Hunger of the Nim MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Released	2004-02-06
Set symbol
Set name	Darksteel
Set code	DST
Number	46
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Puddnhead

Key Takeaways

Hunger of the Nim translates artifacts into card advantage and can accelerate in-game resources dramatically.
Its flexibility at instant speed allows for tactical responses, enhancing gameplay adaptability.
The card requires careful management, coming with a discard cost and specific mana needs that affect its utility.

Text of card

Target creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn for each artifact you control.

Their pain is so great, they can't help but share it with others.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hunger of the Nim offers the potential for card advantage by converting your existing artifacts into immediate card draw, ensuring that you stay ahead in resources.

Resource Acceleration: This card can serve as a form of resource acceleration in decks that produce an abundance of artifacts. Sacrificing expendable tokens or outdated artifacts can fuel your late-game strategies or enable powerful plays much earlier.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Hunger of the Nim at instant speed provides significant flexibility. This allows you to adapt to the flow of the game, respond to your opponent’s actions, or make decisive moves at the end of their turn to keep the pressure high.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hunger of the Nim requires you to discard a card to activate its alternative casting cost. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially if your hand is already depleted or the discarded card is essential to your game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost necessitates black mana, which might not blend well in every deck archetype. Players running multi-colored decks or those not focused on black might find it challenging to integrate Hunger of the Nim effectively into their strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of three, including two black, Hunger of the Nim may be considered pricey for the effect it provides. In fast-paced games or in metas where efficiency is key, there may be other cards that offer similar effects for a lower cost, making them potentially more desirable for inclusion in a competitive deck.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hunger of the Nim is a card that can adapt to various strategies within artifact-centric decks. Its ability to scale up in power based on the number of artifacts you control makes it a dynamic addition to any collection, ideal for decks that naturally stockpile artifacts.

Combo Potential: This card opens up opportunities for synergy with cards that sacrifice artifacts for gain, allowing you to turn your artifacts into both offensive and defensive resources. Its potential to grow in power quickly makes it a sleeper hit in the right combo-heavy setup.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where artifact decks are prevalent, Hunger of the Nim can become a substantial threat. Its relevance increases as more artifact-related mechanics are introduced into the game, making it a smart pick for players looking to get an edge in artifact-heavy metas.

How to beat

Hunger of the Nim offers a unique challenge when facing off against it in a game of Magic: The Gathering. This card allows a player to turn artifacts into a potentially devastating boost to a creature’s power, making it a force to be reckoned with, especially in artifact-heavy decks. To effectively counter this card, one strategy is to manage your opponent’s artifact count through removal spells or artifact hate cards that can swiftly dismantle their board presence.

Another approach is to use instant-speed removal for the buffed creature after your opponent has invested resources into pumping it up with Hunger of the Nim, thereby providing a more favorable exchange for you. Interaction is key; thus, being proactive and keeping mana open for responses can deter an opponent from committing fully to a single pumped creature. Lastly, employing cards that grant hexproof or shroud to your creatures can prevent Hunger of the Nim from being an issue against your own board. By addressing both the power source and the threats themselves, you can navigate the dangers posed by Hunger of the Nim effectively.

Cards like Hunger of the Nim

Hunger of the Nim offers an intriguing dynamic to creature empowerment strategies within MTG. Its ability to provide a power boost to a creature based on the number of artifacts you control draws similarities to Cranial Plating. However, Cranial Plating delivers a more robust and immediate impact, as it adds both power and toughness and can be shifted between creatures at instant speed.

Glaze Fiend, another artifact-centric creature, benefits from each artifact coming into play rather than the total count. This activates not only a temporary power pump for each artifact but also grants flying, enhancing both combat and defensive capabilities. In contrast, Hunger of the Nim’s power enhancement lasts until end of turn and doesn’t provide extra abilities.

Lastly, Scale of Chiss-Goria is reminiscent of Hunger of the Nim in the way it can be sprung during combat to surprise an opponent. It’s less dependent on the artifact count though, giving a smaller, fixed toughness boost to a creature. The flash ability of Scale of Chiss-Goria adds a tactical advantage similar to instant spells in MTG.

When evaluating Hunger of the Nim against its counterparts, its strong suit is the potential for enormous power surges depending on your artifact count, yet it remains a situational card that shines in decks dense with artifacts.

Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Hunger of the Nim by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hunger of the Nim MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel, 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 Hunger of the Nim and other MTG cards: