Ordeal of Nylea MTG Card


Grants card advantage and deck thinning by fetching basic lands after three attacks. Boosts resources instantly, allowing for earlier high-cost plays and faster game momentum. Offers strategic combos with flash creatures and interacts well within green-centric decks.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Text of card

Enchant creature Whenever enchanted creature attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on it. Then if it has three or more +1/+1 counters on it, sacrifice Ordeal of Nylea. When you sacrifice Ordeal of Nylea, search your library for up to two basic land cards, put them onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library.


Cards like Ordeal of Nylea

The Ordeal of Nylea is an intriguing enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that enhances creatures while working towards a reward for that creature’s accomplishments. It shares thematic similarities with other cards in the “Ordeal” cycle, like Ordeal of Heliod, which shares the mechanism of placing +1/+1 counters after a creature attacks. Furthermore, Ordeal of Thassa is another companion enchantment, rewarding players with card draw instead of Nylea’s land acceleration. As each Ordeal is color-coded, Ordeal of Nylea distinctively supports green’s connection to land growth.

When comparing to other green cards, Khalni Heart Expedition comes to mind as it also focuses on land ramp, albeit without the need to engage in combat to get extra lands. However, it takes a similar approach to ensure land drops accelerate gameplay. Cards like Explore complement this tactic by granting an additional land play and immediate card draw, though they don’t involve a creature to trigger their effects.

Examining Ordeal of Nylea alongside its counterparts and other green spells underscores its unique blend of creature enhancement and strategic land ramp, which seamlessly aligns with green’s overarching strategy in MTG.

Ordeal of Heliod - MTG Card versions
Ordeal of Thassa - MTG Card versions
Khalni Heart Expedition - MTG Card versions
Explore - MTG Card versions
Ordeal of Heliod - MTG Card versions
Ordeal of Thassa - MTG Card versions
Khalni Heart Expedition - MTG Card versions
Explore - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ordeal of Nylea adds a counter whenever the enchanted creature attacks, eventually aiding in card advantage when it reaches three counters. Not only do you get the enhancement of the enchantment, but upon completion one is propelled towards a deck thinning strategy, fetching up to two basic lands and putting them on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: This enchantment progressively works towards acceleration by directly putting basic lands onto the field, bypassing your regular land drop per turn. This fuel surge in resources allows for faster plays and can help cast high-cost cards earlier than usual.

Instant Speed: While Ordeal of Nylea itself isn’t an instant, it synergizes well with creatures that have flash. When played in tandem, it can surprise an opponent by quickly advancing your board state and gaining card advantage at an unexpectedly rapid pace. Plus, the act of fetching lands is done at “sorcery” speed, which still allows the player to optimize their mana during their main phase.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When planning to utilize Ordeal of Nylea, players should note it does not have a direct discard requirement. However, in some situations, you may need to sacrifice permanents or resources to meet its trigger conditions, which could be a setback when aiming for an optimized board state.

Specific Mana Cost: Ordeal of Nylea demands a precise mana composition for casting — two generic and one green mana. This cost might not seamlessly fit into decks that aren’t heavily focussed on green mana, potentially making it less versatile across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the cost isn’t exorbitant, Ordeal of Nylea does come with a cumbersomely high mana cost considering the investment needed before it pays off. With three mana required and additional turns to reap its full benefits, some players might find other cards more immediately impactful for the same or lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include Ordeal of Nylea in Your Collection

Versatility: Ordeal of Nylea is a versatile enchantment that can be effective in a variety of deck builds. Its ability to empower creatures and subsequently fetch up lands helps both aggressive and ramp strategies solidify their board presence.

Combo Potential: The enchantment synergizes well with decks that focus on +1/+1 counters, enabling players to combo with cards that benefit from counters being placed on creatures, or lands entering the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: With the current emphasis on efficient land utilization, this card holds its relevance by ensuring you do not fall behind on land plays, especially useful in formats like Commander where mana acceleration can be crucial.


How to beat

The Ordeal of Nylea card stands out in the pantheon of enchantments within Magic: The Gathering. Its primary ability allows players to benefit from increased land development –an asset that can tip the scales in a game. This enchantment adds a growth counter each time the enchanted creature attacks, and upon reaching three counters, it doesn’t just bolster your mana base with two land cards, but also beefs up your creature permanently.

To navigate around the Ordeal of Nylea’s advantage, focus on controlling the board. This means utilizing removal spells to take care of the enchanted creature before it accrues enough counters to activate the Ordeal’s effect. Keep a few instant-speed removal spells in your arsenal, as timing is crucial. Suppressing the equipped creature early in the combat phase prevents land ramp, which is essential for sidestepping the land-flooding strategy that Ordeal of Nylea could potentially create. It also doesn’t hurt to have enchantment removals handy, ready to dismantle your opponent’s setup directly, ensuring the Ordeal never reaches fruition.

In essence, maintaining strategic board control can effectively neutralize the incremental advantages Ordeal of Nylea is designed to produce in MTG, preserving the balance of play and keeping you ahead in the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the tactical world of MTG with Ordeal of Nylea as your guide to cultivating a formidable presence on the battlefield. Leveraging the enchantment’s dual advantage of creature strengthening and land fetching, your deck can achieve a critical pace advantage. Whether you’re upping your game in green-centric decks or exploring its potential in multi-color strategies, the impact of Ordeal of Nylea is felt as you out-maneuver opponents with superior board development. To harness this card’s full potential, connect with us for insightful strategies, card interactions, and advanced plays that catapult you beyond mere victories into the realm of the MTG elite.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ordeal of Nylea MTG card by a specific set like Theros and Commander Legends, 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 Ordeal of Nylea and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ordeal of Nylea Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-09-27 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by David Palumbo.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-09-27TherosTHS 1702003NormalBlackDavid Palumbo
22020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 2472015NormalBlackDavid Palumbo
32022-02-18Neon Dynasty CommanderNEC 1232015NormalBlackDavid Palumbo
42022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 6992015NormalBlackDavid Palumbo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ordeal of Nylea has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-11-10 If you sacrifice Ordeal of Nylea in some other way, its last ability will trigger.
2020-11-10 The +1/+1 counter is put on the creature before blockers are declared and before combat damage is dealt.
2020-11-10 The check of whether the enchanted creature has three or more +1/+1 counters on it happens as part of the resolution of the attack triggered ability. If the third +1/+1 counter is put on the enchanted creature any other way, you won't sacrifice Ordeal of Nylea until the next time the creature attacks.