Narset of the Ancient Way Emblem MTG Card
2020-04-24 - Number 12
2023-08-04 - Number 81
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Type | Emblem |
Text of card
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this emblem deals 2 damage to any target.
Cards like Narset of the Ancient Way Emblem
Narset of the Ancient Way Emblem is a unique creation in MTG, offering an accolade for loyalty and strategy. While emblems in the game are rare, comparing Narset’s emblem to other loyalty emblem rewards is intriguing. Teferi, Hero of Dominaria’s emblem, another highly regarded emblem, lets you draw a card and exile a permanent from the battlefield whenever you draw a card, vastly changing board dynamics. In contrast, Narset’s emblem focuses on casting noncreature spells to deal damage, which can help close out games or control opponents’ creature builds.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance offers another comparison. Her emblem deals damage whenever you cast any spell, similar to Narset’s damage-dealing condition. However, Narset’s emblem provides more flexibility by allowing the casting of noncreature spells as a trigger, drawing focus to the synergy with instant and sorcery spells. Additionally, Jace, Unraveler of Secrets provides an emblem that counters the first spell your opponents cast each turn, another powerful effect yet distinct as it emphasizes disruption over direct damage.
Delving into the finer mechanisms, Narset of the Ancient Way Emblem has the potential to turn any noncreature spell into a persistent threat, marking it as a potent emblem among MTG’s arsenal of game-ending effects.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Narset of the Ancient Way is a powerhouse when it comes to card advantage. With this emblem on the field, every noncreature spell you cast empowers you to dig through your deck, granting access to more options and disrupting your opponent’s strategy by selecting the perfect answers or threats.
Resource Acceleration: The emblem from Narset of the Ancient Way bolsters your resources significantly. It lets you ramp up your mana availability with each spell cast, ensuring that you are always a step ahead in deploying your game plan and can handle more expensive spells earlier than usual.
Instant Speed: One of the emblem’s hidden strengths is its synergistic potential with instant speed spells. Each instant you dispatch serves the dual purpose of altering the course of the game while concurrently enhancing your resource pool, making for a dynamic and responsive gameplay experience.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Garnering the Narset of the Ancient Way emblem necessitates first activating her ultimatum. It requires that you discard a hand card, which might be a tough call if your hand is already depleted or if you’re clutching key cards for late-game strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: To cast Narset and ultimately gain her emblem, a precise blend of mana is essential—specifically, Jeskai colors (blue, red, and white). This precise requirement can be restrictive, locking the card into a narrower range of decks and reducing its universal applicability.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Reaching the ultimate ability to acquire the emblem demands a significant investment of mana and time. With a loyalty cost of -6, the emblem is only accessible after several turns of protecting Narset, during which other more immediate threats or advantages might be overlooked.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Narset of the Ancient Way Emblem offers a unique ability to modify the rules of the game in your favor. This emblem, once obtained, allows for non-stop strategic benefits as it turns all your noncreature spells into potential damage sources. Its adaptability shines in various deck builds, enhancing both control and midrange archetypes by providing a consistent damage output and utility.
Combo Potential: By transforming card draws, removals, and other spells into direct damage, the emblem synergizes perfectly with strategies that emphasize spell-slinging or prowess effects. It has the capability to turn a simple card like Opt into a direct damage dealer, providing combo opportunities to eliminate key threats or even close the game.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that leans towards creature-heavy decks or relies on key noncreature spells for victory, the emblem’s passive damage boost is incredibly relevant. It continues to affect the board state every turn, making it a persistent threat against opponents who cannot remove emblems
How to beat
Narset of the Ancient Way is a formidable planeswalker in Magic: The Gathering, with an emblem that offers not just card advantage but also a form of control over the opponent’s noncreature spells. While the emblem itself is indestructible, there are still strategies to overcome this challenge. The key lies in preventing Narset from obtaining her emblem in the first place or mitigating its impact.
One effective strategy is to apply pressure early in the game. Aggressive decks that can deal damage quickly may force an opponent to use Narset defensively, potentially delaying her ultimate ability or making it less significant. Alternatively, direct damage spells, creature abilities that can target planeswalkers, or cards that can cause an opponent to sacrifice a planeswalker can help to remove Narset from play before she can create her emblem.
Counterspells also play a vital role against Narset, especially if you can counter her when she’s cast or counter key spells that would benefit from the emblem’s effect. Lastly, if the emblem is already in play, shifting the focus to a more creature-centric strategy can reduce the emblem’s inhibitory effect on your game. Overall, a combination of speed, disruption, and adaptability can turn the tide against Narset’s daunting emblem.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Narset of the Ancient Way Emblem MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths and Commander Masters, 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 Narset of the Ancient Way Emblem and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Printings
The Narset of the Ancient Way Emblem Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Yongjae Choi.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2020-04-24 | Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths | IKO | 12 | 2015 | Emblem | Black | Yongjae Choi | |
| 2 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 81 | 2015 | Emblem | Black | Yongjae Choi |