Pia Nalaar MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Artificer
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Pia Nalaar excels at generating card advantage through token creation and synergistic artifact manipulation.
  2. Her instant speed ability can swing combat phases, but her discard requirement may be a strategic setback.
  3. From combo potential to meta relevance, Pia remains a versatile and impactful contender in various MTG strategies.

Text of card

When Pia Nalaar enters the battlefield, create a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying. : Target artifact creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn. , Sacrifice an artifact: Target creature can't block this turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pia Nalaar is adept at creating strategic advantages on the battlefield. Her presence not only puts a character onto the field but also generates additional artifact tokens that synergize with numerous strategies and can lead to card advantage in a roundabout way.

Resource Acceleration: This legendary character allows for resourceful use of artifacts. By sacrificing an artifact, you can ramp up the damage output of your attacking creature, acting as a form of resource acceleration. This can prove crucial in turning the tide during combat phases.

Instant Speed: Although Pia Nalaar operates at sorcery speed, her ability to affect creatures at instant speed by granting them +1/+0 until end of turn through artifact sacrifice can be a game-changer, allowing for surprise alterations in combat that can catch an opponent off-guard.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pia Nalaar demands that you part with a card from your hand to trigger one of her abilities. This could set you back, especially in tight situations where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s demand for both generic and red mana means it slides seamlessly into red-centric or multicolored decks, but it wouldn’t fit as well outside those archetypes, potentially restricting your deck-building options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating three mana, Pia Nalaar may not be your go-to choice for an impactful play, considering other alternatives in the same mana range could present a more significant threat or provide better value on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Pia Nalaar shines in multiple deck archetypes with her ability to synergize with artifacts. As a three-cost creature, she’s easily splashed into different builds, making her a flexible pick for many strategies.

Combo Potential: Her ability to create Thopter tokens and sacrifice artifacts lends itself to various combos, enabling intricate plays with other artifact-centric cards. This allows for unexpected and game-changing synergies.

Meta-Relevance: With a constantly evolving metagame, Pia Nalaar remains relevant due to her utility in artifact-based decks. Her presence can significantly impact games, especially in environments where artifacts are a key component of prevailing strategies.


How to beat

Pia Nalaar is a well-recognized card in MTG that brings both leadership and technological expertise to the battlefield. As the mother of the famed inventor Chandra Nalaar, Pia’s card reflects her resilience and engineering prowess, providing players with a unique arsenal to enhance artifact manipulation. With the ability to pump up artifact creatures’ power and her sacrifice ability that can ground airborne threats, Pia is a multifunctional asset in red artifact decks.

To effectively counter Pia Nalaar, it’s imperative to focus on strategies that reduce her impact. Removal spells that can target creatures directly—think along the lines of Fatal Push or Path to Exile—can handle Pia before her abilities become a significant threat. Additionally, artifact removal spells like Shatter or Disenchant can disrupt the synergy she aims to create. Keeping her off the board prevents her from becoming a linchpin in an opponent’s strategy that revolves around artifacts.

Control decks that can counter key spells or consistently remove threats will weaken the advantage Pia Nalaar seeks to provide. By staying one step ahead and addressing her quickly, you halt her from tipping the scales in favor of an artifact-heavy opponent—making her a minor roadblock rather than a game-winning hurdle.


BurnMana Recommendations

As you journey through MTG’s complex metagame, consider the multifaceted prowess of cards like Pia Nalaar. This legendary card’s abilities—notably, artifact synergy and the strategic advantage of instant speed boosts—provide a dynamic layer to gameplay. Factor in her ability to fit into a range of strategies, from aggressive artifact-based builds to clever combo setups, she offers both versatility and a touch of unpredictability. While pondering Pia’s place in your collection or strategizing to counter her on the battlefield, check out further insights and tips. Dive deeper with us into mastering MTG nuances and refining your play style for tactical dominance.


Cards like Pia Nalaar

Pia Nalaar presents a unique profile in the roster of legendary creatures in MTG. Resembling characters like Depala, Pilot Exemplar, Pia offers an ability that provides a boost to artifact creatures, enhancing utility on the battlefield. Yet, she distinguishes herself with the versatility to affect any artifact, not just Vehicles like Depala does.

Another card worth mentioning is Ghirapur Gearcrafter, which also introduces artifact creatures to the fray upon entering the battlefield. While these tokens aren’t as impactful individually as the one Pia creates, the similarity lies in fleshing out your artifact creature presence. Then, there’s Thopter Engineer which grants haste to artifact creatures, giving an immediate advantage in speed. However, Pia Nalaar’s unique ability to sacrifice an artifact to make a creature unable to block this turn, adds a layer of strategic depth that Thopter Engineer lacks.

As we look at complementing abilities and weigh their strategic significance, Pia Nalaar stands out with her multifaceted skills that can adapt to various scenarios, showing her strength in MTG’s ever-evolving gameplay.

Depala, Pilot Exemplar - MTG Card versions
Ghirapur Gearcrafter - MTG Card versions
Thopter Engineer - MTG Card versions
Depala, Pilot Exemplar - Kaladesh (KLD)
Ghirapur Gearcrafter - Magic Origins (ORI)
Thopter Engineer - Magic Origins (ORI)

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Imperial Recruiter - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
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Goblin Sky Raider - Onslaught (ONS)
Cosmic Larva - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Goblin Chariot - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Balduvian Barbarians - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Basalt Gargoyle - Time Spiral (TSP)
Orcish Artillery - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - Lorwyn (LRW)
Blind-Spot Giant - Lorwyn (LRW)
Mudbutton Torchrunner - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pia Nalaar MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh Promos and Kaladesh, 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 Pia Nalaar and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pia Nalaar Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by Tyler Jacobson.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-09-30Kaladesh PromosPKLD 124s2015normalblackTyler Jacobson
22016-09-30KaladeshKLD 1242015normalblackTyler Jacobson
32020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 1362015normalblackTyler Jacobson
42021-04-23Commander 2021C21 1772015normalblackTyler Jacobson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pia Nalaar has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-09-20 Once a creature has blocked an attacking creature, activating Pia Nalaar's last ability won't cause the attacking creature to become unblocked.
2016-09-20 The “legend rule” cares about legendary permanents with the exact same English name. The Kaladesh™ card Pia Nalaar and the Magic Origins™ card Pia and Kiran Nalaar have different names, so you can control both at the same time.

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