Nissa's Expedition MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 5 |
Rarity | Uncommon |
Type | Sorcery |
Abilities | Convoke |
Text of card
Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for or one mana of that creature's color.) Search your library for up to two basic land cards, put them onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library.
Cards like Nissa's Expedition
Nissa’s Expedition is an intriguing card that offers a land acceleration approach in Magic: The Gathering. It bears similarities to other ramp spells like Explosive Vegetation, which also fetches two lands and puts them onto the battlefield. However, Nissa’s Expedition is unique because of its convoke ability, allowing you to tap creatures to help cast it, potentially reducing its original mana cost or even rendering it free.
Another card that comes to mind is Skyshroud Claim. While this spell only searches for Forest cards, it brings them into play untapped, offering immediate access to mana, in contrast to Nissa’s Expedition which places lands on the battlefield tapped. Cultivate is also a common comparison, letting the player search for up to two basic lands, placing one on the battlefield tapped and the other into their hand, offering a combination of immediate and future land growth.
In the landscape of land-based mana acceleration, Nissa’s Expedition holds a competitive edge for decks that can efficiently convoke, allowing a pivotal balance between creature presence and land development in the game of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Nissa's Expedition by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Nissa’s Expedition can set you up well in terms of card utility. Landing two basic Forest cards onto the battlefield not only thins your deck but increases your chances of drawing non-land cards in subsequent turns. This can significantly enhance your gameplay by ensuring that you keep pulling valuable spells or creatures instead of additional land cards.
Resource Acceleration: This card is particularly powerful for green decks that capitalize on having abundant mana resources. By fetching two Forests, it enables you to accelerate your resource pool, which in turn can be pivotal for deploying high-cost creatures or activating demanding abilities earlier in the game than usual.
Instant Speed: Nissa’s Expedition operates at sorcery speed, which requires strategic planning to optimize its potential. Despite not being an instant, the convoke mechanic allows you to tap creatures as part of its casting cost, which can be an efficient way to utilize your board presence while still developing your mana base.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To fuel Nissa’s Expedition’s ramping ability, you need to have a card you’re willing to discard. This can often lead to a decrease in hand advantage, especially if you’re casting it at a critical moment when every card in your hand counts.
Specific Mana Cost: The card’s requirement of two green mana can be restrictive. In decks that are multiple colors, generating the necessary green mana can be challenging, potentially delaying the casting of this spell or forcing suboptimal plays just to get it onto the battlefield.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana, Nissa’s Expedition is not trivial to put into play. In faster-paced games or in metas where efficiency is key, devoting your fourth turn—or potentially even more resources—to ramp may not be the most strategic move, especially when there are alternative cards that may provide ramping or mana fixing at a lower cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Nissa’s Expedition offers a dynamic option for decks interested in land acceleration and fixing. Its Convoke mechanism allows for a flexible casting cost, making it a versatile pick for decks that muster a multitude of creatures.
Combo Potential: Given its ability to search for two lands and place them onto the battlefield tapped, this card works wonders in landfall decks, synergizing with effects that trigger when lands enter the battlefield to create powerful plays.
Meta-Relevance: In formats where developing a solid mana base rapidly can be the difference between victory and defeat, Nissa’s Expedition holds its ground. It’s particularly potent in Commander, a format that values efficient ramp to cast high-impact spells sooner.
How to beat
Nissa’s Expedition is a unique green ramp card in MTG that allows you to search your library for up to two basic land cards and put them onto the battlefield tapped. It’s a part of the Convoke mechanic, which means you can tap creatures to help cast this spell, effectively reducing its cost or even making it free. This can give your opponent a significant advantage in terms of mana acceleration, crucial for playing high-cost creatures or spells earlier than usual.
To counteract Nissa’s Expedition, one effective strategy is to disrupt your opponent’s creature base. Removal spells that can clear the board or target key creatures reduce the usefulness of Convoke, making it harder for your opponent to utilize the spell efficiently. Also consider permission spells that can counter Nissa’s Expedition outright. This prevents the land search and can keep your opponent’s mana development in check. Lastly, land destruction or land interaction cards can remove the advantage gained by your opponent, but these strategies are less common and sometimes frowned upon in casual play. Always stay adaptable and look for opportunities to throw off your opponent’s game plan when they are attempting to set up a ramp with spells like Nissa’s Expedition.
BurnMana Recommendations
Maximizing the power of your MTG deck hinges on the strategic inclusion of cards that amplify your gameplay. Nissa’s Expedition can potentially change the tide of your matches by boosting your mana reserves, allowing for larger plays and greater flexibility. Its synergy with landfall-based strategies and the intriguing convoke mechanic adds a layer of depth to your game. Green deck enthusiasts and players aiming to outpace their opponents in mana development will find this card a worthy investment. If rapid mana acceleration and strategic land placement resonate with your play style, delve deeper with us and discover how Nissa’s Expedition could become a cornerstone of your deck’s strategy.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Nissa's Expedition MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015 and Commander 2021, 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 Nissa's Expedition and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Nissa's Expedition Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2014-07-18 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by Dan Scott.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2014-07-18 | Magic 2015 | M15 | 188 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott | |
2 | 2021-04-23 | Commander 2021 | C21 | 200 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Nissa's Expedition has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Nissa's Expedition card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2021-03-19 | If a creature you control has a mana ability with in the cost, activating that ability while casting a spell with convoke will result in the creature being tapped before you pay the spell’s costs. You won’t be able to tap it again for convoke. Similarly, if you sacrifice a creature to activate a mana ability while casting a spell with convoke, that creature won’t be on the battlefield when you pay the spell’s costs, so you won’t be able to tap it for convoke. |
2021-03-19 | When calculating a spell’s total cost, include any alternative costs, additional costs, or anything else that increases or reduces the cost to cast the spell. Convoke applies after the total cost is calculated. Convoke doesn’t change a spell’s mana cost or mana value. |
2021-03-19 | You can tap any untapped creature you control to convoke a spell, even one you haven’t controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn. |