Nantuko Husk MTG Card

Offers card advantage by leveraging creature sacrifices for strategic power boosts during gameplay. Enhances resource management by allowing significant power increases without casting extra spells. Presents adaptable strategies with its instant-speed sacrifice ability, altering combat dynamics favorably.

Onslaught (ONS)
2002-10-07 - Number 159

Ninth Edition (9ED)
2005-07-29 - Number 148★

Ninth Edition (9ED)
2005-07-29 - Number 148

Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
2005-08-22 - Number F27

Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
2005-08-22 - Number F3

Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
2005-08-22 - Number F15

Tenth Edition (10E)
2007-07-13 - Number 162

Commander 2011 (CMD)
2011-06-17 - Number 90

Magic Origins (ORI)
2015-07-17 - Number 109

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 720

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number ORI-109

Card sets	Released in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Zombie Insect
Power	2
Toughness	2

Text of card

Sacrifice a creature: Nantuko Husk gets +2/+2 until end of turn.

The soul sheds light, and death is its shadow. When the light dims, life and death embrace. —Nantuko teaching

Cards like Nantuko Husk

Nantuko Husk serves as a formidable creature within Magic: The Gathering, thanks to its ability to sacrifice other creatures for a power boost. Comparable to this is Bloodthrone Vampire, which offers the same sacrifice effect for a power jump. The core difference lies in their overall potential; Nantuko Husk can become considerably more intimidating due to its higher base stats, giving it a sturdier presence on the battlefield.

Another parallel can be drawn with Vampire Aristocrat, another creature that gains strength from sacrificing associates. While both cards can alter the board’s dynamics significantly, Nantuko Husk stands out with its scalability in decks built around creature sacrifice strategies. Cards like Carrion Feeder also share this thematic mechanic, but hailing from an older set, it resonates well with long-time players familiar with its classic sacrifice-based synergies, although it cannot match the immediate impact of Nantuko Husk’s stat boosts.

Considering the different mechanics and costs related to these comparable creatures, Nantuko Husk remains a prevalent choice for players who value continuous power growth potential and a creature capable of becoming an immediate threat with the right setup.

Cards similar to Nantuko Husk by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nantuko Husk offers tactical depth in that it can effectively convert creature cards into power boosts. This can lead to decisive moments where sacrificing a creature at the right time can overwhelm an opponent or even win the game. Exploiting cards with “die” triggers, it becomes a key element in archetypes that benefit from sending their own creatures to the graveyard, thus providing card advantage indirectly.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or lands, Nantuko Husk accelerates your board state by offering a power increase without the need to cast additional spells. This ability allows you to deploy other resources more freely while still developing a formidable presence on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: The ability to sacrifice a creature at instant speed gives Nantuko Husk a layer of unpredictability and versatility. You can alter combat math in your favor during the combat phase, respond to removals by utilizing the doomed creature’s last gasp for an attack boost, or simply benefit from death triggers at the most opportune time. This instant-speed flexibility can pivot the tide of a match, making it a formidable asset in any player’s arsenal.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nantuko Husk demands a heavy toll for its power—sacrificing creatures. This requirement can deplete your board presence, leaving you vulnerable if you lack a strategy to replenish your troops.

Specific Mana Cost: As a creature that requires black mana, Nantuko Husk is constrained to decks that run Swamps or have access to black mana sources. This can restrict its inclusion in certain multicolor or theme-based decks that may not accommodate its mana needs.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While two black mana may not seem exorbitant, when compared to other creatures in the same cost bracket, Nantuko Husk can be less appealing. It does not offer immediate impact without other creatures to sacrifice, potentially making it a less than optimal play in faster-paced games or against decks with efficient removal.

Reasons to Include Nantuko Husk in Your Collection

Versatility: Nantuko Husk offers great flexibility, thriving in a variety of deck archetypes. Its ability to sacrifice other creatures at no cost allows for clever play-making, turning potential board wipes into advantageous power boosts.

Combo Potential: This card is a key piece in numerous combo strategies. It pairs well with cards that have death triggers or benefit from creatures hitting the graveyard, enabling explosive turns and unforeseen victories.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where creature-based strategies prevail, Nantuko Husk stands out. It’s especially potent in sacrificial decks, acting as both an offensive threat and as a means to dodge common removal spells.

How to beat

Nantuko Husk is a staple creature in Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique ability to sacrifice other creatures to grow stronger. Taking down this creature requires a solid strategy due to its potential for rapid power increase during combat. To effectively combat the threat posed by Nantuko Husk, it’s advisable to leverage removal spells that bypass its self-pumping ability. Instant-speed removals such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push can eliminate the Husk before it becomes a larger threat during your opponent’s turn.

Board control spells also serve as an efficient method to restrain the Husk’s influence on the game. Opting for cards like Wrath of God can clear the board of all creatures, leaving no assets for the Husk to sacrifice. Given that Nantuko Husk relies on other creatures to increase its strength, managing the creatures your opponent controls is another avenue to weaken the Husk’s impact. Targeted removal or exile effects on the smaller creatures will prevent the Husk from feasting and growing out of control.

In essence, to outmaneuver Nantuko Husk, players should focus on timing their removal spells wisely and controlling the board state to limit the resources available for sacrifice, thereby nullifying its power-building capability.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nantuko Husk MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Ninth Edition, 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 Nantuko Husk and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nantuko Husk Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Carl Critchlow.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2002-10-07	Onslaught	ONS	159	1997	Normal	Black	Carl Critchlow
2	2005-07-29	Ninth Edition	9ED	148★	2003	Normal	Black	Carl Critchlow
3	2005-07-29	Ninth Edition	9ED	148	2003	Normal	White	Carl Critchlow
4	2005-08-22	Salvat 2005	PSAL	F27	2003	Normal	White	Carl Critchlow
5	2005-08-22	Salvat 2005	PSAL	F3	2003	Normal	White	Carl Critchlow
6	2005-08-22	Salvat 2005	PSAL	F15	2003	Normal	White	Carl Critchlow
7	2007-07-13	Tenth Edition	10E	162	2003	Normal	Black	Carl Critchlow
8	2011-06-17	Commander 2011	CMD	90	2003	Normal	Black	Carl Critchlow
9	2015-07-17	Magic Origins	ORI	109	2015	Normal	Black	Carl Critchlow
10	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	720	2015	Normal	Black	Carl Critchlow
11	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	ORI-109	2015	Normal	Black	Carl Critchlow

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nantuko Husk has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2015-06-22	You can sacrifice Nantuko Husk itself to activate its own ability. However, the only thing that will do is put Nantuko Husk into the graveyard.