Nevermore MTG Card

Nevermore stifles opponents’ strategies by prohibiting specific cards, affording a proactive defensive tactic. It fortifies resource management, allowing players to better allocate mana by preventing future threats. The card’s preemptive nature provides an immediate competitive edge, despite its sorcery speed.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment
Released	2011-09-30
Set symbol
Set name	Innistrad
Set code	ISD
Number	25
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jason A. Engle

Text of card

As Nevermore enters the battlefield, name a nonland card. The named card can't be cast.

"By the law of Avacyn, the following thoughts, words, and deeds are henceforth disallowed."

Cards like Nevermore

Nevermore, a definitive piece in card denial strategy, carves its niche within Magic: The Gathering’s control archetype. This card resembles others like Meddling Mage, which also prevents the casting of particular spells. However, Nevermore is non-creature and evades removals that typically target creatures, hence making it slightly sturdier against certain decks.

Void Winnower is another card that disrupts opponents’ ability to cast spells, albeit nonconventionally. Rather than naming a specific card, Void Winnower blanket-prevents any spells with even converted mana costs. This includes a vast range of commonly played spells but doesn’t provide the pinpoint precision of Nevermore. Then Gideon’s Intervention is a similar enchantment that not only names a card to be prohibited from casting but also provides protection from the named card—a dual advantage that echoes Nevermore’s preventive nature with added defensive capabilities.

In evaluating the control options available, Nevermore stands out for its specific suppression ability, offering a distinctive advantage in games where blocking a particular card is crucial. Its resilience and precision make it a staple in formats where key cards or combos dominate the landscape.

Gideon's Intervention - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Nevermore by color, type and mana cost

The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions

Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nevermore provides a strategic advantage by effectively removing an opponent’s key card from play without actually having to deal with it on the board. This preemptive measure can stifle your opponent’s game plan and secure you a superior board position.

Resource Acceleration: Though Nevermore does not directly accelerate resources, it conserves your resources by potentially preventing the need to respond to threats later on. This allows you to allocate mana more efficiently in subsequent turns, as you won’t need to spend it on answers to the named card.

Instant Speed: While Nevermore itself is not an instant, its ability to name any card can be a timely response to meta-game shifts or imminent threats, comparable to the versatility instants provide. This ensures that even though it’s played at sorcery speed, its effect on the game can be immediate and impactful, countering strategies that rely on specific cards for victory.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nevermore does not necessitate discarding as a prerequisite for play, providing a strategic edge in terms of hand resource management.

Specific Mana Cost: With its white mana requirement, Nevermore can be restrictive for multicolored decks, especially those that lean on a different color as their base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana, including two color-specific ones, can be considered steep for its effect of prohibiting the playing of a named card, especially when alternative choices may provide more flexibility or additional benefits at a similar or lower cost threshold.

Reasons to Include Nevermore in Your Collection

Versatility: Nevermore’s ability to name a card and prevent it from being cast makes it a unique and flexible sideboard option in many decks, especially those geared towards control. It allows players to shut down key pieces of their opponent’s strategy, from powerhouse creatures to game-ending spells, adapting to various game scenarios.

Combo Potential: In decks that manipulate spells or benefit from denying opponents their options, Nevermore shines. It works great in combination with cards that allow you to see your opponent’s hand, ensuring you name the right card to disrupt their combos or protect your own strategy.

Meta-Relevance: As metagames shift, certain cards can become dominant forces. Nevermore has the capacity to single-handedly neutralize problematic cards that are prevalent, providing a layer of protection against decks that rely on specific spells to win. Its applicability becomes particularly pronounced if the meta favors decks with a linear and predictable game plan.

How to Beat Nevermore

Nevermore is a unique card that can pose quite the conundrum for many Magic: The Gathering players. The enchantment’s power lies in its ability to prevent any player from casting a chosen spell by name, effectively neutralizing specific threats before they even hit the battlefield. Beating Nevermore requires tactical adjustments and clever deck building.

To navigate around Nevermore, consider including versatile removal spells like Disenchant or Naturalize in your deck. These spells target enchantments directly, allowing you to dismantle the obstacle Nevermore presents. Alternatively, using cards with the ability to counter enchantments can prevent Nevermore from resolving in the first place. A well-timed Counterspell or Negate can save your crucial spells from being locked away.

A broader strategy entails diversifying your threats; don’t rely too heavily on any single card to win the game. By putting a mix of potent spells in your arsenal, you minimize the impact of Nevermore’s naming restriction. Cards like Echoing Truth or Oblivion Ring also provide versatile answers to a variety of situations, including problematic permanents like Nevermore. Adapting these strategies will help maintain your deck’s resilience against this potent enchantment.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nevermore MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad, 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 Nevermore and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nevermore has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2011-09-22	Although the named card can't be cast, it can still be put onto the battlefield by a spell or ability (if it's a permanent card).
2011-09-22	No one can cast spells or activate abilities between the time a card is named and the time that Nevermore's ability starts to work.
2011-09-22	Spells with the chosen name that somehow happen to already be on the stack when Nevermore enters the battlefield are not affected by Nevermore's ability.
2011-09-22	The named card can be cast again once Nevermore leaves the battlefield.
2011-09-22	You can name either half of a split card, but not both. If you do so, that half (and both halves, if the split card has fuse) can't be cast. The other half is unaffected.
2021-03-19	If you name one of the faces of a modal double-faced card, players may still play the face you didn't name. (Players can never cast the back face of a transforming double-faced card)