Bow of Nylea MTG Card


Bow of Nylea provides resource acceleration, aiding graveyard-based strategies with its unique abilities. Instant speed activated abilities give players the upper hand, allowing for strategic reactions in play. It demands careful hand management, requiring strategic gameplay to make the most of its versatility.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Enchantment Artifact

Text of card

Attacking creatures you control have deathtouch. , : Choose one — Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature; or Bow of Nylea deals 2 damage to target creature with flying; or you gain 3 life; or put up to four target cards from your graveyard on the bottom of your library in any order.


Cards like Bow of Nylea

The Bow of Nylea stands as a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering, positioned within a niche of versatile permanents. It bears resemblance to other multifaceted cards like Staff of Nin, which also offers players multiple options. Where Staff of Nin provides card advantage and a consistent damage outlet, Bow of Nylea tails a different path, presenting utility in strengthening creatures and manipulating graveyards, which can be a game changer in long, drawn-out matches.

Similar to the Bow of Nylea, Ohran Frostfang endows attacking creatures with deathtouch, converging on a strategy that influences combat in your favor. However, Frostfang has a narrower focus and excludes the graveyard interaction and life gain that the Bow offers. Then there’s Nylea, God of the Hunt, another related card that not only makes your creatures trample over opponents but is also an indestructible enchantment creature with potential for direct combat.

All in all, while there are parallels to be made, the Bow of Nylea’s diversified abilities hold it in a singular position. Its capacity to adapt to various in-game situations enables it to shine as both a tactical asset and a cornerstone of deathtouch strategies in your deck.

Staff of Nin - MTG Card versions
Ohran Frostfang - MTG Card versions
Nylea, God of the Hunt - MTG Card versions
Staff of Nin - MTG Card versions
Ohran Frostfang - MTG Card versions
Nylea, God of the Hunt - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bow of Nylea offers several modes that can replenish your resources, from putting cards back into your library to drawing an extra card, ensuring you maintain a healthy hand throughout the game.

Resource Acceleration: With the ability to put the top four cards of your library into your graveyard, Bow of Nylea can effectively fill your graveyard, paving the way for potent graveyard-based strategies and decks focused on delve, reanimation, or other graveyard synergies.

Instant Speed: Bow of Nylea’s activated abilities can be used at instant speed, granting you the flexibility to react to your opponent’s moves or optimize your own strategy during their turn without telegraphing your plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Utilizing the full potential of the Bow of Nylea often means being strategic about the cards in your hand. This can occasionally lead to tough decisions where you might need to discard a valuable card to enable a critical play or activate an ability.

Specific Mana Cost: The Bow of Nylea has a mana cost that specifically requires green mana (1 colorless and 2 green mana). This cost can restrict the Bow’s inclusion to primarily green or green-involved decks, potentially limiting its versatility in a diverse meta.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total casting cost of three mana, the Bow of Nylea comes in at a higher cost when compared to other artifacts or enchantments that provide utility or boosts to creatures. Its initial mana investment might be too steep compared to other options available in its mana range.


Reasons to Include Bow of Nylea in Your Collection

Versatility: Bow of Nylea offers a flexible toolkit that can support a variety of strategies. With its ability to distribute counters, deal damage to flying creatures, gain life, and shuffle cards from the graveyard into the library, it has a place in many decks that seek to adapt to changing board states and maintain long-term advantages.

Combo Potential: This artifact is adept at creating synergies with other cards. For instance, in decks that capitalize on +1/+1 counters, the Bow can be a key component in enhancing creatures’ strengths. Also, its graveyard recycling ability allows for the re-use of potent creatures or spells, setting the stage for powerful recurring plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that prioritizes creature combat or where players utilize graveyards for numerous strategies, Bow of Nylea’s utility can disrupt opposing plans and solidify your board presence. Its potential to counteract flying threats and the versatility offered by its modal abilities make it a relevant choice for various meta scenarios.


How to beat

The Bow of Nylea, a versatile artifact from the plane of Theros, is an iconic card that can present challenges to players across MTG formats. To effectively counter this card, you need to employ strategies that mitigate its multiple abilities. Artifact removal spells like Naturalize or Disenchant are direct answers, swiftly dealing with the Bow on the spot. Alternatively, cards that deny activated abilities, such as Pithing Needle, can prevent your opponent from utilizing the Bow to its full extent.

Considering the Bow of Nylea gives attacking creatures deathtouch, developing a board state with creatures that have high toughness or indestructible is another strategic approach. By doing so, you not only thwart the Bow’s combat benefits but also force your opponent to think twice before engaging in attacks or blocks. Lastly, having a strategy to manage your life total and anticipate graveyard interaction allows you to minimize the long-term value your opponent gleans from the Bow’s recurring effects.

Understanding and interrupting the synergies that the Bow of Nylea aims to create within your opponent’s deck is fundamental. Focus on either neutralizing the artifact itself or adapt your gameplay to circumvent the advantages it provides.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embracing the MTG battlefield with cards like Bow of Nylea can be a definitive edge in your matches. With its dynamic abilities to fortify your creatures, manage your graveyard, and enhance your strategic options, this artifact is more than just an addition; it’s a transformative force for your decks. Consider adapting your strategies to include Bow of Nylea and disrupt opposing tactics, or explore similar versatile cards to cultivate a robust gameplay experience. Dive deeper into the tactical applications of such dynamic cards in MTG. Learn more with us and tailor your deck to secure your next victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bow of Nylea MTG card by a specific set like Theros and Mystery Booster, 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 Bow of Nylea and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bow of Nylea Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-09-27 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-09-27TherosTHS 1532003NormalBlackYeong-Hao Han
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 11472003NormalBlackYeong-Hao Han
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 15042015NormalBorderlessEliz Roxs
42020-09-26The ListPLST THS-1532003NormalBlackYeong-Hao Han

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bow of Nylea has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2013-09-15 You choose which mode you're using as you activate the ability.