Nimbus Naiad MTG Card

Nimbus Naiad enables card advantage and unexpected battlefield shifts when bestowed during combat. Mana specificity may hinder inclusion in non-blue decks, despite its potential for game acceleration. Versatility and meta relevance make Nimbus Naiad a compelling pick for flying-focused strategies.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment Creature — Nymph
Abilities	Bestow,Flying
Released	2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set name	Theros
Set code	THS
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	56
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	David Palumbo

Text of card

Bestow (If you cast this card for its bestow cost, it's an Aura spell with enchant creature. It becomes a creature again if it's not attached to a creature.) Flying Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and has flying.

Cards like Nimbus Naiad

Nimbus Naiad is an interesting creature with an enchantment twist in the world of Magic: The Gathering. Like other creatures with the bestowed mechanic from the Theros block, Nimbus Naiad can either be a flying threat or a powerful aura that gives another creature flying and a stat boost. Comparable to Nimbus Naiad, we see cards like Hopeful Eidolon which also offer versatility; they can be played as creatures or as auras to enhance other creatures, granting them lifelink in addition to a power and toughness increase.

Observant Alseid follows a similar path, providing vigilance instead of flying when bestowed upon another creature. Though it doesn’t offer the evasion that Nimbus Naiad grants, vigilance is a valuable ability in certain decks. Celestial Archon, another card in this category, stands out as a powerful option providing both flying and first strike when bestowed, although at a higher mana cost than Nimbus Naiad. Each of these cards brings a dual nature to the battlefield, able to adapt as the game progresses and the board state changes.

Ultimately, Nimbus Naiad’s flexibility to switch roles between an enchanting aura or an evasive creature carves a unique niche, making it a subtly powerful choice for players who prize adaptability and aerial dominance in their game strategy.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nimbus Naiad bestows the ability to draw cards when it hits the opponent, which is a key play for keeping hand superiority. This blue enchantment creature ensures that you’re not falling behind in resources during the match.

Resource Acceleration: Although Nimbus Naiad itself doesn’t directly provide mana, the boost it gives to another creature can make it a more formidable force, leading to faster damage and, in some cases, an accelerated path to victory.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Nimbus Naiad isn’t just confined to your main phases. Thanks to its bestow ability, you can instantly turn a harmless creature into a flying threat mid-combat, potentially surprising your opponent and creating sudden shifts in the game state.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nimbus Naiad requires no discard to play, but if you’re leveraging its bestow mechanic, be cautious as removing the enchanted creature from the battlefield could leave you behind in card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: To cast Nimbus Naiad, you’re looking at a blue-specific mana cost, which may not seamlessly fit into multicolored or colorless decks, potentially limiting its versatility in certain strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana and a bestow cost of seven, Nimbus Naiad’s flexibility comes at a higher resource investment when compared to other enchantment creatures or aura spells that might offer similar benefits for less.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Nimbus Naiad’s enchant creature ability enables it to adapt to various play styles. Whether you’re enhancing a creature’s stats or seeking to gain a tactical aerial edge, this card can serve multiple roles in both aggressive and control-based decks.

Combo Potential: As both an enchantment and a creature, Nimbus Naiad can synergize with strategies that capitalize on either card type. This duality allows it to interact effectively with a wide range of cards and mechanics, fitting seamlessly into enchantment-focused builds or decks that reward you for having creatures with flying.

Meta-Relevance: Given that flying creatures can bypass common ground-based defenses, Nimbus Naiad maintains relevance in metagames where evasive tactics are key. Its ability to turn any creature into a significant aerial threat makes it a useful asset in overcoming board stalls and reaching victory.

How to beat

Nimbus Naiad is a creature enchantment card that offers flexibility and a tactical advantage through its bestow mechanic. Players encounter this card, which can either act as a flying creature or bestow another creature with its flying ability and a power boost. Its dual nature makes it a versatile tool in the skies, where aerial supremacy can significantly tilt the scales of victory.

To counter Nimbus Naiad, removal spells that can target either enchantments or creatures are instrumental. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant can efficiently dispatch Nimbus Naiad, irrespective of its form as a creature or as an aura. Moreover, employing counterspells such as Essence Scatter when your opponent attempts to play Nimbus Naiad prevents it from becoming a threat on the board. Another strategy is to maintain aerial blockers or creatures with reach, ensuring that you can intercept any attackers that have been enhanced by Nimbus Naiad’s bestowing abilities.

It’s essential to be proactive and keep an eye on your opponent’s mana availability, as Nimbus Naiad can swing in unexpectedly, changing the battlefield dynamics. Assessing the scenario and having a response ready can be the key to successfully negating the advantages this card provides in MTG clashes.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nimbus Naiad MTG card by a specific set like Theros, 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 Nimbus Naiad and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nimbus Naiad has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-09-15	Auras attached to a creature don't become tapped when the creature becomes tapped. Except in some rare cases, an Aura with bestow remains untapped when it becomes unattached and becomes a creature.
2013-09-15	If a permanent with bestow enters the battlefield by any method other than being cast, it will be an enchantment creature. You can't choose to pay the bestow cost and have it become an Aura.
2013-09-15	On the stack, a spell with bestow is either a creature spell or an Aura spell. It's never both, although it's an enchantment spell in either case.
2013-09-15	Unlike other Aura spells, an Aura spell with bestow isn't countered if its target is illegal as it begins to resolve. Rather, the effect making it an Aura spell ends, it loses enchant creature, it returns to being an enchantment creature spell, and it resolves and enters the battlefield as an enchantment creature.
2013-09-15	Unlike other Auras, an Aura with bestow isn't put into its owner's graveyard if it becomes unattached. Rather, the effect making it an Aura ends, it loses enchant creature, and it remains on the battlefield as an enchantment creature. It can attack (and its abilities can be activated, if it has any) on the turn it becomes unattached if it's been under your control continuously, even as an Aura, since your most recent turn began.