Nikko-Onna MTG Card

Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
2005-06-03 - Number 21

Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
2005-08-22 - Number C2

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Spirit
Power	2
Toughness	2

Key Takeaways

Nikko-Onna grants card advantage and disrupts opponents by bouncing enchantments upon entry.
The flash ability allows for surprise plays and flexible mana usage during opponents’ turns.
Despite its versatility, the card’s specific mana needs and discard requirement limit its use.

Text of card

When Nikko-Onna comes into play, destroy target enchantment. Whenever you play a Spirit or Arcane spell, you may return Nikko-Onna to its owner's hand.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nikko-Onna provides card advantage by allowing you to return an enchantment to its owner’s hand when it enters the battlefield. This can be strategically used to reuse your own enchantments with enter the battlefield effects or to disrupt an opponent’s game plan by bouncing their enchantments back.

Resource Acceleration: While Nikko-Onna does not directly generate mana or treasury tokens, efficiently managing enchantments can indirectly lead to resource acceleration. By maintaining control over the board with enchantment recursion, you set the pace of the game while potentially sparing your resources for more impactful plays.

Instant Speed: Nikko-Onna can be played at instant speed thanks to the ‘flash’ ability. This provides tremendous tactical flexibility, allowing you to wait until the most opportune moment to play her, either after an opponent has committed to a non-instant spell or during the end step before your turn, keeping your mana open for counterspells or other interactions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nikko-Onna compels players to discard a card to trigger its ability, which could deplete a hand that’s already running low on options.

Specific Mana Cost: Nikko-Onna demands both white and blue mana, potentially restricting it to only certain deck constructions that can reliably produce both types of mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two that are color-specific, Nikko-Onna’s impact on the board may not align with its mana investment when considering other cards with similar or lower costs that offer equivalent or greater utility.

Reasons to Include Nikko-Onna in Your Collection

Versatility: Nikko-Onna offers a flexible addition to your collection. Its ability to destroy enchantments upon entry allows it to be a relevant choice in various deck archetypes, particularly those that focus on board control in white or blue-white decks.

Combo Potential: The spirited fox can be a linchpin in decks that thrive on bouncing creatures to and from the hand. This loop allows repeated activations of its enchantment-destroying ability, turning it into a formidable control tool against decks that rely heavily on enchantments.

Meta-Relevance: With enchantment-based strategies often found in the competitive scene, Nikko-Onna’s enchantment removal on a stick can be a mainstay in sideboards or main decks, ready to disrupt key pieces of your opponents’ game plan.

How to beat

Nikko-Onna is an intriguing creature card that finds its niche within the Spirit archetype of Magic: The Gathering. This card stands out due to its ability to target enchantments when it enters the battlefield. In essence, Nikko-Onna can act as a natural deterrent against decks that heavily rely on enchantments for their strategy.

To effectively counter Nikko-Onna, consider running instant-speed removal spells that can deal with creatures without targeting them directly, such as board wipes or global damage spells. Keeping in mind that Nikko-Onna’s ability triggers upon entry, having removal ready before it lands on the field is crucial. Additionally, utilizing counterspells to prevent Nikko-Onna from hitting the board in the first place can save your critical enchantments from being destroyed.

Deck building with enchantments that have a beneficial effect upon leaving the battlefield can also turn Nikko-Onna’s entrance into an advantage for you. Such enchantments can mitigate the impact by ensuring you gain value even if they are targeted. By anticipating your opponent’s plays and being strategic with your spell choices and deck construction, you can diminish Nikko-Onna’s influence and maintain control over the game board.

Cards like Nikko-Onna

Nikko-Onna commands a unique position within the enchantment interaction niche of Magic: The Gathering. Its most comparable card, Kor Spiritdancer, also thrives in enchantment-based decks, offering card draw benefits when casting aura spells. However, Nikko-Onna presents a different tactical advantage by allowing players to destroy an enchantment when it enters the battlefield or transforms, offering a form of removal as well as card advantage.

Another card that echoes the enchantment disruption theme is Tranquil Grove. While it doesn’t provide the creature benefit that Nikko-Onna does, it offers repeatable enchantment removal, ideal for maintaining a clean board. Yet, Nikko-Onna’s impact is immediate upon entry, which can be pivotal in a tight game scenario.

Keen-eyed observers might also see a similarity with Aura Shards. Though not a creature, Aura Shards offers consistent potential to remove enchantments or artifacts whenever creatures come into play, aligning with the theme of control over enchantments in the game. Nevertheless, Nikko-Onna’s specificity and creature status often make it a preferred choice for decks focused on creature-based synergy and enchantment manipulation.

Cards similar to Nikko-Onna by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nikko-Onna MTG card by a specific set like Saviors of Kamigawa and Salvat 2005, 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 Nikko-Onna and other MTG cards: