Nissa, Voice of Zendikar MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Nissa
Loyalty 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Nissa excels in token generation and board enhancement, boosting both offensive and defensive capabilities.
  2. Her resource acceleration ability intensifies creature threats, potentially hastening victory for MTG players.
  3. Instant impact ultimate ability is a strategic game-changer, offering significant resource and option boosts.

Text of card


+1: Create a 0/1 green Plant creature token.
-2: Put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
-7: You gain X life and draw X cards, where X is the number of lands you control.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Nissa, Voice of Zendikar planeswalker comes with the ability to create 0/1 green Plant creature tokens, a feature that can quickly fill your board with valuable blockers or potential attackers. This steady stream of tokens can be a form of card advantage as it consistently supplements your side of the field without dipping into your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Nissa’s second ability allows you to put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control, which can rapidly scale up your army’s power and toughness, effectively accelerating your resource value on the board. This makes each of your creatures a more formidable threat, potentially shortening the timeline to your victory.

Instant Speed: While Nissa herself isn’t an instant, her ultimate ability can have an instant impact on the game. By drawing cards equal to the number of lands you control, you can significantly boost your resources and options during a critical moment. In combination with instant-speed spells in your deck, you can protect Nissa until she’s ready to use this powerful ability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Nissa, Voice of Zendikar doesn’t have a discard requirement in her usual play, she does force the player to make critical deck-building decisions. Including her might mean discarding other potentially useful cards that compete for a slot in the 60-card deck limit.

Specific Mana Cost: As a green planeswalker, Nissa requires a dedicated green mana base. Her casting cost of 1GG might be restrictive for multicolor decks that are not heavily green, therefore limiting her inclusion to predominantly green or green-centric multicolor decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, proponents of fast-paced strategies may argue there are more aggressive plays available at this spot on the curve. In an environment where board presence in the early game is crucial, allocating three mana to a non-creature spell could be a costly tempo play.


Reasons to Include Nissa Voice of Zendikar in Your Collection

Versatility: Nissa Voice of Zendikar is a card that can seamlessly blend into multiple deck archetypes. As a planeswalker, it can adapt to the needs of token strategies, bolster +1/+1 counter themes, and provide board presence and protection. Its ability to generate mana through its ultimate is a boon for decks that require a significant amount of resources to execute their game plans.

Combo Potential: This card is a staple in combos that amplify the effects of +1/+1 counters. It synergizes especially well with cards that exploit counters for various effects, such as additional card draw or mana acceleration. Its ability to create plant tokens also opens up avenues for token-based strategies and synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta filled with aggressive strategies, Nissa Voice of Zendikar offers efficient defensive options while setting up for a powerful late-game impact. Its versatility in providing both offensive and defensive advantages makes it a reliable choice regardless of the shifting dynamics of the game.


How to beat

Nissa, Voice of Zendikar presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, much like the pivotal planeswalkers that shape the game’s dynamics in Magic: The Gathering. Her ability to generate 0/1 Plant tokens can quickly overwhelm an unprepared opponent, forging a formidable board presence that’s enhanced further by her -2 ability, which places a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.

To counteract the booming influence of Nissa, Voice of Zendikar, spot removal spells are a player’s first call to action. Swipe away those Plant tokens before they grow out of control or target Nissa directly with damage spells or abilities that specifically tackle planeswalkers. Additionally, controlling the board with sweeping removal like Wrath of God or Damnation gives you a clean slate, rendering her creature buffing futile. Beyond reactive measures, playing with a faster aggressive deck can put pressure on your opponent, forcing them to use Nissa defensively rather than as a ramp to dominance.

Ultimately, knowing when to focus attacks on Nissa and when to keep pressure elsewhere is key, as is having a deck that can adapt to the evolving threats she produces. If you can navigate these waters, you stand a good chance of silencing the Voice of Zendikar.


BurnMana Recommendations

Deepening your MTG skills takes more than knowing individual card abilities; it’s about seeing how they function within the vast ecosystem of your deck and the broader game. Nissa, Voice of Zendikar, brings a suite of advantages that can enhance your play-style, whether through token generation, creature empowerment, or her high-value ultimate ability. If you’re eager to maximize your deck’s potential and navigate the ever-evolving meta with confidence, we’re here to guide you. Dive deeper into the world of MTG with us, discover new strategies, and reinforce your deck as we explore the power of Nissa and beyond together.


Cards like Nissa, Voice of Zendikar

Nissa, Voice of Zendikar, brings unique versatility to any Planeswalker collection in MTG. It stands out with its ability to bolster your creatures immediately with +1/+1 counters, similar to Jiang Yanggu, who also strengthens creatures but requires a preceding step of creating a token creature. Nissa’s capacity for constant board enhancement provides a tactical edge akin to Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, although Gideon’s skillset leans more towards creating token creatures rather than strengthening existing ones.

Moreover, Nissa holds her own against Garruk Wildspeaker. Garruk’s ability to untap two lands is a powerful ramp strategy, but Nissa’s -2 ability to gain life equal to the number of creatures you control can be a game changer in a creature-heavy deck. Unlike Garruk, Nissa’s ultimate -7 ability also offers a prolonged advantage, giving you an emblem with ‘Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may draw a card’—an ongoing benefit that can turn the tides by providing continuous card advantage.

Each of these Planeswalkers offers something special, but Nissa’s balance of defense, empowerment, and potential for card draw makes her a formidable presence in MTG decks focused on creature synergies and incremental board dominance.

Jiang Yanggu - MTG Card versions
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar - MTG Card versions
Garruk Wildspeaker - MTG Card versions
Jiang Yanggu - Treasure Chest (PZ2)
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar - Battle for Zendikar Promos (PBFZ)
Garruk Wildspeaker - Lorwyn (LRW)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nissa, Voice of Zendikar MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Oath of the Gatewatch Promos, 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, Voice of Zendikar and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nissa, Voice of Zendikar Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2016-01-22 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 625112015normalblackRaymond Swanland
22016-01-22Oath of the Gatewatch PromosPOGW 138p2015normalblackRaymond Swanland
32016-01-22Oath of the Gatewatch PromosPOGW 138s2015normalblackRaymond Swanland
42016-01-22Oath of the GatewatchOGW 1382015normalblackRaymond Swanland
52016-09-02Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob NixilisDDR 12015normalblackRaymond Swanland
62016-10-01San Diego Comic-Con 2016PS16 1382015normalblackEric Deschamps
72019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 12812015normalblackRaymond Swanland
82020-09-26The ListPLST OGW-1382015normalblackRaymond Swanland

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nissa, Voice of Zendikar has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

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