Nimana Skitter-Sneak MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Rogue
Released	2020-09-25
Set symbol
Set name	Zendikar Rising
Set code	ZNR
Power	3
Toughness	4
Number	116
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Campbell White

Key Takeaways

Nimana Skitter-Sneak becomes a formidable 4/4 creature, boosting board presence and enabling better trades.
Instant speed unblockability when controlling another Rogue offers strategic combat advantages.
Conditionality and specific mana cost can limit versatility in diverse deck builds.

Text of card

As long as an opponent has eight or more cards in their graveyard, Nimana Skitter-Sneak gets +1/+0 and has menace. (It can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.)

"When navigating dangerous terrain, one hundred legs are better than two."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nimana Skitter-Sneak can significantly affect the battlefield dynamics by transforming into a 4/4 creature whenever your party consists of four or more members. The resulting creature size can help maintain board presence, leading to potential card advantage through efficient trades with opponent creatures.

Resource Acceleration: Although Nimana Skitter-Sneak does not directly provide resource acceleration, its moderate casting cost makes it a flexible play in the mid-game, allowing players to keep up with their mana curve effectively and apply pressure without falling behind in resource development.

Instant Speed: The card’s ability to become unblockable at instant speed when you control another Rogue provides a strategic advantage. This allows players to wait for the most opportune moment to make Nimana Skitter-Sneak unblockable, potentially sneaking in crucial damage and outmaneuvering an opponent’s defenses when they least expect it.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nimana Skitter-Sneak can place players in a precarious position, particularly when it demands that you have another rogue on hand to exploit its full potential. This condition may cause an involuntary discard that could deplete valuable hand assets.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that necessitates both black and colorless mana, Nimana Skitter-Sneak is tailored for a very specific deck archetype. This restrictiveness can hamper deck flexibility and may dissuade players with a more diverse mana base from including it in their builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at four mana to summon, Nimana Skitter-Sneak comes at a steep price for its stats and abilities. When considering this alongside alternatives in the rogue category, players may find that there are other creatures that offer more attractive abilities or stats for the same or lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include Nimana Skitter-Sneak in Your Collection

Versatility: Nimana Skitter-Sneak offers adaptability in decks that thrive on cunning and stealth. Its ability to become unblockable when you have a full party ensures it can fit seamlessly into Party mechanic-based decks or those looking to exploit unblockable creatures.

Combo Potential: With its Rogue type, Nimana Skitter-Sneak can synergize with other Rogue creatures, benefiting from tribal support cards that can enhance power or offer additional benefits. This makes it a valuable piece in Rogue-focused strategies looking to capitalize on such synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where Rogues are prevalent, or where evasion is crucial due to congested battlefields, Nimana Skitter-Sneak’s ability to become unblockable can be enormously advantageous. It’s also relevant in metas with mill strategies, where having Rogues is beneficial for cards that depend on the number of creatures in the opponent’s graveyard.

How to Beat

Nimana Skitter-Sneak represents an intriguing stealth element in MTG. It thrives in decks filled with rogues, where it can become unblockable whenever your party consists of four or more creatures. Crafting a strategy to surpass this pesky card makes for an engaging challenge. One tactic to counteract Skitter-Sneak’s menace is to limit the number of creatures your opponent has. Board clear spells are highly effective in maintaining a creature count that keeps the Sneak blockable. Cards like Wrath of God or Doomskar will reset the battlefield.

Another approach is to manipulate the graveyard. Since Skitter-Sneak’s power hinges on a party mechanic that often relies on retrieving companions from the graveyard, employing graveyard hate with cards such as Scavenging Ooze or Rest in Peace can undermine this strategy. If these options fail, fallback on direct removal spells or enchantments that restrict the enemy’s creatures. Subtlety or Banishing Light can exile Skitter-Sneak before it slips through your defenses. It’s about keeping the board under control and anticipating your adversary’s next move.

Overcoming Nimana Skitter-Sneak is a matter of tactical forethought and readiness to disrupt the opponent’s party at every opportunity. Done right, you won’t just beat it – you’ll turn its sneak attack into a retreat.

Cards like Nimana Skitter-Sneak

Nimana Skitter-Sneak manifests the intrinsic stealth aspect of rogue-themed cards in Magic: The Gathering. It shares some similarities with other creatures in the Rogues faction, like Soaring Thought-Thief. Both can benefit from having eight or more cards in an opponent’s graveyard, but Nimana Skitter-Sneak transitions from a modest creature into a potent threat, becoming a 4/4 creature with menace. In contrast, Soaring Thought-Thief offers a stat boost to all Rogues and an additional card milling effect.

Furthermore, there’s Zulaport Duelist, a card providing greater early-game interaction by temporarily removing an opponent’s creature from combat and potentially setting up graveyard synergies. Nimana Skitter-Sneak, while not providing such an immediate impact, offers a sustainable late-game presence.

To sum it up, Nimana Skitter-Sneak fits well within the Rogues archetype, becoming a significant presence if the graveyard setup is achieved. It’s the kind of card that scales in power and can pivot a game in your favor, especially in matches where graveyard size becomes an asset and evasion through menace can be game-ending.

Soaring Thought-Thief - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Nimana Skitter-Sneak 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 Nimana Skitter-Sneak MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar Rising, 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 Nimana Skitter-Sneak and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nimana Skitter-Sneak has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2020-09-25	An ability that offers a bonus if an opponent has eight or more cards in their graveyard won’t provide additional benefits if more than one opponent has eight or more cards in their graveyard. There are also no additional benefits no matter how many cards are in an opponent’s graveyard, as long as there are at least eight.
2020-09-25	In a multiplayer game, once an opponent leaves the game, they won’t be considered for such an effect, no matter how many cards they had in their graveyard before leaving the game.
2020-09-25	Once a single creature has blocked Nimana Skitter-Sneak, causing it to gain menace won’t cause it to become unblocked or remove that blocking creature from combat.