Phantom Nishoba MTG Card


Phantom Nishoba bolsters board presence without traditional card drawing, posing multiple threats. Lifelink and trample enable resource superiority, key for maintaining life and board control. Instant-speed synergies with Phantom Nishoba can shift game momentum unexpectedly in your favor.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Cat Beast Spirit
Abilities Trample
Power 0
Toughness 0

Text of card

Trample Phantom Nishoba comes into play with seven +1/+1 counters on it. Whenever Phantom Nishoba deals damage, you gain that much life. If damage would be dealt to Phantom Nishoba, prevent that damage. Remove a +1/+1 counter from Phantom Nishoba.


Cards like Phantom Nishoba

Phantom Nishoba holds a unique place in Magic: The Gathering as a captivating creature card that offers both power and resilience in play. It shares some characteristics with other creature cards like Armada Wurm, which brings significant power to the battlefield along with Trample and a token creature. Yet, Phantom Nishoba distinguishes itself with its cumulative upkeep ability to gain +1/+1 counters, ensuring its staying power during drawn-out matches.

In terms of self-sustaining creatures, we see parallels with cards such as Spike Feeder, which also has the capability to gain life. However, Spike Feeder does so at the cost of removing +1/+1 counters, unlike Phantom Nishoba that gains counters after dealing damage. Additionally, Phantom Nishoba presents an evasion attribute due to protection from black, making it a formidable opponent against certain decks where this could shift the balance of the game.

The card also mirrors some aspects of Pelakka Wurm, another beast with a combination of Lifelink and an upon-death effect. Both creatures can enhance your life total, but Phantom Nishoba stands out with its capacity for damage prevention. With these comparative insights, players can appreciate Phantom Nishoba’s dynamic role within the ecosystem of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering.

Armada Wurm - MTG Card versions
Spike Feeder - MTG Card versions
Pelakka Wurm - MTG Card versions
Armada Wurm - MTG Card versions
Spike Feeder - MTG Card versions
Pelakka Wurm - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Phantom Nishoba by color, type and mana cost

Gabriel Angelfire - MTG Card versions
Lady Caleria - MTG Card versions
Trostani's Summoner - MTG Card versions
Arashin Sovereign - MTG Card versions
Rockcaster Platoon - MTG Card versions
Vagrant Plowbeasts - MTG Card versions
Novablast Wurm - MTG Card versions
Risen Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Emmara Tandris - MTG Card versions
Belligerent Brontodon - MTG Card versions
Torsten, Founder of Benalia - MTG Card versions
Ghalta and Mavren - MTG Card versions
Gabriel Angelfire - MTG Card versions
Lady Caleria - MTG Card versions
Trostani's Summoner - MTG Card versions
Arashin Sovereign - MTG Card versions
Rockcaster Platoon - MTG Card versions
Vagrant Plowbeasts - MTG Card versions
Novablast Wurm - MTG Card versions
Risen Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Emmara Tandris - MTG Card versions
Belligerent Brontodon - MTG Card versions
Torsten, Founder of Benalia - MTG Card versions
Ghalta and Mavren - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Phantom Nishoba. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Five-color ReanimatorFive-color Reanimator Premodern$1K - Pre-Modern - SCG CON Hartford - Sunday - 9:30 am
ElvesElves PremodernEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent
Oath PrisonOath Prison PremodernEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Phantom Nishoba offers a unique twist on card advantage. Though it doesn’t allow you to draw extra cards traditionally, it effectively adds to your board presence, requiring multiple resources from an opponent to deal with it thanks to its robust combination of abilities.

Resource Acceleration: What Phantom Nishoba lacks in traditional mana acceleration, it makes up for in resource durability. The card’s potent lifelink and trample abilities ensure you stay ahead on life while pressuring your opponent, representing a significant resource swing in many matchups.

Instant Speed: While Phantom Nishoba itself doesn’t have an instant-speed ability, it synergizes well with other cards that can be played at instant speed. This can result in a surprise shift of the game’s momentum, putting an opponent on the back foot as they adjust to the sudden appearance of this powerful creature on the battlefield.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Phantom Nishoba presents a multi-colored mana cost, requiring both green and white mana (4GGW), which could be restrictive when building decks that may not support such a color combination.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a seven-mana cost to bring this creature to the battlefield, it can be a hefty investment, especially when faster-paced or more mana-efficient creatures are available as alternatives.

Discard Requirement: While Phantom Nishoba itself does not require a discard, it does pose the risk of potentially being a costly discard if a player is targeted by discard effects, due to its high mana value and the possible strategy commitment in deck design.


Reasons to Include Phantom Nishoba in Your Collection

Versatility: Phantom Nishoba offers a unique blend of lifelink and trample, making it a hardy addition to various green and white decks. Additionally, it has evasion in the form of protection from black, ensuring it remains effective across multiple matchups.

Combo Potential: Its ability to gain +1/+1 counters when dealt damage combines well with damage redirection or doubling effects, allowing for synergistic plays that can quickly turn the tide in a match.

Meta-Relevance: In a game driven by creature-based strategies, Phantom Nishoba’s solid stats and resistance to creature removal make it a formidable presence on the battlefield, capable of anchoring defensive lines while posing a constant threat to opponents.


How to beat

Phantom Nishoba is a robust creature card that often seems daunting to tackle within the MTG battlefield. With its trample ability, it can push through the defenders, making it a persistent threat. The unique aspect of this card lies in its phantom ability which prevents damage and eliminates counters instead, coupled with its life-generating effect upon dealing damage.

Players might consider the use of exile spells as an effective strategy to remove Phantom Nishoba from play. Since the card relies on counters to stay alive, anything that circumvents combat damage, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, can bypass its defenses. Another tactic is to stop life gain, which can be achieved with cards like Tainted Remedy or Erebos, God of the Dead, ensuring the Nishoba’s secondary ability is neutralized.

The key to overpowering Phantom Nishoba lies in disrupting its mechanics directly. Instead of engaging it in combat, consider using control elements and removal spells that can address it regardless of its phantom characteristic. By carefully planning and utilizing these strategic counters, players can effectively contain and conquer the challenges posed by Phantom Nishoba on the playing field.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embracing the tactical depth of MTG means understanding unique cards like Phantom Nishoba and how they interact with the broader game. Tackling board presence, resource management, and sudden momentum shifts are fundamental to success. As you refine your deck and consider strategic inclusions, think about how Phantom Nishoba’s lifelink and trample could tip the scales in protracted confrontations. Emphasize diverse gameplay by exploring various synergies and adapting to the evolving metagame. Dive deeper into the nuances of powerful creature cards and their potential combos with us. Enhance your collection, sharpen your skills, and outmaneuver your opponents with every draw.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Phantom Nishoba MTG card by a specific set like Judgment and World Championship Decks 2002, 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 Phantom Nishoba and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Phantom Nishoba Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2002-05-27 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by Arnie Swekel.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-05-27JudgmentJUD 1401997NormalBlackArnie Swekel
22002-08-14World Championship Decks 2002WC02 bk140sb1997NormalGoldArnie Swekel
32003-08-07World Championship Decks 2003WC03 pk1902003NormalGoldArnie Swekel
42017-08-25Commander 2017C17 1882015NormalBlackArnie Swekel
52023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 1932015NormalBlackArnie Swekel
62023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3611997NormalBlackArnie Swekel

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Phantom Nishoba has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal