Niveous Wisps MTG Card


Niveous Wisps - Shadowmoor
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2008-05-02
Set symbol
Set nameShadowmoor
Set codeSHM
Number15
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJim Nelson

Key Takeaways

  1. Niveous Wisps offers card parity, and its instant speed disrupts opponent plans efficiently.
  2. Its white mana requirement limits flexibility in multicolored decks, possibly hindering play.
  3. Vital for combo decks, it maintains momentum through control and card draw synergy.

Text of card

Target creature becomes white until end of turn. Tap that creature. Draw a card.

In a world devoid of sun, illumination comes from cheerless fires or the wandering spirits of the dead.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Niveous Wisps allows players to potentially disrupt an opponent’s strategies while replacing itself in hand due to its draw-a-card feature. This ensures the tactic doesn’t “cost” a card, maintaining parity or even improving card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Niveous Wisps itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it can indirectly contribute to mana utilization efficiency by untapping a creature that can be used for mana or by enabling convoluted combos that require a sudden tap/untap of a creature.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Niveous Wisps at instant speed gives players a significant tactical advantage. It can be used to thwart an opponent’s attack unexpectedly, serve as a surprise blocker, or simply be held up until the end of an opponent’s turn for maximum flexibility.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Niveous Wisps does not directly impose a discard requirement on the caster, its nature as a single-use spell might effectively reduce hand size. In games where maintaining a card advantage is critical, casting it could mean sacrificing a card that might otherwise provide long-term value.

Specific Mana Cost: Niveous Wisps requires a specific white mana to cast. In multicolored decks, especially those not focused on white mana, having the necessary resources to cast it might prove challenging, potentially restricting the card’s utility in diverse deck strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the card’s impact, one must consider that the effect of tapping a creature and drawing a card might not justify the mana investment. In the current game meta, there are several options for card draw or creature tap effects at lower costs, making Niveous Wisps a less efficient choice in certain scenarios.


Reasons to Include Niveous Wisps in Your Collection

Versatility: Niveous Wisps is not just a tool to tap an opposing creature; it’s a white instant that can also be a surprisingly flexible addition to your deck. With it, you can temporarily neutralize a threat during combat or even untap one of your own creatures to use its abilities a second time in a turn.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key piece in intricate combo setups, particularly in decks that capitalize on tap and untap mechanics. It pairs well with cards that watch for creatures being tapped, granting you extra draw or other benefits.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where speed and creature interactions are critical, Niveous Wisps can be a low-cost solution to disrupt opponents. Its ability to draw a card ensures it remains a relevant choice to maintain card flow while dealing with potential threats on the board.


How to beat

Niveous Wisps, a card known for its ability to tap target creatures and draw cards in MTG, presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. Its utility lies in its capacity to momentarily disrupt opponents’ strategies by neutralizing potential attackers or blockers. This can be a subtle yet powerful way to gain the upper hand in a match.

To effectively counteract Niveous Wisps, consider incorporating instant-speed removal spells or abilities that can be activated in response to the Wisps’ cast. This prevents the temporary disablement of your creature and potentially wastes the opponent’s card. Moreover, employing creatures that can’t be targeted by spells or abilities (known as “hexproof” creatures) or utilizing cards that grant this protection can provide a surefire way to mitigate the impact of Niveous Wisps.

In essence, while Niveous Wisps might seem like a minor nuisance, its tactical use can lead to significant turning points in the game. Players should prioritize having a versatile response plan to handle such threats efficiently and maintain control of the game’s momentum.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of Niveous Wisps in MTG can make a considerable difference in your gameplay. Whether tapping down a potent attacker or drawing into an essential combo piece, this card offers more than meets the eye. Its disruption ability paired with its card draw makes it a staple for players looking to maintain tempo while keeping their hand replenished. If you’re aiming to refine your control or combo strategies, incorporating Niveous Wisps could be a game-changer. Eager to weave Niveous Wisps into your deck-building artistry or to outmaneuver it in battle? Delve deeper with us and keep your edge sharp in the evolving meta.


Cards like Niveous Wisps

Niveous Wisps stands out in a unique position among creature-tapping cards in Magic: The Gathering. Sharing a similar purpose with cards like Twiddle, which also taps a creature, Niveous Wisps benefits from its ability not only to tap but also to draw a card. While Twiddle offers the versatility to tap or untap any permanent, it lacks the card draw enhancement Niveous Wisps provides, making the latter an option that can sustain card advantage.

Cerulean Wisps functions closely, with its primary action allowing for the untapping of a creature and the drawing of a card. The subtle difference lies in the additional blue mana requirement, as opposed to Niveous Wisps’ white mana cost, leading players to consider their mana base when choosing between the two. Another card, Expedite, grants an entirely different benefit by conferring haste in addition to the card draw effect. Although it doesn’t inhibit an opponent’s creature, it can be quite synergistic in decks that capitalize on swift attacks.

Ultimately, Niveous Wisps caters especially to strategies that aim to disrupt opponents while maintaining momentum through card draw. The intersection of utility and resourcefulness makes it a remarkable option in decks that focus on control and tempo.

Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Cerulean Wisps - MTG Card versions
Expedite - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Cerulean Wisps - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Expedite - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)

Cards similar to Niveous Wisps by color, type and mana cost

Death Ward - MTG Card versions
Blaze of Glory - MTG Card versions
Healing Salve - MTG Card versions
Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions
Purelace - MTG Card versions
Righteousness - MTG Card versions
Indestructible Aura - MTG Card versions
Glyph of Life - MTG Card versions
Warning - MTG Card versions
Heal - MTG Card versions
Anoint - MTG Card versions
Rally the Troops - MTG Card versions
Enlightened Tutor - MTG Card versions
Pollen Remedy - MTG Card versions
Sacred Rites - MTG Card versions
Pay No Heed - MTG Card versions
Path to Exile - MTG Card versions
Piety Charm - MTG Card versions
Hallow - MTG Card versions
Pure Intentions - MTG Card versions
Death Ward - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Blaze of Glory - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Healing Salve - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Swords to Plowshares - Murders at Karlov Manor Commander (MKC)
Purelace - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Righteousness - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Indestructible Aura - Chronicles (CHR)
Glyph of Life - Legends (LEG)
Warning - Ice Age (ICE)
Heal - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Anoint - Tempest (TMP)
Rally the Troops - Portal Second Age (P02)
Enlightened Tutor - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Pollen Remedy - Planeshift (PLS)
Sacred Rites - The List (PLST)
Pay No Heed - Torment (TOR)
Path to Exile - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Piety Charm - Onslaught (ONS)
Hallow - Darksteel (DST)
Pure Intentions - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Niveous Wisps MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor, 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 Niveous Wisps and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Niveous Wisps has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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