Ninja of the New Moon MTG Card
2019-06-14 - Number 99
2019-06-05 - Number 22
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Spirit Ninja |
| Abilities | Ninjutsu |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Ninjutsu (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.)
The night is the greatest ally of all.
Cards like Ninja of the New Moon
Ninja of the New Moon introduces stealthy gameplay to Magic: The Gathering, invoking similarities to other ninjutsu-enabled creatures like Mistblade Shinobi. Both creatures leverage the element of surprise, yet Ninja of the New Moon stands out with its formidable power. While Mistblade Shinobi might not pack the same punch, it compensates with its ability to return creatures to an opponent’s hand, disrupting their board at a lower cost.
Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni is another card that shares the clandestine characteristics of the ninja archetype. It has the ninjutsu ability and the added advantage of regenerating, as well as a notable creature-snatching ability upon dealing combat damage to a player. It’s slightly more costly than Ninja of the New Moon but offers a wider array of tactical options.
Assessing these ninja-themed cards, Ninja of the New Moon fits well within the framework of sneak-attack strategies in Magic: The Gathering. Its straightforward aggression offers a raw edge in combat, distinguishing itself amongst its rogue counterparts.
Cards similar to Ninja of the New Moon by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ninja of the New Moon can provide strategic benefits by potentially unbalancing your opponent’s card economy. When this creature connects with an opponent, its ninjutsu ability allows you to return an unblocked attacker to your hand, deploying the Ninja for potentially unexpected effects and drawing out further resources from your opponent to deal with the new threat.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your mana pool, the ability of Ninja of the New Moon to slip onto the battlefield and cause immediate impact can accelerate your game plan. By reusing creatures with enter-the-battlefield effects or taking advantage of cards that benefit from Ninjas dealing combat damage, it indirectly contributes to your overall resource utilization.
Instant Speed: Ninjutsu is an ability that works at instant speed, enabling you to wait until the most opportune moment during combat to substitute an unblocked attacker with the Ninja. This surprise factor can also work as a defensive tool, dissuading your opponent from attacking with valuable creatures for fear of an unexpected Ninja swapping in and potentially turning the tide of battle.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ninja of the New Moon doesn’t specifically ask you to discard cards, but evaluating its drawbacks involves looking at what you might have to lose to play it. For instance, one might have to discard another card due to hand size limitations after spending turns casting a ninja with a high mana cost.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature card has a particular mana cost requirement that involves both colorless and black mana. Decks not focused on including black mana sources may find integrating Ninja of the New Moon challenging, reducing its versatility across various MTG deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering Ninja of the New Moon’s mana cost, its power and toughness stats might not always justify the investment, particularly in fast-paced games where lower-cost creatures can provide quicker benefits or in decks where more impactful ninjas are available for similar or less mana expenditure.
Reasons to Include Ninja of the New Moon in Your Collection
Versatility: Ninja of the New Moon slots into various decks, shining in those that focus on the Ninja archetype or evasive strategies. Its ability to return creatures to your hand can also be valuable for reusing enter-the-battlefield effects.
Combo Potential: As part of the Ninjutsu mechanic, this card can facilitate surprising combos mid-combat, interacting with cards that trigger upon dealing combat damage to a player, or enabling tactics that require you to change the composition of attackers.
Meta-Relevance: In formats where Ninja decks are prevalent, Ninja of the New Moon can serve as a budget-friendly option while remaining competitive. Its synergy with other ninjas and enablers of unblockable creatures makes it a smart pick in an evolving meta.
How to beat
Ninja of the New Moon is an intriguing creature card that places a new spin on stealth and speed in Magic: The Gathering. What makes this card stand out is undoubtedly its combination of relatively high power, the Ninja subtype and the ability to manipulate combat via its keyword ability, Ninjutsu. This capability allows the card to be swapped for an unblocked attacker, surprising an opponent with sudden and potentially game-ending damage.
One effective strategy for countering Ninja of the New Moon is to ensure constant vigilance on the battlefield. Keeping creatures ready to block or utilizing spells that can tap potential attackers minimizes the opportunities for your opponent to activate Ninjutsu. Removal spells that don’t target, such as board wipes, can clear the way before Ninjas can become a threat. Moreover, cards that restrict creature abilities or prevent damage can be pivotal in preserving your defenses against these elusive assailants.
Defeating Ninja of the New Moon requires anticipation and control. By understanding the mechanics behind it and deploying timely countermeasures, players can neutralize its advantages and maintain the upper hand in their matches, ensuring the shrouded dangers of the night never catch them unawares.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ninja of the New Moon // Ninja of the New Moon MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons Art Series and Modern Horizons, 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 of the New Moon // Ninja of the New Moon and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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Printings
The Ninja of the New Moon // Ninja of the New Moon Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2019-06-14. Illustrated by Greg Opalinski.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modern Horizons Art Series | AMH1 | 22 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Greg Opalinski | ||
| 2 | 2019-06-14 | Modern Horizons | MH1 | 99 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Opalinski |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ninja of the New Moon has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ninja of the New Moon card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-06-14 | Although the Ninja is attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature (for purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example). |
| 2019-06-14 | As you activate a ninjutsu ability, you reveal the Ninja card in your hand and return the attacking creature. The Ninja isn’t put onto the battlefield until the ability resolves. If it leaves your hand before then, it won’t enter the battlefield at all. |
| 2019-06-14 | If a creature in combat has first strike or double strike, you can activate the ninjutsu ability during the first-strike combat damage step. The Ninja will deal combat damage during the regular combat damage step, even if it has first strike. |
| 2019-06-14 | The creature with ninjutsu enters the battlefield attacking the same player or planeswalker that the returned creature was attacking. This is a rule specific to ninjutsu; in other cases, when a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, that creature’s controller chooses which player or planeswalker it’s attacking. |
| 2019-06-14 | The ninjutsu ability can be activated during the declare blockers step, combat damage step, or end of combat step. If you wait until after the declare blockers step, because all combat damage is dealt at once, the Ninja won’t normally deal combat damage. |
| 2019-06-14 | The ninjutsu ability can be activated only after blockers have been declared. Before then, attacking creatures are neither blocked nor unblocked. |