Staff of Nin MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. Staff of Nin enhances gameplay with consistent extra card draws, offering a tactical advantage.
  2. Its ping ability, utilizing instant speed, disrupts opponents and removes creatures effectively.
  3. Despite a high mana cost, its strategic benefits justify including Staff of Nin in decks.

Text of card

At the beginning of your upkeep, draw a card. : Staff of Nin deals 1 damage to target creature or player.

"I have attuned the staff to your screams so that only I may benefit from your pain." —Volux, disciple of Nin


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Staff of Nin significantly enhances card draw by allowing its controller to draw an additional card during each of their draw steps, ensuring a steady flow of resources and options throughout the game.

Resource Acceleration: While the Staff of Nin does not directly produce mana, its ability to consistently provide an extra card each turn can indirectly lead to greater resource acceleration by increasing the chances of drawing into additional land cards or mana-generating spells.

Instant Speed: Staff of Nin’s ping ability can be activated at instant speed, providing the flexibility to disrupt opponent’s strategies during their turn and potentially removing key creatures with one toughness at the most opportune times.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite the allure of drawing extra cards, players need to be aware that using the Staff of Nin requires a sustained pool of resources to be effective. Without a strategy to mitigate the discard requirement, some may find that it’s not the card advantage tool they envisioned.

Specific Mana Cost: The Staff of Nin comes with a specific mana cost that includes generic mana, which might be slightly easier to manage, but the toll of six mana in total can still be cumbersome. This cost can make it challenging to incorporate into decks that are mana-sensitive or that require a faster setup.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a hefty six mana, Staff of Nin sits at a high point on the mana curve. This can pose a hurdle when compared to other card draw or direct damage options available in the game, particularly in formats where efficiency and speed are paramount.


Reasons to Include Staff of Nin in Your Collection

Versatility: Staff of Nin offers flexibility by providing consistent card draw, which can be slotted into various deck archetypes. Whether you’re commanding a control deck seeking to maintain card advantage or ramping up in a casual brew, this artifact enhances your play every turn.

Combo Potential: This artifact isn’t just for drawing cards; its ping ability can work in tandem with strategies that proliferate or untap artifacts to create direct damage combos. Imagine leveraging that single damage to tip the scales in your favor round after round.

Meta-Relevance: In games that tend to drag into the late phases, the value of additional card draw each turn cannot be overstated. Staff of Nin shines in environments where every card drawn can dictate the difference between victory and defeat, holding its ground firmly against common meta strategies.


How to beat

Interacting with Staff of Nin on the battlefield can be a test of wits and resources for Magic: The Gathering players. Staff of Nin is well-known for its ability to provide its controller with an additional card each turn, which equates to a substantial advantage in card economy over time. In addition, its ability to deal damage to targets provides a layer of board control. To navigate against this artifact, consider using artifact destruction cards such as Abrade or Nature’s Claim, which can remove Staff of Nin efficiently. Furthermore, being proactive is essential. Positioning oneself ahead on the board before Staff of Nin can offset its card advantage is beneficial.

Counterspells such as Negate or Dispel are pivotal when Staff of Nin is on the stack — preventing it from resolving is much easier than dealing with it once it’s in play. If the game progresses and Staff of Nin’s impact grows, cards like Karn Liberated or Return to Dust can help mitigate the long-term effects. Additionally, limiting the opponent’s untap steps with cards like Static Orb or Winter Orb can keep Staff of Nin from activating. In essence, prioritizing the neutralization of Staff of Nin swiftly will typically yield the best outcome in the ongoing strategic duel.


BurnMana Recommendations

Integrating Staff of Nin into your MTG collection ushers in a realm of card advantage and strategic depth. Its impact on resource flow is undeniable, catering to various deck styles and metagames. Whether you’re contemplating the next addition to your control deck or looking for a unique combo enabler, this artifact promises to enhance your gameplay. Recognizing its potential and limitations is key to deploying it effectively. Ready to refine your deck’s performance and outpace the competition? Discover comprehensive strategies, card interactions, and expert insights with us. Let Staff of Nin be more than just a card—it’s your next game-defining asset.


Cards like Staff of Nin

Staff of Nin is a unique artifact card that draws its wielders closer to victory in Magic: The Gathering. As a direct comparison, Icy Manipulator allows a player to tap a target artifact, creature, or land, but unlike Staff of Nin, it does not offer the consistent card advantage of drawing an additional card each turn. Each has its role to play, the Manipulator in control, the Staff in fueling the flow of options to a player’s hand.

Then, consider Jayemdae Tome, another artifact enabling card draw. The Tome also allows card advantage, but it comes at the cost of four mana for each card, making it less mana-efficient over time than Staff of Nin, which, after an initial hefty investment, provides a steady flow of cards. Furthermore, the Staff deals one damage to any target each of your turns, adding a touch of versatility and board impact that the Tome lacks.

In evaluating these artifacts, Staff of Nin stands out due to its ability to tie a card draw engine with a source of repeated damage. Its functionality in long games can be the tipping point, slowly accumulating value and impacting the board that competitors like Jayemdae Tome can’t match.

Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Jayemdae Tome - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Staff of Nin by color, type and mana cost

Clockwork Beast - MTG Card versions
Triskelion - MTG Card versions
Armageddon Clock - MTG Card versions
Mirror Universe - MTG Card versions
Sword of the Ages - MTG Card versions
Planar Gate - MTG Card versions
Urza's Avenger - MTG Card versions
Bronze Tablet - MTG Card versions
Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Celestial Sword - MTG Card versions
Voodoo Doll - MTG Card versions
Tetravus - MTG Card versions
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Serpent Generator - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Sculpture - MTG Card versions
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Well of Discovery - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Hulk - MTG Card versions
Feroz's Ban - MTG Card versions
Wurmcoil Engine - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Beast - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Triskelion - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Armageddon Clock - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Mirror Universe - Legends (LEG)
Sword of the Ages - Legends (LEG)
Planar Gate - Legends (LEG)
Urza's Avenger - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Bronze Tablet - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Shapeshifter - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Celestial Sword - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Voodoo Doll - Chronicles (CHR)
Tetravus - Rinascimento (RIN)
Joven's Tools - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Serpent Generator - Legends (LEG)
Flowstone Sculpture - Tempest (TMP)
Workhorse - The List (PLST)
Well of Discovery - Prophecy (PCY)
Phyrexian Hulk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Feroz's Ban - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Wurmcoil Engine - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Staff of Nin MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic 2013, 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 Staff of Nin and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Staff of Nin Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2012-07-13 and 2018-06-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 452132003normalblackBrad Rigney
22012-07-13Magic 2013M13 2172003normalblackDan Scott
32015-11-13Commander 2015C15 2702015normalblackDan Scott
42017-08-25Commander 2017C17 2242015normalblackDan Scott
52018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 2212015normalblackDan Scott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Staff of Nin has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

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