Nyxathid MTG Card

Nyxathid pressures opponents by causing discards, potentially leading to indirect card advantage for the player. Its aggressive stats for its mana cost can hasten game pace by requiring opponents to respond swiftly. Despite sorcery speed, the strategic timing of Nyxathid’s play can simulate instant-speed advantages.

Conflux (CON)
2009-02-06 - Number 49

Battlebond (BBD)
2018-06-08 - Number 153

Jumpstart (JMP)
2020-07-17 - Number 259

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Elemental
Power	7
Toughness	7

Text of card

As Nyxathid comes into play, choose an opponent. Nyxathid gets -1/-1 for each card in the chosen player's hand.

Born of volcanic forces, it thrives on the absolute panic it inspires.

Cards like Nyxathid

Nyxathid stands out in the realm of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. It shares the battlefield with the likes of Lhurgoyf, a creature whose power and toughness are determined by the number of creature cards in all graveyards. While Lhurgoyf’s size scales with graveyard contents, Nyxathid offers a different approach to power augmentation, shrinking an opponent’s hand while still entering the field as a significant threat.

Another comparable threat is Tarmogoyf, which thrives off the variety of card types in graveyards, presenting an adaptable challenge. Nyxathid’s power, however, doesn’t waver and stays firm as long as your opponent’s hand is kept under pressure. There is also the Mindwrack Demon, boasting a formidable presence with its flying trait and delirium ability, but Nyxathid requires less setup to unleash its full potential on the game.

Assessing these options shows that Nyxathid is a unique blend of aggression and disruption, capable of applying immediate pressure to opponents in Magic: The Gathering. Its distinct ability to affect an opponent’s strategic resources makes it a competitive choice for players seeking to combine offense with psychological warfare.

Cards similar to Nyxathid by color, type and mana cost

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nyxathid presents a unique angle on card advantage by pressuring your opponent to make difficult decisions. As it forces the opponent to discard upon entering the battlefield, it can indirectly translate into card advantage as you deplete the resources in your opponent’s hand, tilting the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While Nyxathid itself does not provide direct resource acceleration, its aggressive stats for its cost can lead to a faster gameplay by demanding answers from the opponent. This pressure can tap out your opponent’s resources, effectively accelerating your path to victory as they deal with your threat.

Instant Speed: Though Nyxathid is a creature played at sorcery speed, its impact on the game can be likened to instant-speed interactions. Putting Nyxathid on the board at the right moment, particularly post-wipe or when the opponent is low on cards, can capitalize on a temporal advantage as if you had acted with the flexibility of an instant.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nyxathid requires opponents to discard cards for its ability, which may be less effective in late-game scenarios or against decks with graveyard synergies.

Specific Mana Cost: Nyxathid’s black mana requirement makes it exclusive to decks that support black mana, limiting its versatility in multi-colored deck constructions.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana including two black, Nyxathid competes for a spot with other impactful three-drops in the aggressive black archetype.

Reasons to Include Nyxathid in Your Collection

Versatility: Nyxathid’s power is not limited to any single strategy, making it a strong contender in decks focusing on discard mechanics or as a substantial blocker in black control builds.

Combo Potential: With plans that aim to minimize your opponent’s hand size, Nyxathid can quickly become a formidable force. It pairs well with cards that force discards, enhancing overall strategy efficacy.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment rich with hand disruption themes, Nyxathid shines by capitalizing on opponents’ reduced hand sizes, making it an efficient and synergistic piece in such metas.

How to beat

Nyxathid is a unique creature card steeped in the daunting aesthetics of the game. With its power and toughness directly tied to the number of cards in your opponent’s hand, it presents a peculiar challenge to tackle. While commanding a presence on the battlefield, the Nyxathid requires strategic play to mitigate its strengths.

Countering this behemoth begins well before it hits the table. Thoughtseize and Inquisition of Kozilek are excellent pre-emptive strikes, disrupting your opponent’s hand and reducing the Nyxathid’s size before it can become a threat. Once on the battlefield, keeping your hand size above the critical threshold is key. This ensures that the Nyxathid stays manageable, allowing for easier containment or removal through spells like Path to Exile or Terminate.

A combination of hand disruption and efficient creature removal is the cornerstone of overcoming the Nyxathid. Instant-speed interaction proves invaluable, allowing you to adapt swiftly to the changing state of your opponent’s hand. By prioritizing these tactics, the puzzle of besting a Nyxathid becomes a manageable task in the wider strategic landscape of gameplay.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nyxathid MTG card by a specific set like Conflux and Battlebond, 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 Nyxathid and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nyxathid Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2009-02-06 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Raymond Swanland.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2009-02-06	Conflux	CON	49	2003	Normal	Black	Raymond Swanland
2	2018-06-08	Battlebond	BBD	153	2015	Normal	Black	Raymond Swanland
3	2020-07-17	Jumpstart	JMP	259	2015	Normal	Black	Raymond Swanland

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nyxathid has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Commander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Nyxathid card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2009-02-01	If a spell or ability causes the chosen player to draw cards and then discard cards, Nyxathid’s power and toughness changes accordingly as that spell or ability is resolving. For example, if the chosen player has five cards in hand and a spell causes that player to draw two cards then discard two cards, Nyxathid will start out as 2/2, then become 1/1, 0/0, and finally 2/2. This is because cards are always drawn one at a time, but multiple cards may be discarded at once. Although Nyxathid momentarily had 0 toughness while that spell was resolving, it isn’t put into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based action because state-based actions aren’t checked until the spell has finished resolving.
2009-02-01	In a multiplayer game, if the chosen player leaves the game, Nyxathid’s second ability simply won’t do anything anymore.
2009-02-01	Nyxathid tracks the hand size of the chosen player even if that player ceases to be an opponent of its controller. (This could happen if that player gains control of Nyxathid, for example.)
2009-02-01	Nyxathid’s two abilities are linked: The second one refers only to the player chosen by the first one. If another creature becomes a copy of Nyxathid (due to Mirrorweave, for example), the second ability won’t do anything because a player was never chosen as a result of the first ability. This is true even if a different ability allowed a player to be chosen as that creature entered the battlefield.