Olivia's Midnight Ambush MTG Card
2021-09-24 - Number 118
2022-01-28 - Number 118
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn. If it's night, that creature gets -13/-13 until end of turn instead.
"And you were almost finished with that ritual, weren't you, darling? How very rude of me. To make it up to you, I'll send you an invitation to my wedding."
Cards like Olivia's Midnight Ambush
Olivia’s Midnight Ambush is a distinctive play for Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts. It draws comparison with removal spells like Moonlight Hunt, with both offering targeted creature destruction. Yet, Olivia’s Midnight Ambush is unique in how it becomes more potent as the game reaches a darker turn, with its strength surging when an opponent is cursed by having no cards in hand. Moonlight Hunt instead relies on the number of Werewolf and Wolf creatures you control, making it a more situational choice depending on your deck’s creature composition.
In the midst of these nocturnal spells stands another, the ever-reliable Murder. Albeit at a higher mana cost, Murder offers unconditional creature elimination without the variable potency tied to an opponent’s hand status. It provides a consistent, albeit pricier, solution for those looking to remove threats from the board.
Therefore, Olivia’s Midnight Ambush suits a strategy crafted around depleting your rival’s resources, offering a cost-efficient and potentially more powerful option when timed right. It earns its spot in decks that capitalize on controlling an opponent’s hand size, demonstrating the strategic depth of Magic: The Gathering card choices.
Cards similar to Olivia's Midnight Ambush by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Olivia’s Midnight Ambush is an efficient spell that can swing the tide of the game by dealing with an opponent’s threat. This translates into card advantage as it aims to remove more than it costs you to play, keeping more cards in your hand overall.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana resources, clearing the way of blockers or potential threats with Olivia’s Midnight Ambush allows for more direct attacks, effectively accelerating the pressure and resource advantage you hold over your opponent.
Instant Speed: The power of instant speed cannot be overstated. It gives you the flexibility to adapt to the board state, using Olivia’s Midnight Ambush reactively to an opponent’s actions. You can eliminate creatures right before they would deal lethal damage or perhaps in response to a combat trick, retaining the surprise element in your arsenal.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Olivia’s Midnight Ambush necessitates discarding another card to fuel its madness cost. This can lead to a drawback where you’re forced to lose a potentially crucial card from your hand, reducing your overall options and possibly handing your opponent a strategic advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: The card’s cost requires black mana specifically, which can potentially restrict its integration only to black or multicolored decks. If you’re running a deck that doesn’t consistently produce black mana, you might find this card sitting in your hand unusable at critical times.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a full casting cost of three mana, including two black, Olivia’s Midnight Ambush might compete with other removal spells that either cost less or offer more flexibility. In fast-paced games, its cost can impact your ability to respond to threats efficiently, which is a significant consideration for players evaluating their removal options.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Olivia’s Midnight Ambush provides dual utility as both a removal spell and a potential power booster in decks that utilize a nightbound/daybound mechanic. Its ability to adapt to different board states makes it a flexible addition to any black deck.
Combo Potential: The card shines in vampire-themed decks, where it can remove obstacles and simultaneously strengthen your nocturnal creatures. It also works well with instant-speed play strategies, allowing you to surprise opponents during their turn.
Meta-Relevance: In environments teeming with aggressive creature strategies, Olivia’s Midnight Ambush offers a cost-effective way to deal with early threats and maintain board control, keeping your deck competitive in the current meta.
How to beat Olivia’s Midnight Ambush
Olivia’s Midnight Ambush is a powerhouse card in the realm of removal spells in MTG. This spell is most effective when used during your opponent’s turn, as it capitalizes on the night-bound mechanic to gain a strength boost. To successfully navigate around this ambush, you must maintain a strategic approach. Keep the game in a day-bound state where possible, as this neutralizes the card’s increased potency that activates during night-bound.
Another key tactic is employing creatures with indestructible or those that can regenerate. Since Olivia’s Midnight Ambush targets a specific creature, selecting one that can withstand the -2/-2 debuff during the day or the -13/-13 blow at night keeps your side of the battlefield secure. Be mindful of your creature’s toughness and available mana to react appropriately against this removal spell. Lastly, considering strategic spell timing can turn the tide, as casting spells during your own turn can prevent the night-bound condition from activating, rendering Olivia’s Midnight Ambush less threatening.
Understanding the intricacies of a card like Olivia’s Midnight Ambush allows MTG players to effectively counteract its destructive potential, maintaining board presence and advancing towards victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Olivia's Midnight Ambush MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Olivia's Midnight Ambush 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 Olivia's Midnight Ambush Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Chris Rallis.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | MID | 118 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rallis | |
| 2 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 118 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rallis |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Olivia's Midnight Ambush has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Olivia's Midnight Ambush card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-09-24 | For more information about Day and Night and the Daybound and Nightbound abilities, please see the Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Mechanics atricle (https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/innistrad-midnight-hunt-mechanics-2021-09-02). |
| 2021-09-24 | The phrase "if it's night" refers to the day or night designation the game can have. It does not refer to whether or not it's dark outside as you play the game. |