Narset, Enlightened Master MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Monk
Abilities First strike,Hexproof
Power 3
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Narset grants unrivaled card advantage by revealing and casting multiple spells with a single attack.
  2. Accelerates resources by enabling free casting of costly noncreature spells early on.
  3. Offers flexible strategies with the capability to disrupt opponents using instant-speed spells.

Text of card

First strike, hexproof Whenever Narset, Enlightened Master attacks, exile the top four cards of your library. Until end of turn, you may cast noncreature spells from among those cards without paying their mana costs.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Narset, Enlightened Master grants access to multiple cards with each attack, giving a significant lead in card resources. This capability is fundamental in constructing substantial pressure on opponents and maintaining dominance throughout the duel.

Resource Acceleration: By allowing you to cast noncreature spells for free upon dealing combat damage to a player, Narset effectively speeds up your mana usage, permitting potentially high-cost spells to be played early in the game. This provides a glaring strategic advantage, pacing your momentum ahead of adversaries.

Instant Speed: While Narset herself does not operate at instant speed, the ability to cast free spells upon combat can include instants. This opens doors for strategic flexibility, letting you adapt swiftly to the evolving state of the game. It also creates unexpected turns of events that can disrupt opponents’ plans.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Narset doesn’t require discarding directly, playing her effectively often demands a deck built around her ability, which can inadvertently force discards due to hand size limitations when seeking the right noncreature spells to cast for free.

Specific Mana Cost: Narset requires a mix of blue, red, and white mana, which can be challenging to accumulate on time in a game, restricting her to specific Commander decks that can reliably provide this mana combination.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, including three specific colors, Narset Enlightened Master can be a significant investment. This mana cost can be somewhat prohibitive, especially when facing decks that aim to win quickly or disrupt mana bases.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Narset Enlightened Master is an exceptional choice for decks focused on noncreature spells. Her ability to cast these cards without paying their mana cost from the top of your library not only adds a touch of suspense but also provides enormous value across multiple turns.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that manipulate the top of your library or extra turn spells, Narset’s power multiplies. This allows players to chain powerful spells, one after the other, often leading to game-winning plays.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames filled with high-powered spells and combo decks, Narset fits perfectly. A single successful attack can shift the tide of the game, making her a threat that must be addressed immediately by opponents.


How to Beat

Narset, Enlightened Master presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This formidable commander offers card advantage and a potential cascade of free spells that can quickly turn the tides in favor of the player who wields her. To tip the scale back, one must address her ability to cast noncreature spells without paying their mana costs upon attacking.

Control strategies shine in curbing Narset’s dominance. Counterspells and spot removal can effectively keep her off the field and disrupt your opponent’s plan before it unfolds. Cards like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile offer swift answers to Narset should she hit the board. Additionally, spells that strip your opponent’s hand, like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, limit the free spells Narset can exploit at the peak of her power.

Building around graveyard recursion or utilizing instant-speed board wipes also ensures that even if Narset does manage to cheat in a few spells, the overall threat can be mitigated. Following these strategies, you can transform the challenge Narset represents from a looming threat to a surmountable obstacle and ultimately secure victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering Narset, Enlightened Master can bring a cascade of advantages to your MTG gameplay, propelling you to triumph with a flurry of free spells. Understanding each facet of her potential is key to full command over the battlefield. From building around her ability to harnessing the perfect combo, success with Narset requires strategy. If you’re keen on integrating this versatile Commander into your collection or refining your tactics against her, we’re here to help. Delve deeper into the world of MTG, maximize your deck’s potential, and outmaneuver your opponents. Learn more and adapt to the ever-evolving meta with BurnMana.


Cards like Narset, Enlightened Master

Narset, Enlightened Master is a unique and powerful card that has captured the attention of MTG players for its potential to significantly alter a game. With its ability to exile the top four cards of a player’s library and play noncreature cards without paying their mana cost, Narset brings a strategic edge. As a legendary creature, it invites comparisons to cards like Jeleva, Nephalia’s Scourge. Jeleva also allows players to cast spells for free after exiling them from the top of libraries. However, Narset allows it every attack while Jeleva’s ability is a one-time effect upon entering the battlefield.

Mind’s Dilation, an enchantment, offers a somewhat different approach, enabling the player to exile the top card of an opponent’s library whenever they cast a spell and play that card. Although this doesn’t target your own library, it poses a similar threat by potentially casting cards without paying their mana costs. Lastly, we compare Narset to Etali, Primal Storm, which also exiles cards from the top of players’ libraries and allows them to be cast without mana. Unlike Narset, Etali doesn’t limit the free casting to noncreature cards.

Indeed, MTG players value Narset, Enlightened Master for its consistent free casting mechanism, which distinctly positions it among cards with similar abilities. Its preference in decks specializing in noncreature spells cements its reputation within high-synergy strategies.

Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge - MTG Card versions
Mind's Dilation - MTG Card versions
Etali, Primal Storm - MTG Card versions
Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge - Commander 2013 Oversized (OC13)
Mind's Dilation - Eldritch Moon Promos (PEMN)
Etali, Primal Storm - Resale Promos (PRES)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Narset, Enlightened Master MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir Promos and Khans of Tarkir, 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 Narset, Enlightened Master and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Narset, Enlightened Master Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12014-09-26Khans of Tarkir PromosPKTK 190s2015normalblackMagali Villeneuve
22014-09-26Khans of TarkirKTK 1902015normalblackMagali Villeneuve
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 532015normalborderlessLivia Prima
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 9312015normalblackMagali Villeneuve

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Narset, Enlightened Master 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 Narset, Enlightened Master card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2014-09-20 Any exiled cards you don’t cast remain in exile.
2014-09-20 Because you’re already casting the card using an alternative cost (by casting it without paying its mana cost), you can’t pay any other alternative costs for the card, including casting it face down using the morph ability. You can pay additional costs, such as kicker costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those.
2014-09-20 If the card has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value for X when casting it.
2014-09-20 The cards are exiled face up. Casting the noncreature cards exiled this way follows the normal rules for casting those cards. You must follow all applicable timing rules. For example, if one of the exiled cards is a sorcery card, you can cast it only during your main phase while the stack is empty.
2014-09-20 You can’t play any land cards exiled with Narset.

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