Nausea MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Granting card advantage, Nausea effectively thins out swarms of small creatures with a single cast.
  2. Though limited to sorcery speed and certain deck types, Nausea can dictate the game’s pace.
  3. Its value shines against token-centric decks, making it a metagame-specific asset.

Text of card

All creatures get -1/-1 until end of turn.

Any mogg will tell you there's nothing more nauseating than the smell of cute.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Though Nausea does not directly allow you to draw cards, it can lead to a situation where you effectively gain card advantage by removing multiple smaller creatures your opponent controls with a single card.

Resource Acceleration: Nausea lacks a direct effect on resource acceleration; however, by clearing the board of multiple one-toughness creatures, you can slow down your opponent’s game plan, indirectly buying you more time to develop your resources and strategies.

Instant Speed: Nausea operates at sorcery speed, which means it can’t be played on an opponent’s turn. Nonetheless, its ability to potentially tilt the balance of the board in your favor during your turn can be just as impactful, allowing you to control the pace of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: An aspect of Nausea that might deter players is the requirement to discard cards from their hand. In the strategic game of Magic the Gathering, maintaining a robust hand can be crucial to outmaneuver opponents, and a forced discard can contribute to a significant drawback, especially if your hand size is already diminishing.

Specific Mana Cost: Nausea’s casting cost may not be too steep, but its black mana requirement means it’s predominantly suitable for mono-black or black-inclusive decks. This necessity may restrict its inclusion in decks that cannot consistently provide the required type of mana, hindering its versatility in a diverse play environment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When it comes to utilizing mana efficiently, Nausea’s cost might not offer the best trade-off. Considering its effect on the board, there are alternative cards with more impactful effects or more flexible casting requirements that could be played at a similar, if not lower, mana cost. This can make Nausea seem like a less optimal choice in a slot where every card’s value is carefully weighed.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Nausea proves its worth across various decks, functioning as a strong tool against creature-heavy strategies. Its ability to sweep multiple low-toughness creatures with its low mana cost makes it a flexible choice for sideboards and main decks alike.

Combo Potential: This card shines in situations where you can manipulate the power and toughness of creatures, turning it into a game-changer. It can be combined with other damage or toughness-reduction effects to clear the board, providing a significant advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames dominated by token strategies or decks that rely on a multitude of small creatures, Nausea becomes an essential asset. With its help, you can maintain board control and thwart your opponents’ plans, making it a valuable asset in specific competitive environments.


How to beat

Nausea is a spell that can certainly derail your strategy if you depend on a swarm of small creatures. Facing this card in Magic: The Gathering demands a nimble approach, notably if your deck thrives on a quantity over quality mentality with creatures. Nausea’s ability to wipe out those with low toughness makes it imperative to diversify your threat levels.

For those looking to maintain board presence against such effects, considering creatures with toughness greater than 1 or those with indestructibility becomes key. Moreover, enchantments or equipment that buff your creatures’ toughness can be a lifesaver in these scenarios. Cards like Selfless Spirit can offer protection by sacrificing themselves to make your creatures indestructible for the turn. Additionally, countering the spell outright with something like Counterspell or deploying a hand disruption strategy to remove it before it’s cast could save your board from devastation.

Overall, the best approach to overcoming Nausea’s influence is through strategic deckbuilding that prepares for mass -1/-1 effects, flexibility in playing your hand, and having a backup for your deployed forces. Recognizing and adapting to the threats posed by potent spells like Nausea is a staple move for seasoned players.


Cards like Nausea

Nausea offers MTG players a swift means to weaken an opponent’s army of creatures. This low casting cost spell is comparable to cards such as Shrivel. Both have the ability to reduce the power and toughness of opposing creatures, effectively trimming down the opponent’s threat level. However, Nausea is a notch above as it affects all creatures, not just nonblack ones like Shrivel.

Similarly, Electrickery is an intriguing match-up. It can deal with numerous tiny creatures simultaneously, yet it is restricted to damage rather than debuffing the characteristics of creatures across the board. Electrickery’s ability to be overloaded provides flexibility, a feature Nausea lacks. Comparing to Infest, which also has a global effect, Nausea plays early in the game due to its cheaper cost, ensuring a form of control from the get-go.

When delving into the subtleties of these cards, Nausea finds its place in the meta, strategically positioned as an efficient answer to early swarm strategies, standing out for its cost-effectiveness and overall reach against varied creature types.

Shrivel - MTG Card versions
Electrickery - MTG Card versions
Infest - MTG Card versions
Shrivel - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Electrickery - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Infest - Onslaught (ONS)

Cards similar to Nausea by color, type and mana cost

Drain Life - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sinkhole - MTG Card versions
Word of Binding - MTG Card versions
Soul Exchange - MTG Card versions
Dry Spell - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Mind Knives - MTG Card versions
Shattered Crypt - MTG Card versions
Disturbed Burial - MTG Card versions
Death Stroke - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Imperial Edict - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Intent - MTG Card versions
Decompose - MTG Card versions
Chainer's Edict - MTG Card versions
Walk the Plank - MTG Card versions
Predators' Hour - MTG Card versions
Hunger of the Nim - MTG Card versions
Distress - MTG Card versions
Drain Life - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Demonic Tutor - Commander Masters (CMM)
Sinkhole - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Word of Binding - Renaissance (REN)
Soul Exchange - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Dry Spell - Portal (POR)
Hymn to Tourach - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Mind Knives - Portal (POR)
Shattered Crypt - Weatherlight (WTH)
Disturbed Burial - Tempest (TMP)
Death Stroke - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Exhume - Jumpstart (JMP)
Imperial Edict - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Diabolic Intent - Planeshift (PLS)
Decompose - Odyssey (ODY)
Chainer's Edict - Ultimate Masters (UMA)
Walk the Plank - The List (PLST)
Predators' Hour - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Hunger of the Nim - Darksteel (DST)
Distress - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nausea MTG card by a specific set like Exodus and Seventh Edition, 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 Nausea and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nausea Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1998-06-15 and 2016-06-10. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-06-15ExodusEXO 671997normalblackJeff Miracola
22001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 148★1997normalblackJames Bernardin
32001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 1481997normalwhiteJames Bernardin
42003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 1482003normalwhiteJames Bernardin
52003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 148★2003normalblackJames Bernardin
62016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 972015normalblackWillian Murai

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nausea has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-06-08 All creatures on the battlefield when Nausea resolves are affected. Ones that enter the battlefield or become creatures later in the turn are not.

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