Nimbus Wings MTG Card


Nimbus Wings - Zendikar
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant
Released2009-10-02
Set symbol
Set nameZendikar
Set codeZEN
Number28
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byChris Rahn

Key Takeaways

  1. Enriches creatures with flying, creating tactical combat opportunities and evading ground blockers effectively.
  2. Strategically played can mimic instant-speed effects, adding a layer of combat surprise and interaction.
  3. Enchantment carries the risk of a two-for-one loss if the enchanted creature is removed, necessitating careful play.

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +1/+2 and has flying.

Explorers may find ways into the Sky Ruin, but they find its secrets well protected by shifting hedrons and Roil winds.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nimbus Wings adds a layer of utility to your creature, effectively creating a more robust board presence without losing a card from hand. This enchantment boosts your creature’s capabilities, while still maintaining your card count.

Resource Acceleration: Attaching Nimbus Wings to a mana dork or any creature that taps for mana can accelerate your resources, giving the now flying creature a better chance at avoiding ground blockers and enabling more consistent resource generation.

Instant Speed: Though Nimbus Wings is not an instant itself, it benefits from the inherent bluffing and tactical advantages of instant-speed interactions. Equipping it during your main phase can give a surprise advantage during combat, akin to instant-speed tricks, enhancing its strategic use in many game scenarios.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Nimbus Wings don’t require discarding as an intrinsic downside, players should be cautious about which cards they choose to enchant. Selecting a creature that is easily removed from play can lead to an unintentional disadvantage, essentially discarding the Nimbus Wings as well.

Specific Mana Cost: Nimbus Wings demands a white mana, which may not be a stretch for mono-white or two-color decks, but it can complicate the mana base for more diverse deck builds. This specific mana requirement can sometimes restrict the inclusion of Nimbus Wings in a wider variety of decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: One white and one generic mana for an aura that provides a mere +1/+2 and flying might not be the most efficient use of mana, especially when other enchantments or creatures may offer similar benefits for less or provide additional abilities.


Reasons to Include Nimbus Wings in Your Collection

Versatility: Nimbus Wings can be seamlessly incorporated into a variety of decks, especially those looking for an inexpensive way to give creatures a considerable advantage in the air.

Combo Potential: This enchantment amplifies synergies with cards that reward you for casting enchantments or benefit from having creatures with flying.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the landscape often sees creatures battling it out on the ground, equipping your forces with Nimbus Wings can give you the upper hand by taking the fight to the skies, bypassing many common blockers.


How to beat

Nimbus Wings is a versatile Aura that can quickly turn any creature into a significant aerial threat in Magic: The Gathering. It offers a straightforward way to enhance creatures, giving them +1/+2 and flying. Although defeating a creature with Nimbus Wings may seem daunting, there are several effective strategies to consider. One of the fundamental tactics is to focus on removal spells that can target either the Aura itself or the creature it’s attached to. Instant speed removal like Naturalize or Disenchant can be particularly useful as it disrupts your opponent’s plans during their turn, maximizing the surprise element.

Another approach is to employ board control cards that neutralize the benefits of Nimbus Wings, such as cards that deny flying, like Gravity Sphere, or cards that prevent damage from creatures with flying. Lastly, countering the spell outright with cards like Negate ensures Nimbus Wings never hits the battlefield. By maintaining a selection of these cards in your deck, you can considerably diminish the impact of this and other similar enchantments, keeping the skies clear for your victory.


Cards like Nimbus Wings

Nimbus Wings is a unique enchantment in the realm of Magic the Gathering. It enriches a creature with flying and gives a slight power boost. When juxtaposed with other creature enchantments like Spectral Flight, which also grants flying, Nimbus Wings proves versatile due to its lower mana cost. On the flip side, Spectral Flight offers a greater increase in power.

Looking at another parallel, Ephemeral Wings brings similarity to the table by bestowing flight, yet it stands out with its Blink ability, allowing reapplication for strategic advantage, despite being less cost-effective than Nimbus Wings. Then there’s Griffin Guide, which not only adds flying but also ensures the creature comes back stronger if it perishes in combat. The bonus of leaving behind a token makes Griffin Guide a noteworthy alternative.

In the comparison of aerial enhancements, Nimbus Wings offers a balanced mix of affordability and functionality, making it a commendable choice for decks that aim to elevate their creatures swiftly and efficiently.

Spectral Flight - MTG Card versions
Griffin Guide - MTG Card versions
Spectral Flight - Innistrad (ISD)
Griffin Guide - Time Spiral (TSP)

Cards similar to Nimbus Wings by color, type and mana cost

Blessing - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Red - MTG Card versions
Island Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: White - MTG Card versions
Crusade - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Blue - MTG Card versions
Hallowed Ground - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Artifacts - MTG Card versions
Energy Storm - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Black - MTG Card versions
Ward of Lights - MTG Card versions
Gossamer Chains - MTG Card versions
I'm Rubber, You're Glue - MTG Card versions
Absolute Grace - MTG Card versions
Serenity - MTG Card versions
Mageta's Boon - MTG Card versions
Seal of Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Absolute Law - MTG Card versions
Sacred Ground - MTG Card versions
Pacifism - MTG Card versions
Blessing - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Circle of Protection: Red - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Island Sanctuary - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Circle of Protection: White - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Crusade - Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Tezzeret (DDF)
Circle of Protection: Blue - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Hallowed Ground - Ice Age (ICE)
Circle of Protection: Artifacts - Renaissance (REN)
Energy Storm - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Circle of Protection: Black - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Ward of Lights - Mirage (MIR)
Gossamer Chains - Visions (VIS)
I'm Rubber, You're Glue - Unglued (UGL)
Absolute Grace - Urza's Saga (USG)
Serenity - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Mageta's Boon - Prophecy (PCY)
Seal of Cleansing - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Absolute Law - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Sacred Ground - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Pacifism - Duel Decks: Divine vs. Demonic (DDC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nimbus Wings MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar, 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 Nimbus Wings and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nimbus Wings has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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