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Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day

Daily Since November 2001!

Nissa, Vital Force
Image from Wizards.com

 Nissa, Vital Force
- Kaladesh

Reviewed Oct. 7, 2016

Constructed: 4.13
Casual: 4.38
Limited: 5..
Multiplayer: 4.13
Commander [EDH]: 4.25

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale:
1 - Horrible  3 - Average.  5 - Awesome

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Card of the Day Reviews 


David Fanany

Player since 1995

Nissa, Vital Force
 
Nissa has evolved somewhat, now being all about the lands - but that just means that there's always going to be a use for her, because I think lands are pretty much the one thing we can be sure of in Magic. I'm intrigued by the fact that this incarnation can go ultimate the very next turn after she comes into play, and by what exactly that involves for her: people have been talking for years about what they'd do in modern formats with some sort of card-drawing landfall trigger, and even just turning Evolving Wilds into a zero-cost Inspiration is something I never thought we'd be able to consider. Her other abilities are not the most spectacular you'll ever see, but I think they're more quietly powerful. With her -3, there's a reason why Regrowth was restricted for so many years, and her +1 is the same versatile offensive or accelerating tool we once saw with Koth. (I hope one day we get a land with an ability along the lines of "Do X whenever this land becomes tapped/untapped" so that it becomes relevant that it targets any land, not just basic land or the one corresponding to her color like with Koth!)
 
Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 5/5
Multiplayer: 4/5
EDH/Commander: 4/5
James H. Nissa, Vital Force (10/7)
 
Planeswalker no.2 of Kaladesh (so far), and possibly the best five-mana planeswalker we've seen in a while. Here, the draw is actually her ultimate, since it goes off at -6 (and she starts with 5 loyalty, with a +1); drawing a card on landfall is very powerful and has the ability to get you very far ahead. The +1 is good at protecting her to get off her ultimate, putting out a 5/5 Elemental that trades favorably with (or outright crushes) opposing attackers. Her -3 is less likely to be used, but a limited Regrowth is still very effective if you have something in your graveyard you need back.
 
Nissa probably will see play in Standard, thanks to a powerful set of abilities and decent synergy with extant decks, though 5 mana is a touch on the awkward side. Still, look out for her: she protects herself and can have a powerful effect on the board state both immediately and down the road.
 
Constructed: 4.25
Casual: 4.75
Limited: 5
Multiplayer: 4.25
Commander: 4.5

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