Neheb, the Eternal MTG Card
2017-07-14 - Number 104
2017-07-15 - Number 104s
2020-08-13 - Number 167
2023-08-04 - Number 1062
2023-08-04 - Number 244
2023-08-04 - Number 545
2023-08-04 - Number 678
2024-02-09 - Number 158
2023-08-04 - Number 55
| Card sets | Released in 9 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Zombie Minotaur Warrior |
| Abilities | Afflict |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 6 |
Text of card
Afflict 3 (Whenever this creature becomes blocked, defending player loses 3 life.) At the beginning of your postcombat main phase, add to your mana pool for each 1 life your opponents have lost this turn.
"This is what glory looks like." —Nicol Bolas
Cards like Neheb, the Eternal
Neheb, the Eternal ventures into the battlefield with a unique blend of abilities that places it in a distinct category among Magic: The Gathering’s pantheon of creatures. Its most closely related kin in terms of mechanics is probably Aggravated Assault. While Aggravated Assault doesn’t bring a body to the table, it shares the potential for granting extra combat phases, albeit in exchange for mana rather than the post-combat main phase effect of Neheb. Both cards have the capacity to exponentially increase a player’s offensive capabilities as the game progresses.
Drakuseth, Maw of Flames is another creature that finds synergy with Neheb’s ability to harness the red mana generated through combat damage. The powerful dragon’s trigger to deal additional damage to any target can become an even more devastating force when paired with the vast mana resources Neheb can provide.
In considering the strategic value of Neheb, the Eternal, it stands out in its role of converting combat success into a resource advantage. While similar cards may offer a fraction of its capabilities, few can match the sheer potential for explosive turns that Neheb presents to players of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Neheb, the Eternal by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Neheb, the Eternal offers a unique advantage by converting damage dealt to opponents into a substantial increase in your pool of red mana during the post-combat main phase. This can potentially allow you to cast additional spells or use abilities that would otherwise be beyond your normal mana capabilities.
Resource Acceleration: The prowess of this legendary creature lies in its ability to produce a significant amount of extra mana. This resource acceleration enables explosive plays and can easily turn the tide of a game by allowing you to deploy threats or answer opponents’ moves ahead of schedule.
Instant Speed: While Neheb itself is not played at instant speed, the extra mana it generates can be used to unleash instant speed spells in your post-combat main phase. This mana boost gives you the flexibility and potential to adapt quickly to the evolving battlefield, often catching adversaries off guard.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Neheb, the Eternal itself does not have a discard requirement, it often synergizes with cards that do, potentially leading to a reduced hand size which can be detrimental in longer games where resources are key.
Specific Mana Cost: Neheb, the Eternal has a mana cost that is heavily red-oriented, with three red mana symbols in its cost. This specificity can make it challenging to fit into multi-colored decks or those that rely on a diverse mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three generic and three red mana, Neheb sits at a higher spectrum of the mana curve. This can make it less appealing when faster, lower-cost creatures are considered for a more aggressive strategy.
Reasons to Include Neheb, the Eternal in Your Collection
Versatility: Neheb, the Eternal can be a powerful addition to your deck, fitting snugly into a variety of archetypes, especially those that revolve around red mana strategies. His ability to ramp up mana makes him an excellent choice for aggressive burn decks as well as more complex mid-range builds that can benefit from the extra resources.
Combo Potential: With Neheb’s ability to grant additional red mana during the post-combat main phase, he can enable and improve combos, working seamlessly with cards designed to use large pools of mana. This allows for explosive turns where you can cast high-cost spells much earlier than usual or activate abilities multiple times in a single turn.
Meta-Relevance: In the current playing environment, having a sizeable board presence coupled with mana ramp can be decisive. Neheb, the Eternal is relevant in a meta where resilience and explosive turns can shift the balance of the game. As such, he’s not just a creature to play; he’s a tactic that can define the outcome of your matches.
How to beat
Neheb, the Eternal is a formidable card in any red deck, specifically crafted to bolster the aggressive strategy often associated with red mana. Known for its potential to ramp up mana production during the post-combat main phase, Neheb can seem overwhelming at first glance. This mana acceleration is especially impactful when you have spells that require significant amounts of red mana or when trying to execute a combo.
Combatting Neheb requires a tactical approach, focusing on timing and disruption. Removal spells like Path to Exile or Murder are efficient ways to handle Neheb before its ability can be used. Alternatively, counter strategies such as Essence Scatter can prevent Neheb from hitting the battlefield altogether. Since Neheb relies on dealing combat damage to generate mana, controlling the combat phase with cards like Ghostly Prison or Ensnaring Bridge can mitigate his effect, as these limit the ability of your opponent to attack and, consequently, use Neheb’s ability to its full extent.
Overall, despite Neheb’s capacity for rapid mana generation, a strategy combining removal, counterspells, and combat control can effectively neutralize this powerful card and maintain the balance of the game in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Neheb, the Eternal MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Hour of Devastation 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 Neheb, the Eternal and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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Printings
The Neheb, the Eternal Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-07-14 | Hour of Devastation | HOU | 104 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 2 | 2017-07-15 | Hour of Devastation Promos | PHOU | 104s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 3 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 167 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 4 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 1062 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Alex Stone | |
| 5 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 244 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 6 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 545 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 7 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 678 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Alex Stone | |
| 8 | Commander Masters Art Series | ACMM | 55 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | |||
| 9 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor Commander | MKC | 158 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Neheb, the Eternal has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Neheb, the Eternal card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-07-14 | Afflict causes the defending player to lose life; it’s not damage or combat damage. |
| 2017-07-14 | Afflict resolves before combat damage is dealt. If this loss of life brings a player to 0 life or less, that player loses the game immediately. A blocking creature with lifelink won’t deal combat damage in time to save that player. |
| 2017-07-14 | Because it triggers at the beginning of a phase, Neheb’s last ability isn’t a mana ability. It uses the stack and can be countered by effects that interact with triggered abilities, such as that of Nimble Obstructionist. |
| 2017-07-14 | Damage dealt to a player causes that player to lose that much life. |
| 2017-07-14 | If a creature is attacking a planeswalker, that planeswalker’s controller is the defending player. |
| 2017-07-14 | If an opponent loses life and subsequently loses the game before your postcombat main phase, Neheb’s last ability counts that loss of life. |
| 2017-07-14 | If an opponent loses life but Neheb leaves the battlefield before your postcombat main phase begins, its last ability doesn’t trigger. |
| 2017-07-14 | If multiple creatures block a creature with afflict, afflict triggers only once. |
| 2017-07-14 | If you somehow have more than two main phases in a turn, each main phase after your first one is a postcombat main phase, and Neheb’s last ability triggers at the beginning of each of them. |
| 2017-07-14 | Neheb’s ability checks only how much life opponents lost during the turn, not by how much their life total decreased compared to the start of the turn. For example, if an opponent lost 2 life and then gained 8 life before your postcombat main phase, you’ll add to your mana pool. |
| 2017-07-14 | You get a postcombat main phase even if no creatures attacked during a turn. Neheb’s last ability will trigger. |