Nim Shrieker MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Zombie
Abilities	Flying
Released	2003-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Mirrodin
Set code	MRD
Power	0
Toughness	1
Number	73
Frame	2003
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Adam Rex

Key Takeaways

Nim Shrieker increases its threat level based on artifacts in the graveyard, ideal for aggressive strategies.
Aligns smoothly with artifact-focused decks, amplifying mana acceleration and providing utility.
While powerful, it demands careful resource management and a dedicated black mana base.

Text of card

Flying Nim Shrieker gets +1/+0 for each artifact you control.

As imps they were an annoyance. As nim they are a pestilence.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nim Shrieker escalates the pressure on your opponent by growing in power with each artifact in the graveyard, potentially swinging for considerable damage and tipping the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Playing well with artifact-centric decks, this card can capitalize on commonly used artifacts that accelerate your mana pool, thereby indirectly bolstering its power.

Instant Speed: The inherent ability to manipulate graveyards at instant speed in MTG amplifies Nim Shrieker’s effectiveness, as you can unexpectedly increase its power before damage calculation, catching an opponent off guard.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nim Shrieker demands exiling a card from your graveyard to fly, which depletes resources you could potentially reuse or benefit from in other ways within your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Nim Shrieker’s mana cost is exclusively black, requiring a commitment to heavy black mana production and potentially restricting its incorporation into decks with a wider color spectrum.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a base cost of four mana for a 1/1 creature, Nim Shrieker may be less mana-efficient compared to other creatures available that could provide more immediate impact on the game without additional setup.

Reasons to Include Nim Shrieker in Your Collection

Versatility: Nim Shrieker adapts seamlessly across various strategies with its ability to grow in power based on the number of artifacts you control. This makes it a flexible inclusion, fitting well in artifact-centric decks or as a surprise late-game powerhouse.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combos, notably with strategies that multiply artifact tokens or recur artifacts from your graveyard to the battlefield. Each artifact not only fuels the Nim Shrieker’s strength but also potentially interacts with other synergistic pieces of your deck.

Meta-Relevance: In environments rich with artifact play or where indirect damage is common, Nim Shrieker can be a game-changer. Its scaling power implies that it can become an uncontested threat if unchecked, aligning well with the shifts and demands of evolving metas.

How to beat

Nim Shrieker is a card that embodies the risk and reward playstyle often seen in artifact-heavy decks within Magic: The Gathering. This card has the potential for significant attack power since its strength is influenced directly by the number of artifacts in a player’s graveyard. However, this strength is also its main vulnerability.

To effectively combat Nim Shrieker, focus on graveyard management and artifact removal strategies. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt or Relic of Progenitus can clear a graveyard, drastically reducing the Shrieker’s power. Similarly, direct removal spells like Path to Exile can exile Nim Shrieker before it becomes a formidable threat. Moreover, minimizing the number of artifacts you let go to the graveyard restricts the card’s scaling ability.

Strategic timing is crucial. Be mindful of when to play your disruption cards. The optimal moment is usually right when the opponent attempts to maximize their graveyard for a powerful attack. Interrupting this process with instant-speed interaction can nullify the looming threat of the Nim Shrieker and secure your position in the game.

Cards like Nim Shrieker

Nim Shrieker marks its place within the pantheon of artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This card bears resemblance to artifact creatures like Esperzoa which also gain a tactical advantage based on artifacts you control. What sets Nim Shrieker apart is its power boost that correlates with the number of artifacts you own, thus potentially escalating its attack power dramatically each turn.

Another relative in this category includes the Disciple of the Vault, which benefits indirectly from artifacts by causing life loss to opponents whenever an artifact heads to the graveyard, synergizing well with Nim Shrieker’s reliance on artifacts being in play. However, unlike the flying capability of Nim Shrieker, Disciple of the Vault doesn’t apply pressure through combat.

Moreover, Myr Enforcer is a fellow artifact creature that mirrors the theme of Nim Shrieker with its affinity for artifacts, reducing its cost rather than increasing its strength. Myr Enforcer remains consistently strong whereas Nim Shrieker’s power level may fluctuate based on the game’s artifact static.

Assessing these relatives in the artifact creature family, Nim Shrieker’s unique power scaling capability makes it a formidable attacker in decks rich with artifacts. Its aggressive potential in the right deck can overshadow its counterparts, securing its niche within Magic: The Gathering’s diverse card spectrum.

Disciple of the Vault - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Nim Shrieker by color, type and mana cost

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions

Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)

Demon of Catastrophes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Bold Plagiarist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Scourge of Numai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Faceless Butcher - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nim Shrieker MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin, 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 Nim Shrieker and other MTG cards: