Pianna, Nomad Captain MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Nomad
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Pianna encourages a wide board strategy by increasing creatures’ power, enhancing board threat during attacks.
  2. Her ability improves resource efficiency by strengthening creatures without extra mana investment.
  3. While not an instant, Pianna’s ability can significantly impact the outcome of combat phases.

Text of card

Whenever Pianna, Nomad Captain attacks, attacking creatures get +1/+1 until end of turn.

Some find inspiration in their swords. Others find it in their leaders.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Pianna, Nomad Captain doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, her buff to other creatures when she attacks incentivizes wider board strategies that can lead to indirect card advantage. This can be seen in how she helps maintain board presence, allowing each creature to represent a more substantial threat on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Pianna can be seen as a form of resource acceleration in the sense that she amplifies the potency of your existing board without necessitating further mana investment. Each attack not only pressures life totals but does so more efficiently thanks to her ability.

Instant Speed: While Pianna herself is not an instant, her ability to boost other creatures during the combat phase can alter the way instant-speed spells and abilities are utilized by creating more favorable conditions for combat tricks or instant speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Pianna, Nomad Captain does not have a discard requirement, players looking into this card should be aware that it lacks card advantage mechanisms, which is an essential aspect of maintaining resources during gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: Pianna has a restrictive casting cost of 1 colorless and two white mana, which may be challenging to meet in multicolored decks, thereby limiting her to mostly mono-white strategies where mana consistency is less of an issue.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana and a 2/2 body, Pianna doesn’t measure up well against other three mana creatures in terms of stats or impact, making her a less competitive option in formats where efficiency and board presence are crucial.


Reasons to Include Pianna, Nomad Captain in Your Collection

Versatility: Pianna, Nomad Captain offers a unique dynamic to white-based aggro or midrange decks. Her ability to boost the attack strength of other creatures during your attack phase makes her a flexible asset, fitting seamlessly into various deck strategies that focus on combat.

Combo Potential: With her ability to pump up your attacking creatures, Pianna can effectively enhance strategies centering around ‘go-wide’ tactics. Pair her with cards that generate multiple tokens or creatures that benefit from being in a swarm to maximize battlefield presence and pressure.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature-based strategies frequently cycle in and out of favor, Pianna’s ability to swing games with significant combat advantage keeps her relevant. She shines in metas heavy with creature combat, where her buff can turn the tide of battle in your favor.


How to beat Pianna, Nomad Captain

Pianna, Nomad Captain brings a unique strategy to the battlefield for Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts. Acting as a boon to white weenie decks, Pianna elevates the game by boosting the attacking power of your other creatures. The effectiveness of Pianna is rooted in her ability to rally other creatures during combat, similar to other supportive commanders that amplify the collective prowess of their underlings. However, the key to dismantling her influence lies in timing and disruption.

Removing Pianna before the attack phase is crucial, as her ability triggers only during this time. Instant speed removal spells, like Path to Exile or Fatal Push, can be highly effective against her. Cards with flash can also pose a significant threat, allowing players to disrupt strategies at the most opportune times. Moreover, control decks with sweepers like Wrath of God can reset the board, diminishing the advantage Pianna provides. Though she may bring a considerable tactical edge to a creature-based deck, strategic removal and board control are the arsenal you need to triumph over Pianna and her legion.


Cards like Pianna, Nomad Captain

Pianna, Nomad Captain does a sterling job of rallying troops in the Magic: The Gathering universe. Sharing a kinship with captains from various planes, Pianna shines in decks focused on creature-based strategies. An apt comparison might be drawn with ‘Lovisa Coldeyes’, an equally impressive commander that buffs up warriors, barbarians, and berserkers. However, Pianna’s ability to augment each attacking creature sets her apart, resulting in potentially massive boosts during combat.

Consider ‘Benalish Marshal’ as another similar card that buffs your creatures. It gives a static power and toughness boost to your allies, providing a consistent advantage without the need to attack. On the flip side, while ‘Benalish Marshal’ affects the board immediately, Pianna’s influence grows with your army’s size and aggressive plays. ‘Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran’ is yet another figure with a close resemblance. He selectively offers a significant boost but only to red and white attackers during combat, making Pianna’s benefit more universally applicable to all attackers regardless of their colors.

Ultimately, when measured side by side, Pianna, Nomad Captain holds her ground with unique tactical advantages for aggressive gameplay strategies. Her ability to dramatically increase the damage during each attack phase makes her a venerable choice among commanders that enhance their armies.

Lovisa Coldeyes - MTG Card versions
Benalish Marshal - MTG Card versions
Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran - MTG Card versions
Lovisa Coldeyes - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Benalish Marshal - Dominaria Promos (PDOM)
Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)

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Freewind Equenaut - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
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Silverblade Paladin - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Emancipation Angel - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Steelform Sliver - Magic 2014 (M14)
Brimaz, King of Oreskos - The List (PLST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pianna, Nomad Captain MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey and Vintage Masters, 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 Pianna, Nomad Captain and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pianna, Nomad Captain Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2001-10-01 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by D. Alexander Gregory.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12001-10-01OdysseyODY 391997normalblackD. Alexander Gregory
22014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 392015normalblackD. Alexander Gregory
32023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 502015normalblackD. Alexander Gregory

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pianna, Nomad Captain has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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