Nocturnal Raid MTG Card
1996-10-08 - Number 132
2001-04-11 - Number 151
2001-04-11 - Number 151★
2005-08-22 - Number A3
2006-01-01 - Number 3
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
All black creatures get +2/+0 until end of turn.
"The finest offering of night is not stealth but daring." —Tetlok, Breathstealer
Cards like Nocturnal Raid
Nocturnal Raid brings a unique dynamic to creature enhancement in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with other cards like Bad Moon that generally bolster the power and toughness of your creatures. Nocturnal Raid’s advantage lies in selectively boosting only your black creatures and only during your turn, giving it a tactical edge in surprise offensive maneuvers.
Another parallel can be drawn with Eternal Thirst, which not only provides lifelink but also increases a creature’s power and toughness as it destroys other creatures. While Eternal Thirst’s bonus is more permanent, Nocturnal Raid offers a significant immediate impact at a potentially game-winning moment. Then there’s Coat with Venom, which gives a creature deathtouch and a smaller power boost but is also limited to a single target.
Comparatively, considering Nocturnal Raid’s momentary but broad-reaching effect, it becomes a potent card for players leveraging black creature-heavy decks, especially when timing attack phases for maximum impact. Thus, despite its situational nature, Nocturnal Raid proves its mettle in the right deck composition and strategic play in MTG.
Cards similar to Nocturnal Raid by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When you cast Nocturnal Raid, you earn immediate card advantage as it enables you to potentially remove multiple threats at once. This can streamline your path to victory and disrupt your opponent’s board presence.
Resource Acceleration: Although Nocturnal Raid itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, the removal of opposing creatures can indirectly accelerate your resources. By clearing the way, your creatures can connect more easily, thus speeding up your damage output and any attack-triggered abilities that may lead to additional resources.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Nocturnal Raid at instant speed is a massive advantage. This gives you the flexibility to wait until the most opportune moment during either your or your opponent’s turn. It can create unexpected swings in the game state and disrupt opponent strategies that rely on combat or end-of-turn setups.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Nocturnal Raid demands you to surrender a card from your hand to initiate its effect. This can be quite taxing when your hand is already dwindling, ultimately constraining your strategic options and possibly forcing you to discard something valuable.
Specific Mana Cost: Nocturnal Raid’s casting cost is constricted by black mana necessity, thereby making it less flexible for decks that aren’t geared towards heavy black mana usage or multicolor decks with a tight mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the card provides a potentially game-changing ability, the mana investment is significant. Other cards within the same mana range might offer more immediate impact or versatility, which can make Nocturnal Raid a less appealing choice for players seeking to optimize their mana efficiency.
Reasons to Include Nocturnal Raid in Your Collection
Versatility: Nocturnal Raid offers a unique advantage in decks that thrive on stealth or quick buffs. It’s especially impactful in decks that can swiftly alter the power balance during combat.
Combo Potential: This card can be the lynchpin in strategies that amplify the power of creatures under the cover of darkness or in concert with cards that benefit from boosted attack phases.
Meta-Relevance: Nocturnal Raid can play a crucial role in gameplay, especially when facing off against decks that struggle to recover from sudden, unexpected losses of life or when aggression is paramount to the play style.
How to beat Nocturnal Raid
Nocturnal Raid is a dynamic force on the battlefield, giving MTG players an aggressive edge during the night. Just as some MTG cards capitalize on daytime conditions, Nocturnal Raid is a card that shines under the cloak of darkness, pumping up creatures to deliver a hefty blow. To safeguard one’s game from falling prey to this nocturnal onslaught, it’s critical to disrupt the transition into night or employ effects that neutralize the boosted creatures.
In dealing with Nocturnal Raid, consider cards like Sundown Pass and Daybreak Combatants, which can sway the day-night cycle in your favor, mitigating Nocturnal Raid’s impact. Alternatively, cards that can remove several creatures at once, like Doomskar or Blasphemous Act, can clear the battlefield before the raid commences. Lastly, instant-speed removal that can target creatures mid-attack, such as Swords to Plowshares or Heartless Act, may be pivotal in maintaining control against this powerful card’s advantages.
Ultimately, understanding the mechanics of day and night in MTG, alongside having a strategy to manage or exploit these cycles, is key when facing off against a deck that harnesses Nocturnal Raid’s full potential.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Nocturnal Raid MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and Seventh Edition, 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 Nocturnal Raid 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 Nocturnal Raid Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 2006-01-01. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-10-08 | Mirage | MIR | 132 | 1997 | Normal | Black | John Matson | |
| 2 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 151 | 1997 | Normal | White | Pete Venters | |
| 3 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 151★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
| 4 | 2005-08-22 | Salvat 2005 | PSAL | A3 | 2003 | Normal | White | Pete Venters | |
| 5 | 2006-01-01 | Hachette UK | PHUK | 3 | 2003 | Normal | White | Pete Venters |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Nocturnal Raid has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Nocturnal Raid card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | On resolution, all black creatures on the battlefield get the bonus. Ones that enter the battlefield later in the turn do not get it. |