Swimmer in Nightmares MTG Card

Enables card advantage and synergizes with graveyard-focused strategies to enhance gameplay depth. Demands specific mana and discards, which may limit its integration into diverse deck archetypes. Despite comparisons to similar cards, its unique abilities make it a compelling addition to collections.
Swimmer in Nightmares - Theros Beyond Death
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Nightmare Merfolk
Released2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set nameTheros Beyond Death
Set codeTHB
Power 1
Toughness 4
Number275
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byLucas Graciano

Text of card

Swimmer in Nightmares gets +3/+0 as long as there are ten or more cards in a single graveyard. Swimmer in Nightmares can't be blocked as long as you control an Ashiok planeswalker.

Ashiok's minions plumb the depths of the ocean and the psyche.

Cards like Swimmer in Nightmares

Swimmer in Nightmares is a unique creature card that’s gaining traction among Magic: The Gathering players, reminiscent of other powerful beings in the game’s vast pantheon. It stands shoulder to shoulder with potent cards like Thing in the Ice, which also evolves as the game progresses. Both create a sense of impending doom, although Swimmer in Nightmares has an edge due to its ability to become unblockable. Thing in the Ice requires you to cast multiple spells to unleash its potential, a hurdle Swimmer in Nightmares deftly avoids.

Exploring creatures from a similar seascape, Jace’s Phantasm also shares traits with Swimmer in Nightmares. Both cater to a strategy focused on amassing cards in the opponent’s graveyard to unlock their full potential. Jace’s Phantasm offers an early game airborne threat, but unlike Swimmer in Nightmares, does not guarantee unblockability.

Ultimately, while there are a myriad of creatures that interact with the graveyard in Magic: The Gathering, Swimmer in Nightmares carves out a niche with its distinctive set of abilities. It poses a clear, consistent threat that puts opponents’ strategies underwater, making it a card worth considering in decks that capitalize on graveyard manipulation.

Jace's Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Jace's Phantasm - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Swimmer in Nightmares not only presents a formidable body for its cost, but the card can also enable significant card advantage in games, especially when leveraging graveyard strategies that the card synergizes with.

Resource Acceleration: This card effectively aids in resource acceleration by depositing cards into the graveyard, setting the stage for various engine interactions and offering the potential for an expedited avenue towards powerful late-game play.

Instant Speed: Its interaction at instant speed accentuates Swimmer in Nightmares’ versatility. Being able to disrupt your opponent’s plans while developing your own board state when they least expect it can pivot the tide of the match in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Swimmer in Nightmares requires players to part with another card in their hand, which can be a significant drawback. This is especially troublesome when your hand is already dwindling, and the forced discard could cost you a crucial card for later plays.

Specific Mana Cost: The necessity to have both black and blue mana to cast Swimmer in Nightmares can be restrictive. Decks that don’t run on a Dimir (blue-black) strategy may find it challenging to meet the color requirements, making it less versatile across the broader spectrum of MTG archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three specific mana points along with an additional one that can be of any color, Swimmer in Nightmares sits at a higher mana tier. This factor could impede early-game tempo and might be less economically viable compared to other options available in the same mana range.

Reasons to Include Swimmer in Nightmares in Your Collection

Versatility: Swimmer in Nightmares offers adaptive strategies for various deck builds, working harmoniously with graveyard mechanics and allowing for creative defensive or aggressive plays.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with self-mill and control decks, enabling potent combinations that can swing the game in your favor by exploiting the graveyard as a resource.

Meta-Relevance: With many players incorporating strategies that fill the graveyard, Swimmer in Nightmares gains value as both a threat and a tactical piece, aligning seamlessly with the current trends in gameplay.

How to beat Swimmer in Nightmares

Swimmer in Nightmares may seem overwhelming to encounter on the battlefield due to its sheer power and formidable abilities. Being unblockable as long as you control an enchantment means it can slip past defenses with ease. To effectively counter this card, you should focus on your removal suite. Spells that can exile or destroy without targeting, like board wipes or global effects, are particularly potent against this elusive specter.

It’s important to manage the enchantments on the board. This can be achieved through enchantment removal spells, which are essential when facing decks that leverage the Swimmer’s unblockability. Also, cards that change the creature type can remove Swimmer’s concerning qualities by converting it to a more manageable creature type on the battlefield. Denying your opponent the enchantment control diminishes Swimmer’s impact significantly.

Taking all of this into account, prevailing over Swimmer in Nightmares becomes a matter of strategic removal and disrupting your opponent’s board state. When Swimmer’s key interactions are hindered or its type altered, it quickly becomes less of a nightmare and more of a manageable challenge during the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Swimmer in Nightmares MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 Swimmer in Nightmares and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Swimmer in Nightmares has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-01-24 The ability that modifies the power of Swimmer in Nightmares applies only while it’s on the battlefield.
2020-01-24 The first ability of Swimmer in Nightmares gives it just +3/+0, no matter how many graveyards beyond the first have ten cards.