Nightmare MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 32 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 6 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Creature — Nightmare Horse |
Abilities | Flying |
Power | * |
Toughness | * |
Text of card
Flying Nightmare's power and toughness both equal the number of swamps its controller has in play.
The Nightmare arises from its lair in the swamps. As the poisoned land spreads, so does the Nightmare's rage and terrifying strength.
Cards like Nightmare
The enduring appeal of Nightmare in Magic: The Gathering can be attributed to its straightforward power level calibration with the keys of the swamps. Each swamp you control boosts Nightmare’s might, akin to how Llanowar Wastes augments Llanowar Elves. Nightmare’s direct link to land type exemplifies its strength, as seen with the card Squelching Leeches, which also mirrors this growth pattern, its power and toughness directly correlated to the number of swamps in play.
Another parallel can be drawn with the card Korlash, Heir to Blackblade, which not only gains power and toughness in conjunction with the number of swamps you wield but also incorporates an extra layer of versatility with its Grandeur ability, giving it the potential for greater land acceleration. Then, there’s Nightmare’s flying capability, similar to the card Mortivore, which, while lacking the potential to soar over the battlefield, compensates with its ability to grow from graveyards, presenting a different but equally potent scaling threat.
These comparisons illuminate that while cards like Nightmare have their unique quirks and flavors, the core idea of power growth linked to land remains a compelling and impactful strategy within the vast and varied world of Magic: The Gathering. Nightmare’s iconic status is both a testament to its history and an enduring effect that aligns land count with looming threat.
Cards similar to Nightmare by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Nightmare is a spell that can become a repeatable source of advantage, particularly in a deck designed around swamp synergies. Each turn, Nightmare’s power and toughness can grow, potentially offering an increasingly threatening presence that must be answered by your opponents.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing your mana pool, Nightmare synergizes with effects that count the number of swamps you control, effectively becoming a more significant threat with each additional swamp. This indirectly pressures your opponents by demanding a faster response, acting as a passive form of resource acceleration
Instant Speed: Although Nightmare itself does not have instant speed, in formats where it’s legal, it can benefit from the vast array of instant speed spells and abilities within MTG that manipulate the number of swamps on your battlefield or in your deck, making Nightmare unexpectedly lethal during combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing a Nightmare card often demands that you discard another card from your hand. This mechanic can put you at a resource disadvantage, particularly if your hand is already dwindling or if the discarded card is crucial to your game strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Nightmare creatures typically require black mana, making them less flexible for multi-color decks. If you’re not running a deck with sufficient black mana sources, casting a Nightmare could be a considerable challenge.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The power level of Nightmare cards usually comes with a steep mana cost. They are often outpaced by creatures of the same cost bracket providing immediate board presence or having lower overall costs for a similar impact on the game.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Nightmare thrives in decks built around Swamp manipulation and can serve as a powerful finisher. Its strength grows with each Swamp you play, making it a threat that scales with the game’s progression.
Combo Potential: When paired with cards that increase your Swamp count or change land types, Nightmare’s damage potential skyrockets, creating devastating impacts on the battlefield and synergizing well with land-focused strategies.
Meta-Relevance: As decks that employ graveyard strategies or value high-power creatures remain popular, Nightmare maintains its status as a formidable presence. Its relevance in games can shift the tide, making it a card worth considering for competitive play involving dark-themed or Swamp-centric decks.
How to beat
The Nightmare card is one that can send shivers down the spine of many Magic: The Gathering players. This iconic creature card’s power and toughness are determined by the number of Swamps you control, which means its strength can grow significantly in a dedicated black mana deck. Overcoming this creature requires strategy and understanding of the game mechanics.
One effective method to counter Nightmare is to leverage land destruction or land alteration strategies. By disrupting your opponent’s Swamp count, you can diminish Nightmare’s power to a manageable level. Cards like Blood Moon can transform all nonbasic lands into Mountains, significantly weakening Nightmare’s combat potential. Additionally, creature removal spells such as Path to Exile can exile Nightmare, bypassing its size and ensuring it doesn’t impact the battlefield further. Finally, control decks that limit creature abilities can keep Nightmare at bay, preserving your chances of a victory against this terrifying monstrosity.
To wrap it up, while the Nightmare card can be a daunting force, it’s not invincible. With the right removal spells, land disruption, and control strategies, you can contain the threat and emerge victorious in your duels against this fearsome creature.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Nightmare MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Nightmare 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Nightmare Magic the Gathering card was released in 27 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by 5 different artists.
Show/hide all sets# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 118 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Melissa A. Benson | |
2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 119 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Melissa A. Benson | |
3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 119 | 1993 | Normal | White | Melissa A. Benson | |
4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 119 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Melissa A. Benson | |
5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 119 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Melissa A. Benson | |
6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 120 | 1993 | Normal | White | Melissa A. Benson | |
7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 120 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Melissa A. Benson | |
8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 120 | 1993 | Normal | White | Melissa A. Benson | |
9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 150 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Melissa A. Benson | |
10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 150 | 1993 | Normal | White | Melissa A. Benson | |
11 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 184 | 1997 | Normal | White | Melissa A. Benson | |
12 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 146 | 1997 | Normal | White | Melissa A. Benson | |
13 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 150★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow | |
14 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 150 | 1997 | Normal | White | Carl Critchlow | |
15 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 150 | 2003 | Normal | White | Carl Critchlow | |
16 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 150★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow | |
17 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 150 | 2003 | Normal | White | Carl Critchlow | |
18 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 150★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow | |
19 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 164★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow | |
20 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 164 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow | |
21 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 107 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow | |
22 | 2013-07-19 | Magic 2014 | M14 | 108 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Vance Kovacs | |
23 | 2014-07-18 | Magic 2015 | M15 | 276 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vance Kovacs | |
24 | 2015-07-17 | Magic Origins | ORI | 282 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vance Kovacs | |
25 | 2016-04-08 | Welcome Deck 2016 | W16 | 8 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vance Kovacs | |
26 | 2017-04-15 | Welcome Deck 2017 | W17 | 17 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vance Kovacs | |
27 | 2020-01-24 | Theros Beyond Death | THB | 12 | 2015 | Token | Black | Yeong-Hao Han | |
28 | 2020-08-13 | Arena Beginner Set | ANB | 54 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vance Kovacs | |
29 | The List | PLST | W17-17 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vance Kovacs | ||
30 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 115 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Melissa A. Benson | |
31 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 412 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Melissa A. Benson | |
32 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine | WOE | 6 | 2015 | Token | Black | Raymond Swanland |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Nightmare has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Oldschool | Legal |
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Alchemy | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Explorer | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Nightmare card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2008-04-01 | If you control 0 swamps, then the Nightmare has 0 toughness and will be put into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based action right before the next player gains priority. |
2009-10-01 | Nightmare’s power and toughness changes as the number of Swamps you control changes. |
2013-07-01 | Nightmare’s ability counts all lands you control with the subtype Swamp, not just ones named Swamp. |
2013-07-01 | The ability that defines Nightmare’s power and toughness works everywhere, not just on the battlefield. |