Nomads en-Kor MTG Card
1998-03-02 - Number 9
1998-08-12 - Number bh9
2015-05-06 - Number 20
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Kor Nomad Soldier |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Nomads en-Kor can turn the tide by protecting creatures or leveraging damage-triggered abilities.
- Instant speed activation gives tactical advantages and disrupts opponent strategies.
- Requires specific mana and may be less cost-effective due to its higher mana cost.
Text of card
: Redirect 1 damage from Nomads en-Kor to a creature you control.
The Kor forsake roots for the winding of the path; forsake voices for the silence of the mind; forsake all else for the poverty of isolation.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Nomads en-Kor doesn’t directly grant card advantage but it allows for strategic plays that can shield your valuable creatures or redirect damage to creatures with beneficial damage-triggered abilities, potentially turning the tide of the game.
Resource Acceleration: While it may not provide mana or treasures, this card interacts well in decks that harness synergies with damage redirection or life gain strategies, accelerating your resource advantage in a more nuanced form.
Instant Speed: This card’s ability can be activated at instant speed, giving you a tactical edge by offering surprise interactions or disrupting opponent strategies during their turn. This flexibility can preserve your board state and force opponents to play around the possibility of redirection.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Nomads en-Kor’s activated ability requires bouncing another creature, which can be unfavorable if your board presence is already diminished or if you’re relying on certain creatures’ abilities.
Specific Mana Cost: This card necessitates a specific combination of white mana, potentially restricting its integration into multicolored decks that may not prioritize white mana generation.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering its utility and impact on the game, the mana investment to keep Nomads en-Kor functional may be higher than other creatures with similar or more advantageous abilities, making it less cost-effective in tight gameplay scenarios.
Reasons to Include Nomads en-Kor in Your Collection
Versatility: Nomads en-Kor offers a unique mechanic that allows it to redirect damage to creatures you control. This can fit into various deck types, particularly those that seek to capitalize on damage redirection or damage-based triggers.
Combo Potential: This card is a classic piece of combo interactions, particularly famous for its synergy with cards like Shaman en-Kor and Task Force, which can lead to infinite life combinations. Its inclusion can provide an edge to your deck with these synergies.
Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating nature of the meta, having Nomads en-Kor can offer a level of control and stability against decks that rely on dealing damage to win. As strategies evolve, the card’s ability to manipulate and redirect damage remains continuously relevant.
How to beat
Nomads en-Kor is a resourceful creature card that boasts a solid defense mechanism with its damage redirection ability. Players can use this to strategically protect their life points or other valuable creatures by redirecting damage that would otherwise be debilitating.
Overcoming the tenacious Nomads en-Kor requires a plan that circumvents their damage redirection. One effective tactic is to employ spells that don’t deal damage but rather force a sacrifice or change the battle dynamics. Cards like Wrath of God remove creatures from the field without dealing damage, bypassing the Nomads’ unique skill. Similarly, spot removal spells that exile or destroy, such as Path to Exile or Doom Blade, can clear the Nomads en-Kor from the board without giving your opponent the chance to redirect the damage.
In essence, when facing Nomads en-Kor, your strategy should evolve beyond direct damage to removal techniques that prevent the activation of its abilities. This way, the Nomads’ defensive prowess is negated, allowing you to press the advantage and keep your opponent on the back foot.
Cards like Nomads en-Kor
Nomads en-Kor is a unique creature steeped in the rich strategy of Magic: The Gathering. While it offers a specialized ability to redirect damage to another creature you control, it finds similarity in cards like Shaman en-Kor, which also possesses the flexibility of damage redirection. Nomads en-Kor, however, sets itself apart by not requiring any mana to activate its ability. This makes it particularly useful in decks built around creatures with high toughness or those that benefit from being targeted by abilities.
Comparable functionality can be seen in Kor Duelist. Although it doesn’t have the redirection ability, it represents another low-cost Kor creature that synergizes well with equipment and can be formidable in the right deck. When we observe Nomads en-Kor within the framework of such creatures, it becomes evident that it provides a novel dynamic, allowing for protective combat tactics and interactions, which can be pivotal in certain matchups.
Overall, Nomads en-Kor is an exemplary utility card that shines in its defensive capabilities. Its place in MTG is solidified by its distinctive function within the Kor tribe and its potential in crafted synergies that emphasize the strategic redirection of damage to gain the upper hand.
Cards similar to Nomads en-Kor by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Nomads en-Kor MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold and World Championship Decks 1998, 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 Nomads en-Kor and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Nomads en-Kor Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1998-03-02 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Val Mayerik.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-03-02 | Stronghold | STH | 9 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Val Mayerik | |
| 2 | 1998-08-12 | World Championship Decks 1998 | WC98 | bh9 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Val Mayerik | |
| 3 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 20 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Val Mayerik |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Nomads en-Kor has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Nomads en-Kor card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | It can redirect damage to itself. |
| 2004-10-04 | It is possible to redirect more damage to a creature than that creature’s toughness. |
| 2004-10-04 | The ability of this card does not do anything to stop Trample damage from being assigned to the defending player. |
| 2004-10-04 | You can use this ability as much as you want prior to damage being dealt. |
| 2013-07-01 | When you redirect combat damage it is still combat damage. |
