Night Incarnate MTG Card
2016-11-16 - Number 70749
2018-08-09 - Number 17
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Abilities | Deathtouch,Evoke |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Deathtouch When Night Incarnate leaves the battlefield, all creatures get -3/-3 until end of turn. Evoke (You may cast this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it's sacrificed when it enters the battlefield.)
Cards like Night Incarnate
Night Incarnate stands out in the realm of creature cards that offer a conditional board wipe. This card aligns closely with Massacre Wurm, which also deals with smaller creatures upon entry. However, Night Incarnate is unique with its Evoke cost, allowing you to trigger the board wipe without keeping the creature on the field. While Massacre Wurm has a persistent presence and affects the opponent’s life total, Night Incarnate provides flexibility.
Another similar card is Demon of Dark Schemes. It also sweeps the board affecting low-power creatures. The significant difference is that Demon of Dark Schemes has the potential to reanimate creatures, but it comes at a higher mana cost. Night Incarnate, offering lower mana investment and Evoke option, might be more suitable in a deck revolving around graveyard strategies or where preserving mana for other spells is crucial.
To sum up, Night Incarnate compares favorably among creatures with conditional board wipe capabilities. Its Evoke ability combined with its lower mana requirements gives it an edge in strategic plays that can pivot the game in your favor.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Night Incarnate ensures a presence on the board by creating a substantial shift in the creature balance when it leaves the battlefield. This effect offers a distinct card advantage as it can potentially remove multiple opposing creatures, outpacing the one-for-one removals common in the game.
Resource Acceleration: Even though Night Incarnate does not directly produce mana or Treasure tokens, its Evoke cost allows for strategic resource acceleration. By deploying its board-impacting ability earlier than its regular casting cost, you optimize your mana usage in the crucial mid-game turns.
Instant Speed: While Night Incarnate itself is not an instant, its Evoke ability can be employed at instant speed. This versatility lets you wait until the end of your opponent’s turn or respond reactively to threats, maximizing the element of surprise and strategic depth in your plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Night Incarnate demands you discard another creature card when you’re looking to leverage its Evoke ability. This can be a strategic setback, especially when your hand is already short on creatures, forcing you to make some tough decisions about your assets.
Specific Mana Cost: Clocking in with a specific mana alignment, Night Incarnate requires one black and four generic mana. This could potentially slow down your strategy if your mana base isn’t perfectly tuned to accommodate such costs, particularly in multi-colored decks where flexibility is key.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of five mana, Night Incarnate sits at a higher threshold which might not align with more aggressive gameplay. In environments where speed is of the essence, its casting cost can be a bit steep, especially when considering other cards with similar or better effects may be available for less.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Night Incarnate offers a unique blend of board control and creature flexibility. It can be a formidable presence on the field or used as a strategic tool for resetting the board during complex game scenarios. This adaptability makes it an excellent choice for a range of black-themed decks or multi-color strategies seeking an edge in creature management.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in decks that capitalize on enter-the-battlefield effects or death triggers. With its Evoke cost, it can swiftly alter the state of play, synergizing with other cards that benefit from creatures dying or being sacrificed, making it a linchpin in specific combo setups.
Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to clear out multiple creatures with a lower power at once, Night Incarnate aligns well with metas dominated by token strategies or a prevalence of utility creatures. Its presence can deter opponents from overcommitting to the board, allowing you to maintain tempo and control.
How to beat Night Incarnate
Night Incarnate is an intriguing creature card that poses certain challenges for opponents within the game of Magic: The Gathering. This dark entity brings a unique mechanic to the battlefield with its ability to decimate multiple smaller creatures when it leaves the play. Overcoming this board-altering effect requires strategic plays and the right timing.
One approach to outmaneuver Night Incarnate is to use instant-speed removal spells that can eliminate it before its leaving-the-battlefield effect triggers. Additionally, employing creatures with indestructible or those that benefit from being sent to the graveyard can also help turn the tables. This is where planning your deck with a variety of responses comes into play, allowing you to face such threats without losing significant board presence.
Ultimately, the key to defeating Night Incarnate lies in predictive play and maintaining a diverse toolkit of spells and creatures that allow flexibility during the match. By doing so, you can ensure that the power of Night Incarnate doesn’t overshadow your route to victory in your Magic: The Gathering duels.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Night Incarnate MTG card by a specific set like Treasure Chest and Commander 2018, 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 Night Incarnate 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 Night Incarnate Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-11-16 and 2018-08-09. Illustrated by Anthony Palumbo.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-11-16 | Treasure Chest | PZ2 | 70749 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony Palumbo | |
| 2 | 2018-08-09 | Commander 2018 | C18 | 17 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony Palumbo |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Night Incarnate has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Night Incarnate card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-07-13 | Evoke is an alternative cost to cast the spell with evoke. It can’t be combined with other alternative costs, such as casting a spell “without paying its mana cost.” |
| 2018-07-13 | If a creature with evoke enters the battlefield without being cast, you won’t have to sacrifice it. |
| 2018-07-13 | The ability that causes you to sacrifice an evoked creature is a triggered ability. Players may respond to this triggered ability while the creature is still on the battlefield. |
| 2018-07-13 | To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as an evoke cost) you’re paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The converted mana cost of the spell remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was. |