Nightshade Seer MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Released	1999-06-07
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Destiny
Set code	UDS
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	63
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Donato Giancola

Key Takeaways

Nightshade Seer manipulates decks, giving players an edge by influencing card draw outcomes.
Offers both speed and flexibility, acting at instant speed for dynamic play.
Comes with its downsides, including discard requirements and specific mana costs.

Text of card

o B, oc T: Reveal any number of black cards in your hand. Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is the number of cards revealed this way.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nightshade Seer offers a unique edge by allowing players to subtly manipulate the top of their deck. Finding the right card at the right time often tips the scales in favor of the player wielding this powerful card.

Resource Acceleration: Not only does this MTG staple potentially distill vital information by revealing upcoming draws, it also doubles as a method for ramping up resources, setting you up for more formidable plays ahead.

Instant Speed: The Seer operates under the veil of instant speed, granting the flexibility to respond to opponents’ actions during their turn, or capitalizing on that last critical moment before your own turn unfolds.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While unleashing Nightshade Seer’s abilities can tilt the game in your favor, it comes at the steep price of discarding a card. This can be particularly taxing when your hand is already running on empty, thus forcing you to make tough decisions on resource management.

Specific Mana Cost: Nightshade Seer’s casting cost is bound to a specific combination of mana colors, which could potentially restrict its inclusion to decks that can produce both types of mana efficiently. This often means that a deck must be tailored to accommodate such mana requirements, possibly at the expense of versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the cost needed to summon Nightshade Seer, there’s an ongoing debate in the community whether the investment is justified or if other alternatives might provide more bang for your buck. Given the rapid pace of many games, some may argue that the Seer’s cost is a tick too high for the speed at which it can impact the board.

Reasons to Include Nightshade Seer in Your Collection

Versatility: Nightshade Seer offers a flexible solution for decks that are looking to disrupt opponent strategies. Its ability to peek at the top card of an opponent’s library allows you to plan ahead, ensuring that Nightshade Seer fits seamlessly into various control or midrange decks.

Combo Potential: With Nightshade Seer, you can set up the top of your opponent’s library to your advantage, working in tandem with other cards that punish or capitalize on their draws. This allows for strategic plays that can turn the tide of a game in your favor, representing a cornerstone for intricate combo decks.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where knowing your opponent’s next move can be crucial, Nightshade Seer’s insight into the opponent’s deck can be a game-changer. Its relevance increases in metas where strategic play and card advantage are pivotal to securing wins.

How to beat

Nightshade Seer enters the complex tapestry of the MTG arena as a force to be reckoned with. This card weaves its magic by disrupting your opponent’s strategy with its unique abilities. Navigating a path to victory against a player with Nightshade Seer in their arsenal requires a keen understanding of the game and the right tactics. To effectively counter this magical threat, consider incorporating cards that neutralize abilities or that can remove creatures from the game outright.

Utilizing removal spells such as Murder or Path to Exile can eliminate the Seer before it can dominate the board. Another solid strategy is to employ counter spells when Nightshade Seer’s abilities are activated or when it is initially cast. It’s also worth looking into cards with hexproof or protection from black to safeguard your creatures from the Seer’s toxic touch. By preparing your deck with these strategies in mind, you’ll be ready to dim the Seer’s influence and clear your path to victory.

It’s clear that while the Nightshade Seer may pose a considerable challenge, a player that is well-prepared with the right tactics in their deck can effectively counter this potent card and maintain control over the course of the game.

Cards like Nightshade Seer

Exploring the dark corners of MTG card synergies, Nightshade Seer emerges as a unique creature card with a nuanced ability to influence the game. Its comparison to other creature cards with similar utility such as Balustrade Spy is interesting. While both cards allow you to look at a portion of a deck, Nightshade Seer requires a sacrifice to activate its ability, which reveals cards from the top of an opponent’s library until they reveal a land card. Balustrade Spy, meanwhile, targets the player’s own library upon entering the battlefield, offering a different strategic advantage.

Another card worth mentioning is the well-known Thieves’ Guild Enforcer, which, although not directly revealing cards, excels in synergizing with Nightshade Seer by filling opponents’ graveyards and triggering bonus effects for having eight or more cards in the opponent’s graveyard. Thieves’ Guild Enforcer is more immediate with its ability upon entering or another rogue appearing, whereas Nightshade Seer requires a setup.

Cards like Nekrataal also share the theme of utility upon entering the battlefield, yet Nekrataal focuses on targeted creature destruction rather than library manipulation. The Seer offers a more subtle approach, guiding long-term strategy over immediate board impact. Each of these similar cards holds its playstyle, offering MTG players a myriad of choices for crafting their deck dynamics around a particular strategy.

Thieves' Guild Enforcer - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Nightshade Seer by color, type and mana cost

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions

Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nightshade Seer MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny, 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 Nightshade Seer and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nightshade Seer has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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