Harrier Naga MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Naga Warrior
Released	2017-07-14
Set symbol
Set name	Hour of Devastation
Set code	HOU
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	118
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Filip Burburan

Key Takeaways

Offers stable board presence and can pressure opponents without the need for further mana investment.
Complements ramp strategies in green decks by providing an early defense or offensive option.
Though not instant-speed, it can follow up efficiently after holding mana open for other plays.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Harrier Naga may not directly allow you to draw more cards, its cost-effectiveness comes from its solid stats as a 3/3 creature for three mana. This makes it a stable presence on the battlefield, potentially pressuring opponents and affecting the board state without additional investment.

Resource Acceleration: Harrier Naga stands out in green decks focused on ramping up mana resources. Although it does not inherently accelerate resources, it benefits from the typical mana ramp strategies in green, allowing it to hit the board early and apply pressure or serve as defense.

Instant Speed: Harrier Naga is played at sorcery speed; however, its inclusion in a deck can complement your instant-speed responses. It can act as a follow-up play once you’ve passed your turn with mana open, ready to capitalize on your opponent’s end step if your instant-speed options are not needed.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Harrier Naga does not have a discard requirement in its strict mechanics, it is important to consider the potential for disadvantage in a deck where maintaining card advantage is critical. Decks that run cards with similar effects but require discarding as an additional cost might compare unfavorably.

Specific Mana Cost: Harrier Naga comes with a mana cost that includes one green. This can pose a limitation, as it requires a commitment to green mana sources, potentially restricting the card’s inclusion in multicolored decks or those that operate on a tight mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Harrier Naga might be considered costly for its vanilla 3/3 body. In the evolving dynamics of MTG, where mana efficiency is often key, there are alternatives that bring additional benefits or synergy for a similar, if not lower, mana investment.

Reasons to Include Harrier Naga in Your Collection

Versatility: Harrier Naga is a straightforward creature that offers a solid body for its mana cost. It can be a valuable addition to any green deck requiring reliable mid-game presence.

Combo Potential: While not inherently combo-oriented, Harrier Naga’s strength lies in the fact that it’s a creature, which means it can easily benefit from green’s numerous buffs, auras, and creature synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Given Harrier Naga’s ability to serve as a formidable 3/3 for three mana, it can be quite effective against aggressive decks that rely on smaller creatures, ensuring you maintain a board presence and stay competitive in the current meta.

How to beat

Harrier Naga is a creature card that can be a formidable presence on the battlefield due to its size in relation to its mana cost. With 3/3 stats for only three mana, it provides a solid body in the early to mid-game for green decks in Magic: The Gathering. Players facing Harrier Naga should consider removal spells that can outpace the cost-efficiency of the card. Options such as Shock or Lightning Strike are effective, as they remove the Naga for less mana than it costs to play, disrupting your opponent’s board development.

For prolonged control, enchantments like Pacifism or Lignify can neutralize the Naga without needing to destroy it, circumventing any resurrection tactics. Alternatively, blocking strategies using creatures with greater toughness or the reach ability also prove effective. Creatures like Giant Spider not only block Harrier Naga successfully but survive the encounter, maintaining your defensive line. When facing Harrier Naga, it’s crucial to assess the threat level it presents and choose a response that maximizes your mana efficiency while minimizing the opportunity for your opponent to gain an advantage.

In conclusion, while Harrier Naga can be a cost-effective creature for green decks, its impact is easily mitigated with the right strategies and spells, allowing players to maintain control of the game.

Cards like Harrier Naga

Harrier Naga takes its place among the creatures of Magic: The Gathering with a straightforward appeal. Mechanically, it shares comparable features to other creatures such as Sedge Scorpion and Alpine Grizzly. All three emanate from the classic green mana zone, renowned for creatures of the land. Harrier Naga stands out with its 3/3 stance for three mana, mirroring Alpine Grizzly’s stats but without the trample ability. Sedge Scorpion, although a mere 1/1, offers a lethal deathtouch feature, making it formidable regardless of its size.

Analogous too is the Garruk’s Companion, another creature echoing the 3/3 for three mana model but enhanced by the trample effect, thus potentially offering greater value during combat. Likewise, the Nessian Courser, also a 3/3 for three mana creature, doesn’t bring an additional ability but is part of a set that can have synergistic themes within certain decks. The absence of extra abilities on Harrier Naga is both its charm and weakness. It allows for a simple, robust board presence without additional mana investment, aligning with green’s philosophy of solid, basic strength.

Consequently, while Harrier Naga might not be drenched in complexity or offer tactical versatility like others, its reliability and essential role in builds that favor straightforward brute force make it a notable comparison among its green brethren.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Harrier Naga MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation, 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 Harrier Naga and other MTG cards: