Ninja of the Deep Hours MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 12 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Ninja
Abilities Ninjutsu
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Its card draw on combat damage gives you strategic hand advantage and can decisively impact game flow.
  2. Ninjutsu enables surprise plays and enhances synergy with instant-speed spells for tactical gameplay.
  3. Versatility in deck-building is significant, with potential in combos and adaptability in various strategies.

Text of card

Ninjutsu (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card into play from your hand tapped and attacking.) Whenever Ninja of the Deep Hours deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ninja of the Deep Hours rewards players with the opportunity to draw a card when it deals combat damage to a player. This ability can pivot the game in your favor by ensuring a steady flow of resources, keeping your hand replenished and providing more strategic options as the game progresses.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, this card can indirectly lead to resource acceleration. By enabling more cards in hand, players have a greater chance of drawing into land drops or mana-producing spells, thus ramping up their resource availability for future turns.

Instant Speed: While Ninja of the Deep Hours isn’t an instant itself, it synergizes well with instant-speed spells through its Ninjutsu ability. This ability allows you to swap an unblocked attacker with Ninja of the Deep Hours mid-combat, which can be activated at instant speed, catching an opponent off-guard and potentially leading to advantageous exchanges.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Ninja of the Deep Hours offers the coveted card draw, players must be cognizant of its ninjutsu ability which requires an unblocked attacker. If you’re unable to meet this condition, you may miss the opportunity to leverage this card’s potential, putting you at a disadvantage during crucial moments in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost demands both blue and generic mana. This specificity can pose challenges for decks that rely on a smooth and flexible mana base, particularly for multicolor builds that may not always favor an allocation of resources to satisfy blue mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At two mana, this card’s ninjutsu ability isn’t overly expensive, but in formats where speed and efficiency are key, such as Modern or Legacy, there are instances where deploying Ninja of the Deep Hours may not be as mana-efficient as other options in the game that can provide immediate impact or more robust board presence.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ninja of the Deep Hours is adaptable across various blue or rogue-themed decks. It shines in strategies that capitalize on combat tricks and evasive creatures. Its ability to return to hand and then re-enter the battle through Ninjutsu adds a dynamic layer to gameplay.

Combo Potential: This card pairs well with enter-the-battlefield effects or cards that benefit from being returned to your hand. The Ninjutsu ability also allows you to trigger on-damage effects multiple times, enhancing synergy with cards that capitalize on dealing combat damage to a player.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where drawing cards and efficient creature effects are vital, Ninja of the Deep Hours provides an edge. Its ability to bypass blockers and provide card advantage makes it particularly useful when facing down control or tempo-based opponents.


How to Beat Ninja of the Deep Hours

Ninja of the Deep Hours is a card that commands respect in certain formats of MTG due to its combination of stealth and card draw. Effective against decks that are light on creatures, this ninja can slip through defenses and provide a card advantage. However, every card has its Achilles heel, and this ninja is no exception.

To counter Ninja of the Deep Hours, it’s crucial to prevent it from connecting with a player. This means maintaining a board presence with creatures ready to block or having instant-speed removal spells at the ready. Cards like Shock or Fatal Push can be timed to disrupt the Ninjutsu ability, ensuring that the ninja never gets its effect. Additionally, effects that provide hexproof or shroud to your creatures or create an unfavorable combat situation for the Ninja, such as Ghostly Prison, can complicate your opponent’s attack plans. It’s also worth mentioning that once the Ninja is on the board, keeping it blocked or removing it before it can generate substantial card advantage is key. Prioritizing the removal of creatures with evasion or other means to consistently deal combat damage to a player is essential in limiting the Ninja’s impact.

By anticipating your opponent’s moves and being prepared to shut down the Ninja before it can slip through, you’ll maintain control over the game. Armed with the right strategy, Ninja of the Deep Hours won’t stand a chance against a well-prepared defense.


BurnMana Recommendations

Digging into the intricacies of Ninja of the Deep Hours unveils the nuances of its strengths and weaknesses in MTG play. This card, with its potential for card advantage and synergy with evasive tactics, is a crafty addition to any deck capitalizing on combat interactions. By considering your existing deck’s composition and the current meta, incorporating this ninja could sharpen your game plan. Gathering insights on Ninja of the Deep Hours is just the tip of the iceberg. Are you ready to dive deeper into MTG strategy and optimize your deck? Discover more strategies, card interactions, and ways to maximize your gameplay with us.


Cards like Ninja of the Deep Hours

When exploring the realm of stealthy operatives in Magic: The Gathering, Ninja of the Deep Hours stands out for its balanced blend of utility and combat prowess. One could draw parallels with Mistblade Shinobi, which also boasts a ninjutsu ability. However, Ninja of the Deep Hours adds the bonus of card draw on dealing combat damage to a player, unlike Mistblade Shinobi, which solely focuses on returning a creature to its owner’s hand.

In the same spectrum, we find Skullsnatcher, another ninja with an alternative approach. While it doesn’t facilitate card draw, it exiles cards from an opponent’s graveyard – a different kind of advantage. Then there’s Throat Slitter, bearing a higher ninjutsu cost, yet offering removal of a creature when it deals combat damage. It diverges from the card advantage theme but provides a potentially game-altering creature control.

Collectively, Ninja of the Deep Hours showcases its strength in a synergistic deck where card advantage can turn the tides of a duel. Its ninjutsu cost for a timely reveal and the added benefit of drawing a card make it a tactical asset in any game of Magic: The Gathering.

Mistblade Shinobi - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Throat Slitter - MTG Card versions
Mistblade Shinobi - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Skullsnatcher - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Throat Slitter - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Cards similar to Ninja of the Deep Hours by color, type and mana cost

Phantasmal Forces - MTG Card versions
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Wall of Vapor - MTG Card versions
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Lumengrid Drake - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Forces - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Phantom Monster - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Wall of Vapor - Chronicles (CHR)
Tradewind Rider - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Archivist - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Thieving Magpie - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Inga Rune-Eyes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Laboratory Drudge - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Johnny, Combo Player - Unhinged (UNH)
Dream Prowler - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Clone - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Cytoplast Manipulator - Dissension (DIS)
Crookclaw Transmuter - Time Spiral (TSP)
Dreamborn Muse - Tenth Edition (10E)
Turtleshell Changeling - Lorwyn (LRW)
Glen Elendra Archmage - Eventide (EVE)
Fatestitcher - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Argent Sphinx - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Lumengrid Drake - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ninja of the Deep Hours MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa and Salvat 2005, 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 Ninja of the Deep Hours and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ninja of the Deep Hours Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 2005-02-04 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Dan Scott.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-02-04Betrayers of KamigawaBOK 442003normalblackDan Scott
22005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL E62003normalwhiteDan Scott
32005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL E302003normalwhiteDan Scott
42005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL E412003normalwhiteDan Scott
52012-06-01Planechase 2012PC2 212003normalblackDan Scott
62015-11-13Commander 2015C15 992015normalblackDan Scott
72016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 212015normalblackDan Scott
82018-08-09Commander 2018C18 952015normalblackDan Scott
92019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 4462015normalblackDan Scott
102020-09-26The ListPLST C18-952015normalblackDan Scott
112021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 3131997normalblackDan Scott
122021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 2232015normalblackDan Scott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ninja of the Deep Hours has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-03-19 Although the Ninja is attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature (for purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example).
2021-03-19 As you activate a ninjutsu ability, you reveal the Ninja card in your hand and return the attacking creature. The Ninja isn’t put onto the battlefield until the ability resolves. If it leaves your hand before then, it won’t enter the battlefield at all.
2021-03-19 If a creature in combat has first strike or double strike, you can activate the ninjutsu ability during the first-strike combat damage step. The Ninja will deal combat damage during the regular combat damage step in this case, even if it has first strike.
2021-03-19 The creature put onto the battlefield with ninjutsu enters the battlefield attacking the same player or planeswalker that the returned creature was attacking. This is a rule specific to ninjutsu.
2021-03-19 The ninjutsu ability can be activated during the declare blockers step, combat damage step, or end of combat step. If you wait until after the declare blockers step, because all combat damage is dealt at once, the Ninja won’t normally deal combat damage.
2021-03-19 The ninjutsu ability can be activated only after blockers have been declared. Before then, attacking creatures are neither blocked nor unblocked.

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