Nim Shambler MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Zombie
Released	2003-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Mirrodin
Set code	MRD
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	72
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Adam Rex

Key Takeaways

Nim Shambler’s recursive ability can tip the scales toward card advantage in prolonged matches.
While aiding resource acceleration, it does require a discard which can be a trade-off.
Instant-speed synergies augment its potential, but specific mana needs may reduce versatility.

Text of card

Nim Shambler gets +1/+0 for each artifact you control. Sacrifice a creature: Regenerate Nim Shambler.

Called "the Dross" by its inhabitants, Mephidross is home to the nim, Mirrodin's mindless, ravenous undead.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nim Shambler’s ability to recur from the graveyard directly to the battlefield presents a persistent threat, potentially tipping the scales towards card advantage as opponents may have to deal with it multiple times over the course of a game.

Resource Acceleration: With its cost-reducing ability based on the number of creature cards in your graveyard, Nim Shambler can significantly lower its own casting cost, enabling an efficient use of resources and faster deployment of other spells in your hand.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Nim Shambler benefits from cards with flash or instant-speed spells that populate the graveyard, hastily becoming a sizable creature on the battlefield and synergizing well with decks designed to operate at instant speed.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nim Shambler necessitates players to discard a card to activate an essential ability. This can deplete a player’s hand, and if you’re already at a card disadvantage, this cost becomes burdensome, potentially causing you to sacrifice important plays in the future.

Specific Mana Cost: Nim Shambler’s mana cost includes black mana, which constrains it to decks that run swamps or have access to black mana. This specificity diminishes its versatility and excludes it from many mono-colored or color-light strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that leans on the higher end, Nim Shambler demands a significant investment of resources for its body and abilities. This investment can place you at a disadvantage against opponents using low-cost creatures with high-impact abilities or more mana-efficient control elements to gain board supremacy.

Reasons to Include Nim Shambler in Your Collection

Versatility: Nim Shambler offers a level of adaptability that encourages its inclusion in a variety of deck builds. As a creature that works with graveyard strategies, it can easily fit into decks that capitalize on cycling creatures in and out of the graveyard, enhancing its power on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card interacts well with self-mill strategies or any deck that benefits from having creatures in the graveyard. Nim Shambler can grow stronger as your graveyard fills, turning it into a formidable threat that scales with the progression of the game.

Meta-Relevance: Nim Shambler can be incredibly effective in a meta that favors longer, grindy games where the battlefield and graveyard become increasingly populated. Its potential as a late-game powerhouse that can sway the tide of battle should not be underestimated, making it a timely addition for any player keen on staying ahead of the curve.

How to beat

Nim Shambler presents an intriguing challenge on the battlefield for Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts. This creature’s strength lies in its potential to grow by utilizing the graveyard. Each time you dispose of a creature card, Nim Shambler gains an additional counter, making it a formidable force over time. To effectively counter this strategy, prioritizing graveyard disruption is key. Implementing cards like Tormod’s Crypt or Bojuka Bog can swiftly clear out the opponent’s graveyard, weakening Nim Shambler’s growth mechanism and reducing its threat level.

Moreover, don’t underestimate the value of removal spells. Efficient spells like Path to Exile or Murderous Rider can target and eliminate Nim Shambler before it gets out of hand. Keep in mind that timing is crucial; it’s wise to wait until your opponent invests resources in buffing their Nim Shambler before removing it, causing them to lose not only the creature but the cards invested as well. This strategy makes Nim Shambler less daunting and more manageable throughout your MTG duels.

In essence, maintain graveyard control and hold onto your removal spells for the optimal moment. This approach will help secure your victory by ensuring that Nim Shambler remains just a passing shadow on the game board.

Cards like Nim Shambler

Nim Shambler is a unique creature card among the vast repertoire available to MTG players. It draws a parallel to cards such as Bone Picker, another creature that thrives off the graveyard mechanic. Bone Picker, however, costs less if a creature died this turn, and it comes with flying and deathtouch, features that Nim Shambler lacks. While both capitalize on the demise of creatures, Nim Shambler requires a more significant investment of mana to optimize its power.

Looking at Mortivore, we notice thematic similarities, as it also gains strength from graveyard contents. Mortivore’s power and toughness are defined by the number of creature cards in all graveyards, making it a potentially more powerful option in multiplayer games. However, Nim Shambler offers extra flexibility with its sacrifice ability, allowing you to manipulate its size and graveyard counts more directly.

Evaluating each card’s place in a deck requires an understanding of the specific strategy and the available synergies. Nim Shambler might shine in a deck designed around sacrifice and recursion, whereas Bone Picker and Mortivore fit into strategies emphasizing creature deaths and the exploitation of graveyards, respectively.

Cards similar to Nim Shambler by color, type and mana cost

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions

Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nim Shambler MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin, 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 Nim Shambler and other MTG cards: