Ninja MTG Card
Text of card
You may activate Ninja's augment ability any time you could cast an instant. Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, Augment (, Reveal this card from your hand: Combine it with target host. Augment only as—oh, nevermind.)
Cards like Ninja
When evaluating the stealth and surprise elements that define a Ninja MTG card, we can draw parallels to other deceptive cards in Magic: The Gathering. Notably, Ninja cards are often compared to rogue creatures that have similar sneaky playstyles. Ninjas, with their Ninjutsu ability, allow players to swap unblocked attackers with Ninjas in hand, causing unexpected shifts in the game state. This compares to the rogue mechanic which enables creatures to benefit from opponents being unaware, often triggering when they deal combat damage to a player.
Consider cards like Throat Slitter, which, akin to our Ninja-themed card, offers removal utility upon dealing combat damage. While it lacks the direct ability to replace attacking creatures, it certainly embodies the surprise factor Ninjas bring. Another creature worth mentioning is Silent-Blade Oni, which adopts the essence of Ninjas by allowing the casting of cards from the opponent’s hand upon connecting with them. While this isn’t a common trait amongst most Ninjas, the disruptive gameplay it encourages is very much in line with the Ninja archetype.
Ultimately, while each Ninja MTG card carries its unique traits, the overarching theme of surprise attacks and utility from their Ninjutsu ability, gives them a distinct and valued place in the sneaky tactics of Magic: The Gathering gameplay.
Cards similar to Ninja by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ninja cards often allow players to manipulate their deck or hand, frequently providing options to draw cards or search for specific cards. This aligns well with the strategic depth of Ninja gameplay where gathering more cards than the opponent can tilt the game in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: Certain Ninja cards are designed to reduce the casting cost of Ninja abilities or return unblocked Ninjas to your hand, effectively saving mana and allowing for a more efficient deployment of resources. This can lead to powerful turns where you’re able to play multiple spells or summon several creatures.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Ninja skills at instant speed can create unexpected shifts in board state, catching opponents off guard. This unpredictability factors into the Ninja strategy, giving you the opportunity to disrupt opposing tactics and maintain a tempo advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ninja-themed cards often involve a pricey trade-off, like the need to toss another card from your hand which can backfire if your options are already dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: These stealthy strategists typically require a precise blend of mana, commonly a mix of blue and black, narrowing their compatibility to decks that can support such requirements.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the world of sneaks and shadow feints, Ninja cards frequently come with a heftier mana investment compared to other creatures of similar power levels, which can slow you down in the early game when speed is key.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Ninja MTG cards are unique in their ability to offer surprise and flexibility on the battlefield. They can slip past defenses and turn the tide of the game, making them adaptable to various situations and deck themes.
Combo Potential: With their ninjutsu ability, these cards synergize well with other creatures or spells that benefit from creatures entering or leaving the battlefield, allowing for intricate and powerful combinations that can overwhelm an opponent.
Meta-Relevance: In a gaming environment that rewards cunning and unpredictability, the mechanics of ninja cards remain relevant. Their capability to disrupt opponent strategies while providing card advantage can be influential in shifting the momentum of the match in your favor.
How to beat
Ninja MTG cards, with their stealthy mechanics and tricky abilities, can pose a real challenge on the battlefield. To overcome them effectively, it’s important to stay one step ahead. Cards that prevent unblockable attacks or can remove creatures before they deal combat damage are key. Board wipes, like Wrath of God, can clear the playing field of these elusive adversaries before they can unsheathe their swords. Spot removal spells, such as Path to Exile, are also invaluable tools to directly target and exile key Ninja creatures.
Moreover, since Ninjas rely on creatures connecting with a player to trigger their abilities, cards that grant your creatures reach or those that can tap potential attacking creatures can disrupt a Ninja deck’s strategy. If you anticipate the underhanded tactics of a Ninja deck, include cards in your deck that neutralize them; enchantments like Propaganda can deter attacks by taxing the opponent’s mana. Ultimately, strategic planning and maintaining control of the board state are critical when facing a sly Ninja deck. These tactics ensure they never get the chance to strike from the shadows.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ninja MTG card by a specific set like Unstable and Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, 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 Ninja 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 Ninja Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-12-08 and 2022-02-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2017-12-08 | Unstable | UST | 61 | 2015 | Augment | Silver | David Sladek | |
2 | 2022-02-18 | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty | NEO | 4 | 2015 | Token | Black | Manuel Castañón |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ninja card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2018-01-19 | Augment can (and usually does) change the name, card types, subtypes, rules text, and power/toughness. The combined creature will have (at least) two artists and may now have multiple colors. Anything covered up in the augment process doesn’t count, so ignore things to the left of the “metal bar” in the art of host creatures. |
2018-01-19 | Augment can’t target creatures that aren’t host creatures. |
2018-01-19 | Augment is an activated ability that you activate from your hand. To do so, reveal the card, choose a target host creature, and pay the augment cost. As this ability resolves, if the card with augment is still in your hand, put it onto the battlefield combined with the host creature. |
2018-01-19 | Creatures with augment don’t have a mana cost and can’t be cast. |
2018-01-19 | The creature card with augment isn’t put onto the battlefield until the ability resolves. This means if the host is destroyed, the creature with augment stays in your hand. You can’t choose a different host, but you can activate augment again if there’s another host available. |
2018-01-19 | You can’t activate augment unless there is a host creature on the battlefield. It doesn’t need to be yours. Note though that if you augment another player’s host creature, they control the combined creature. |
2018-01-19 | You can’t put more than one augment card on a single host creature. Once a host creature is augmented, the host part gets covered up and it’s no longer a host creature. |