Nightveil Predator MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Vampire
Abilities Deathtouch,Flying,Hexproof
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Hexproof and deathtouch make Nightveil Predator a persistent and versatile threat on the board.
  2. Strict blue and black mana costs limit its use to specific decks, reducing flexibility.
  3. Global effects and sacrifice spells are key strategies to circumvent Predator’s defensiveness.

Text of card

Flying, deathtouch Hexproof (This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.)

"Three daggers left in an angel's back, three enforcers with memory loss, three keys stolen from my own belt—and you talk of peace?" —Tajic, to Aurelia


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nightveil Predator’s hexproof ability makes it a persistent threat, often requiring opponents to use multiple resources to handle it, indirectly leading to card advantage as they deplete their hand trying to find an answer.

Resource Acceleration: While the Predator itself does not directly accelerate resources, its presence can influence the pace of the game, allowing you to better allocate your mana across turns without the immediate need to replace it on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: The flying and deathtouch abilities of Nightveil Predator can deter or remove opposing creatures at any time during combat, making it an effective tool in both offensive strikes and defensive postures. Its strength at instant speed combat interactions helps players maintain control until they can execute their strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Players must often meet certain conditions or face a disadvantage to fully utilize Nightveil Predator. This aspect might require discarding other valuable cards, thus decreasing your hand advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Nightveil Predator’s casting cost demands a strict color commitment to both blue and black mana. This specificity can restrict its inclusion to decks heavily oriented around these colors, potentially excluding it from more diverse strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Nightveil Predator can be considered a costly investment for its abilities. There are alternatives in the same mana range that might fulfill similar roles more efficiently or offer additional flexibility in gameplay scenarios.


Reasons to Include Nightveil Predator in Your Collection

Versatility: Nightveil Predator is a solid card to have in any Dimir (blue-black) deck. With flying and deathtouch, it serves as both an offensive threat and a formidable defender against a variety of creatures, no matter their size.

Combo Potential: Its hexproof ability ensures that it remains a reliable board presence. This allows it to work well with other cards that benefit from having a steadfast creature in play, especially those that require a target for beneficial auras or equipment.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where control decks are prevalent, Nightveil Predator excels. Its resilience against spot removal keeps it relevant, and it can effectively block or put pressure on opponents who rely on creatures to win.


How to beat

Nightveil Predator is a resilient force on the battlefield within MTG, known for its hexproof ability and deathtouch, making it a substantial obstacle. Its hexproof ability shields it from your targeted spells, and deathtouch ensures it can take down any creature it blocks or is blocked by. To navigate around these defenses, consider using board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation that do not target individual creatures but instead clear the board of all creatures, bypassing hexproof entirely.

Alternatively, you can employ creatures with first strike to combat Nightveil Predator effectively. Since it won’t be able to deal its deathtouch damage before the first strike damage is assigned, this can be an efficient way to remove it from the board. Making use of global effects that reduce the toughness of all creatures to zero, like Drown in Sorrow or Mutilate, can also be particularly effective, as these cards do not target and deal with Nightveil Predator without triggering any protective abilities.

Strategically, forcing your opponent to sacrifice creatures can also serve as a workaround for the hexproof ability. Edict effects such as Liliana’s Triumph or Diabolic Edict ignore hexproof since they don’t target a specific creature. With careful planning and the right spells, overcoming the formidable Nightveil Predator is a challenge no doubt, but certainly not an insurmountable one.


BurnMana Recommendations

The essential tactics of MTG often hinge on the strategic deployment and protection of key creatures like Nightveil Predator. Knowing when to cast this powerful card, lucrative for its hard-to-remove nature due to hexproof and its combo potential, can set you on the path to victory. Whether you’re bolstering your collection or refining your Dimir deck’s strategy, consider the conditions and synergies that will best leverage Nightveil Predator’s strengths. We’re here to guide you through incorporating this potent card into your arsenal and moreover, equipping you with the strategies to counteract it when you face it across the battlefield. Dive deeper with us into the world of MTG and optimize your gameplay with Nightveil Predator and other formidable creatures.


Cards like Nightveil Predator

Nightveil Predator stands as a unique creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. It shares the flying and deathtouch mechanics with Vampire Nighthawk, albeit Nightveil Predator is bulkier in terms of toughness. What sets the Predator apart is hexproof, shielding it from targeted spells and abilities, which Nighthawk lacks, making it a resilient threat on the board.

Looking at Aetherborn Marauder, we find both flying and lifelink, yet the Marauder lacks the reliable protection provided by hexproof, rendering it vulnerable to spot removal. Comparatively, Nightveil Predator ensures your investment sticks around longer, ideally disrupting your opponent’s strategy. Baleful Strix is another creature carrying both flying and deathtouch. Strix comes at a lesser cost and offers card draw upon entering the battlefield, but its single point in toughness makes it less of a lasting board presence than Nightveil Predator.

In summarizing these comparisons, Nightveil Predator distinguishes itself among creatures with evasion and removal-resistant qualities in Magic: The Gathering. Its combination of abilities makes it a formidable defender and a strategic asset for any deck focusing on durability and impact.

Vampire Nighthawk - MTG Card versions
Aetherborn Marauder - MTG Card versions
Baleful Strix - MTG Card versions
Vampire Nighthawk - Wizards Play Network 2009 (PWP09)
Aetherborn Marauder - Kaladesh (KLD)
Baleful Strix - Planechase 2012 (PC2)

Cards similar to Nightveil Predator by color, type and mana cost

Phantasmal Fiend - MTG Card versions
Doomsday Specter - MTG Card versions
Possessed Aven - MTG Card versions
Marsh Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Moroii - MTG Card versions
Circu, Dimir Lobotomist - MTG Card versions
Blizzard Specter - MTG Card versions
Wydwen, the Biting Gale - MTG Card versions
Evil Twin - MTG Card versions
Glen Elendra Liege - MTG Card versions
Kathari Remnant - MTG Card versions
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind - MTG Card versions
Ulamog's Nullifier - MTG Card versions
Elusive Tormentor // Insidious Mist - MTG Card versions
Drunau Corpse Trawler - MTG Card versions
Gisa and Geralf - MTG Card versions
Duskmantle Seer - MTG Card versions
Hostage Taker - MTG Card versions
Deadeye Brawler - MTG Card versions
Notion Thief - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Fiend - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Doomsday Specter - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Possessed Aven - Torment (TOR)
Marsh Crocodile - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Moroii - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Circu, Dimir Lobotomist - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Blizzard Specter - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Wydwen, the Biting Gale - Commander 2020 (C20)
Evil Twin - Innistrad (ISD)
Glen Elendra Liege - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Kathari Remnant - Planechase Anthology (PCA)
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Ulamog's Nullifier - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)
Elusive Tormentor // Insidious Mist - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Drunau Corpse Trawler - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
Gisa and Geralf - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
Duskmantle Seer - Commander 2018 (C18)
Hostage Taker - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Deadeye Brawler - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Notion Thief - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nightveil Predator MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica and Ravnica Remastered, 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 Nightveil Predator and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nightveil Predator Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-10-05 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by Darek Zabrocki.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 1912015normalblackDarek Zabrocki
22024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 2062015normalblackDarek Zabrocki

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nightveil Predator has restrictions

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

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