Nettling Host MTG Card


Nettling Host offers graveyard interaction and an alternate casting cost for strategic play depth. However, its specific mana needs and discard requirement may limit deck inclusion options. Its versatility and combo potential make it a considerable addition for certain MTG decks.
Nettling Host - Alchemy: Phyrexia
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Horror
Abilities Conjure,Corrupted,Toxic
Released2023-02-28
Set symbol
Set nameAlchemy: Phyrexia
Set codeYONE
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number3
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDominik Mayer

Text of card

Toxic 2 Corrupted — Exile Nettling Host from your graveyard: Conjure a card named Nettlecyst into your hand. Activate only if an opponent has three or more poison counters.


Cards like Nettling Host

Nettling Host brings a unique dynamic to Magic: The Gathering’s battlefield. It can be compared to other creatures like Frost Lynx or Man-o’-War, which can also tap or return an opponent’s creature to hand upon entering the battlefield. However, Nettling Host’s ability to become unblockable when targeting a tapped creature is a novel trait, setting it apart from common tappers or bounce creatures.

Looking further, Gloomhunter shares a similar role as a limited format evasion creature that can fly over most defenses, but it lacks the added versatility Nettling Host’s ability provides. Comparatively, Silent Dart is an artifact that also manipulates the tapped status of creatures, but it’s used to destroy them, which is a more permanent but costly solution compared to the reuse potential of Nettling Host.

Assessing Nettling Host’s value among its peers, its selective unblockable nature gives a unique edge in pressuring opponents, especially in a deck with a focus on control or tapping mechanisms, highlighting the strategic importance of MTG creatures that interact with the status of other cards in play.

Frost Lynx - MTG Card versions
Man-o'-War - MTG Card versions
Gloomhunter - MTG Card versions
Silent Dart - MTG Card versions
Frost Lynx - MTG Card versions
Man-o'-War - MTG Card versions
Gloomhunter - MTG Card versions
Silent Dart - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nettling Host offers a unique interaction with graveyard mechanics, allowing players to potentially recur threats or facilitate graveyard synergies, thus adding layers to card advantage strategies.

Resource Acceleration: By offering an alternate casting cost, this card can accelerate gameplay dynamics, enabling players to optimize their resource management and deploy threats earlier than expected.

Instant Speed: The ability to act at instant speed provides a tactical edge, giving players the opportunity to adapt to the board state effectively and outmaneuver opponents’ strategies on the fly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nettling Host requires you to discard a card to activate one of its abilities. This can be a significant setback, especially when your hand is already thin, forcing you to lose vital resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Nettling Host’s ability is dependent on a specific mana cost which includes black mana. This restricts its inclusion to decks that can reliably generate that color, potentially excluding it from various other strategy builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its relatively high mana cost for what it delivers in terms of power and toughness, Nettling Host may not be the most mana-efficient creature in a game where tempo can be crucial to victory.


Reasons to Include Nettling Host in Your Collection

Versatility: Nettling Host offers adaptability in decks focusing on sacrifice mechanics or creature control. Its ability to transform under specific conditions means it can serve multiple roles on the battlefield, from a blocker to an aggressor.

Combo Potential: This card’s unique capability to enlist other creatures after transforming adds depth to combos, especially in decks that capitalize on creature tokens or require creatures entering the battlefield to trigger various effects.

Meta-Relevance: Nettling Host gains importance in a meta that revolves around creature-based strategies. As the game evolves and decks focus on flooding the board with creatures, having an adaptable card like Nettling Host becomes increasingly critical in swinging matches in your favor.


How to beat

Confronting Nettling Host in the current landscape of MTG can be quite the challenge. This formidable card boasts a unique ability to become unblockable, leaving many players scrambling for answers. A well-rounded strategy involves utilizing spells or abilities that can remove it from play without having to declare blockers. Spells such as Murder, which allows for direct removal of creatures, can be extremely efficient against Nettling Host. Additionally, employing counterspells such as Counterspell or Mana Leak can preempt the threat by ensuring Nettling Host never hits the battlefield in the first place.

Enchantment-based removal options like Cast Out or Oblivion Ring offer another avenue to deal with Nettling Host effectively. They not only exile the creature but also serve as a deterrent for other potential threats that may arise during a match. Moreover, board wipes such as Damnation or Wrath of God can reset the playing field, dealing with Nettling Host and other problematic creatures in one fell swoop. In conclusion, while Nettling Host can be a nuisance, with deliberate planning and the right set of removal tactics, overcoming this adversary is entirely feasible for strategic MTG players.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nettling Host MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy: Phyrexia, 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 Nettling Host and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nettling Host has restrictions

FormatLegality
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
HistoricLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal