced with aggressive decks that capitalize on early-game pressure.


Reasons to Include Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients in Your Collection

Versatility: Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients showcases a multifaceted functionality that allows it to adapt across a variety of deck architectures. With the capability to create creature tokens, buff up your warriors, and even retrieve key equipment cards, it’s a card that finds a home in several deck themes seamlessly.

Combo Potential: This planeswalker’s ability to generate Kor Warrior tokens and manipulate equipment sets the stage for synergistic plays. Whether you’re linking her with equipment-focused cards for massive buffs or using the tokens to catalyze other combo plays, Nahiri has the potential to be the linchpin of intricate strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where warriors or equipment decks are prevalent, Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients gains additional significance. Her dual role as both an aggressor and an enabler allows her to slot into the current metagame fluidly, potentially swinging matches in your favor with her dynamic abilities.


How to beat

Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients is a formidable planeswalker card in Magic: The Gathering that brings a lot of versatility to the board. With the ability to create Kor Warrior tokens, equip creatures at no cost, and potentially deal direct damage, Nahiri can be a tough opponent to face. Nonetheless, there are strategies you can implement to gain the upper hand.

One effective method is to prioritize the removal of Nahiri as soon as she enters the battlefield. Utilizing instant-speed removal spells can prevent her from generating value with her token-creating ability. Moreover, it’s beneficial to limit the number of creatures you deploy if Nahiri’s -3 ability, which deals damage based on an equipped creature’s power, poses a significant threat. Instead, focus on controlling the board with spells that can handle multiple creatures at once. Keep in mind that enchantment and artifact removal are also valuable in dismantling the equipment synergy Nahiri attempts to establish.

When it comes down to it, managing Nahiri means constantly assessing the threats she poses and countering them effectively. A balanced approach that combines creature control, direct removal, and disruption of equipment strategies can ensure that Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients becomes less of an obstacle to your victory.


Cards like Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients

When comparing Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients to other cards in MTG, we can draw parallels to other versatile planeswalkers. Nahiri stands out with her ability to create Kor Warrior creature tokens, equipping your forces as you fortify your battlefield presence. In a similar vein, Elspeth, Sun’s Nemesis also excels at generating tokens, giving you multiple 1/1 Human Soldier creatures. Although Elspeth doesn’t equip them, she offers a wider range of utility with her minus abilities.

Another close comparison is with Ajani Steadfast, a planeswalker skilled in buffing your creatures. While Ajani focuses on bolstering your existing creatures’ power and toughness, Nahiri leans towards arming them with equipment, providing a different kind of advantage. Additionally, Nahiri’s -3 ability can be a game-changer, allowing you to fetch equipment or auras from your library, an edge that Ajani doesn’t share.

In essence, Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients brings a unique blend of token generation and equipment synergy to the table, carving a distinct niche among MTG planeswalkers and enhancing strategies that capitalize on equipped creatures.

Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis - MTG Card versions
Ajani Steadfast - MTG Card versions
Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis - Theros Beyond Death Promos (PTHB)
Ajani Steadfast - San Diego Comic-Con 2014 (PS14)

Cards similar to Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients by color, type and mana cost

Nahiri, Storm of Stone - MTG Card versions
Ajani Vengeant - MTG Card versions
Nahiri, the Harbinger - MTG Card versions
A-Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients - MTG Card versions
Comet, Stellar Pup - MTG Card versions
Nahiri, the Unforgiving - MTG Card versions
Nahiri, Storm of Stone - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Ajani Vengeant - Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas (DDH)
Nahiri, the Harbinger - Commander Masters (CMM)
A-Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients - Zendikar Rising (ZNR)
Comet, Stellar Pup - Unfinity (UNF)
Nahiri, the Unforgiving - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Zendikar Rising 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 Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-09-25 and 2020-09-25. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 838402015normalblackDavid Rapoza
22020-09-25Zendikar Rising PromosPZNR 230s2015normalblackAnna Steinbauer
32020-09-25Zendikar RisingZNR 2822015normalborderlessDavid Rapoza
42020-09-25Zendikar RisingZNR 2302015normalblackAnna Steinbauer
52020-09-25Zendikar Rising PromosPZNR 230p2015normalblackAnna Steinbauer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-09-25 You create a Kor Warrior token and attach an Equipment to it if you wish all while Nahiri’s first ability is resolving. Nothing can happen in between, and no player may choose to take actions.

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