Nucklavee MTG Card


Nucklavee excels in returning essential spells from your graveyard, ensuring sustained strategic plays. Its dependency on blue and red mana can limit deck flexibility but accentuates its power in specific deck builds. Interactive gameplay and strategic recycling of spells make Nucklavee a force in control and combo strategies.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Beast
Power 4
Toughness 4

Text of card

When Nucklavee comes into play, you may return target red sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand. When Nucklavee comes into play, you may return target blue instant card from your graveyard to your hand.

It loathes all tastes but two: spells and flesh.


Cards like Nucklavee

Nucklavee is an intriguing beast in the realm of MTG red-blue multicolor cards. It stands shoulder to shoulder with creatures like Izzet Chronarch, which also retrieves instant or sorcery cards from the graveyard when it enters the battlefield. However, Nucklavee has the notable edge of being able to fetch both an instant and a sorcery card upon entry, expanding the potential for hand replenishment.

Archaeomancer shares a similar purpose, capable of pulling an instant or sorcery card from the graveyard to its controller’s hand. It’s more economical with a lower mana cost but only targets one card compared to Nucklavee’s two. Mnemonic Wall is another related card, boasting the power to recover an instant or sorcery but lacking the added dynamism of Nucklavee’s double retrieval capability.

Examining these choices showcases Nucklavee’s comparative advantage in decks that value card advantage and seek to maximize opportunities to reutilize their powerful spells. Its dual recovery ability slightly offsets the higher mana demand, making Nucklavee a worthy consideration for players building around recursion strategies within their MTG adventures.

Izzet Chronarch - MTG Card versions
Archaeomancer - MTG Card versions
Mnemonic Wall - MTG Card versions
Izzet Chronarch - MTG Card versions
Archaeomancer - MTG Card versions
Mnemonic Wall - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Nucklavee by color, type and mana cost

Firestorm Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Melek, Izzet Paragon - MTG Card versions
Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind - MTG Card versions
Mindwrack Liege - MTG Card versions
Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius - MTG Card versions
Arjun, the Shifting Flame - MTG Card versions
The Locust God - MTG Card versions
Niv-Mizzet, Parun - MTG Card versions
Sliv-Mizzet, Hivemind - MTG Card versions
Prophetic Titan - MTG Card versions
Neera, Wild Mage - MTG Card versions
Wyll of the Elder Pact - MTG Card versions
Mutalith Vortex Beast - MTG Card versions
Firestorm Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Melek, Izzet Paragon - MTG Card versions
Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind - MTG Card versions
Mindwrack Liege - MTG Card versions
Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius - MTG Card versions
Arjun, the Shifting Flame - MTG Card versions
The Locust God - MTG Card versions
Niv-Mizzet, Parun - MTG Card versions
Sliv-Mizzet, Hivemind - MTG Card versions
Prophetic Titan - MTG Card versions
Neera, Wild Mage - MTG Card versions
Wyll of the Elder Pact - MTG Card versions
Mutalith Vortex Beast - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The principal benefit of the Nucklavee is its ability to retrieve another instant or sorcery from your graveyard upon entering the battlefield. This not only offers you access to powerful spells you’ve previously played but also effectively puts you ahead by increasing the number of available resources in your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Although Nucklavee itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the instants and sorceries it helps to recover might. Spells that add mana to your pool can be reused thanks to Nucklavee, thus indirectly contributing to your mana growth over the course of the game.

Instant Speed: Interaction at instant speed is crucial, and while Nucklavee may not be cast at instant speed, it can return an instant spell from the graveyard to your hand. This ups the tempo, offering the possibility to react swiftly to your opponent’s moves on their turn, which is a tactical edge in any match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nucklavee can be a less appealing option for players who are unable to meet its requirement for discarding a card, which might deplete an already constrained hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Nucklavee demands both blue and red mana for casting, making it challenging to integrate into multicolored decks that may not focus on these specific colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of six mana, Nucklavee sits at a higher point on the mana curve. This cost might be too slow compared to other options that could maximize the mana efficiency and impact on the game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Nucklavee is a unique inclusion due to its ability to retrieve both an instant and a sorcery card from your graveyard when it enters the battlefield. This dual recovery feature makes it a versatile addition to decks that heavily utilize these types of spells.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks designed around spell synergies. With Nucklavee, you can recycle powerful instants and sorceries, creating combo opportunities that can turn the tide of the game or even help achieve a direct victory.

Meta-Relevance: Given its recuperative abilities, Nucklavee stays relevant in metas where control and tempo play are prevalent. Its capacity to reclaim key spells gives you a recurring advantage and helps maintain pressure on your opponents.


How to beat

Nucklavee is a unique creature card that can pose significant challenges to opponents in Magic: The Gathering due to its ability to recapture a sorcery and an instant card from the graveyard upon entering the battlefield. To effectively counter this double-threat, players should consider employing graveyard disruption strategies. Cards that can exile cards from the graveyard like Scavenging Ooze or Nihil Spellbomb can thwart Nucklavee’s retrieval effect.

Another approach is to use instant-speed removal spells that can eliminate Nucklavee before its ability triggers, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push. Additionally, countering the creature outright with a spell like Counterspell can prevent it from exerting its influence on the game. Lastly, employing creature-stealing effects or enchantments, like Control Magic, ensures that Nucklavee’s abilities benefit you instead of your opponent. By staying a step ahead and having a plan for graveyard-based interactions, you can mitigate the impact of Nucklavee and maintain control of the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nucklavee MTG card by a specific set like Eventide and Commander 2011, 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 Nucklavee and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nucklavee Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2008-07-25 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Trevor Hairsine.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-07-25EventideEVE 1102003NormalBlackTrevor Hairsine
22011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 2142003NormalBlackTrevor Hairsine
32017-03-31Duel Decks: Mind vs. MightDDS 262015NormalBlackTrevor Hairsine
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 15282015NormalBlackTrevor Hairsine
52020-09-26The ListPLST DDS-262015NormalBlackTrevor Hairsine

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nucklavee has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal