Vampire Nocturnus MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Vampire
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Top-deck mechanic of Vampire Nocturnus can turn each draw into a formidable threat, enhancing vampire decks substantially.
  2. Works best in mono-black decks due to specific mana needs, aiding in maintaining consistent activation of its effect.
  3. Despite its higher casting cost, Nocturnus’s ability to provide flying can dominate the battlefield against many deck types.

Text of card

Play with the top card of your library revealed. As long as the top card of your library is black, Vampire Nocturnus and other Vampire creatures you control get +2/+1 and have flying.

"Your life will set with the sun."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vampire Nocturnus provides a significant upper hand by potentially altering the top card of your library. If that card is black, it grants all your vampires +2/+1, possibly turning each draw into a threat that your opponents must immediately address.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting resources, the power boost from Vampire Nocturnus can accelerate the game in your favor. A battlefield populated with stronger vampires means faster damage dealing, leading opponents to deplete resources more quickly in defense or removal attempts.

Instant Speed: Although Vampire Nocturnus itself does not have flash, the top-of-library reveal mechanic activates at instant speed. This allows for strategic planning during each upkeep, and if you can manipulate the top card of your library through other means, it results in an instant advantage that can be gained during any player’s turn, aligning your vampire army for a potent offense.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Vampire Nocturnus can be a game-changer, it demands that the top card of your library be black to activate its effect. This can be a major setback if you’re not consistently drawing black cards, thereby not always guaranteeing the value you expect from the mana you’ve invested.

Specific Mana Cost: Another hurdle is its color-heavy casting cost, which includes three black mana symbols. This specific requirement can strain your mana base, especially in a multi-colored deck, limiting its inclusion to mostly mono-black builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a casting cost of four mana might seem reasonable for a powerful lord like Vampire Nocturnus. However, in a format where efficiency is key, sometimes the initial investment can be prohibitive. This could result in the card sitting in your hand while faster options could be played, potentially affecting your board state more immediately.


Reasons to Include Vampire Nocturnus in Your Collection

Versatility: Vampire Nocturnus is a powerhouse in any vampire-based deck, elevating the power level with its top-deck synergy. This card adeptly strengthens your board presence, making it a highly adaptable addition for various aggressive strategies.

Combo Potential: With this nocturnal menace, the combo possibilities are immense. It pairs exceptionally well with cards that manipulate the top of the library, ensuring that you consistently benefit from the +2/+1 and flying granted to your vampires.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame teeming with creature-heavy decks, Vampire Nocturnus can be the linchpin in gaining air superiority. Its ability to turn an entire tribe of vampires into an aerial threat makes it a formidable force against numerous popular deck archetypes.


How to beat

Vampire Nocturnus is a powerful force in any MTG deck that capitalizes on vampires. With the capacity to grant your vampire creatures +2/+1 and flying whenever the top card of your library is black, it can turn the tide of the game swiftly. However, there are strategies you can employ to undermine its dominance on the battlefield.

First and foremost, directly removing Vampire Nocturnus from play is crucial. Utilize instant-speed removal like Path to Exile or Doom Blade to catch your opponent off guard. Keeping their vampire count low by removing other threats will also minimize the impact of Nocturnus’s ability. Moreover, manipulating the top card of your opponent’s deck can hinder the conditions for activation – consider cards that reorder libraries, such as Lantern of Insight combined with Codex Shredder. Lastly, adjust your deck to withstand flying assaults — incorporating creatures with reach or abilities like flying will serve as a steadfast defense against airborne vampires.

Employing these tactics will help keep Vampire Nocturnus from overwhelming you, securing your path to victory. It’s about staying one step ahead and maintaining control of the board. Counterbalance its advantages, and even the most daunting vampire can be subdued.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering your MTG deck takes finesse, and with a card like Vampire Nocturnus, the stakes are high and the rewards are higher. From our analysis, this card is a must-have for enthusiasts aiming to dominate with vampire synergies. To harness its full potential, layer your deck with black cards and explore ways to manipulate the top of your library to maintain that crucial power boost. Balancing the Nocturnus’s strengths against its limitations can be the key to your victory. Elevate your MTG journey with us — delve further into strategies and expert insights to make Vampire Nocturnus the dark champion of your deck.


Cards like Vampire Nocturnus

Vampire Nocturnus is a potent asset in black-aligned vampire decks in MTG, standing alongside other impressive vampire lords. It shares the limelight with esteemed cards such as Stromkirk Captain, which also boosts vampire creatures but focuses on red and black, offering first strike as the bonus. Vampire Nocturnus uniquely requires the top card of your library to be black to grant +2/+1 and flying, ensuring an aerial dominance when the conditions are met.

Then there’s the formidable Drana, Liberator of Malakir. While Drana doesn’t offer a global stat increase like Vampire Nocturnus, she does allow other attacking vampires to pump up by placing +1/+1 counters when she deals combat damage. The requirement of actual combat makes Drana’s influence more gradual but no less impactful. Similarly, captivating vampire charms others with his ability to take control of your opponent’s creatures, but doesn’t directly amplify your vampires’ offensive capabilities.

Despite the competition, Vampire Nocturnus remains a favorite for its potential to swiftly turn the tide of a game, especially when paired with a deck designed to control the top card, making nocturnal aggression a frightening reality for the enemy.

Stromkirk Captain - MTG Card versions
Drana, Liberator of Malakir - MTG Card versions
Stromkirk Captain - Dark Ascension (DKA)
Drana, Liberator of Malakir - Battle for Zendikar Promos (PBFZ)

Cards similar to Vampire Nocturnus by color, type and mana cost

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Cabal Surgeon - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Dirge Bat - MTG Card versions
Gixian Puppeteer - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Bad Ass - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - Chronicles (CHR)
Rag Man - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Phyrexian Debaser - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Slinking Skirge - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Gravedigger - The List (PLST)
Scandalmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Urborg Shambler - Invasion (INV)
Whispering Shade - Odyssey (ODY)
Cabal Surgeon - Torment (TOR)
Filth - Judgment (JUD)
Demon of Catastrophes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Bold Plagiarist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Dirge Bat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Gixian Puppeteer - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Toxin Sliver - Legions (LGN)
Vampiric Spirit - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nim Shambler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Bad Ass - Unhinged (UNH)
Scourge of Numai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vampire Nocturnus MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic 2010 Promos, 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 Vampire Nocturnus and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vampire Nocturnus Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2009-07-16 and 2012-07-13. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 331052003normalblackAndrew Robinson
22009-07-16Magic 2010 PromosPM10 118★2003normalblackAndrew Robinson
32009-07-17Magic 2010M10 1182003normalblackRaymond Swanland
42012-01-01Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 PromosPDP13 32003normalblackJason Felix
52012-07-13Magic 2013M13 1132003normalblackRaymond Swanland
62020-09-26The ListPLST M10-1182003normalblackRaymond Swanland

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vampire Nocturnus has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2009-10-01 To work as an evasion ability, an attacking creature must already have flying when the declare blockers step begins. Once a creature has become blocked, giving it flying won’t change that.
2013-04-15 If the top card of your library changes while you’re casting a spell or activating an ability, the new top card won’t be revealed until you finish casting that spell or activating that ability.
2013-04-15 The top card of your library isn’t in your hand, so you can’t suspend it, cycle it, discard it, or activate any of its activated abilities.
2013-04-15 When playing with the top card of your library revealed, if an effect tells you to draw several cards, reveal each one before you draw it.
2013-07-01 If the top card of your library is black, Vampire Nocturnus will give itself +2/+1 and flying even if it’s somehow not a Vampire.

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