Nettling Imp MTG Card


Control combat flow with Nettling Imp’s ability to force attacks at instant speed, adding tactical depth. While the Imp adds control, its reliance on opponents having creatures limits its flexibility. Its force-attack utility can be leveraged in combos that penalize tapped or attacking creatures.
Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Imp
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

Tap to force a particular one of opponent's non-wall creatures to attack. If target creature cannot attack, it is destroyed at end of turn. This tap should be played during opponent's turn, before the attack. May not be used on creatures summoned this turn.


Cards like Nettling Imp

Nettling Imp enters a unique space within Magic: The Gathering with a focus on forcing opponents’ creatures to engage in battle. Its most direct comparison could be to Roaring Primadox which also plays with the mechanic of manipulating creatures but differently, by bouncing them back to the owner’s hand each turn. Nettling Imp, taking a more direct approach, demands that target creatures with specific attributes must attack if able.

Delving deeper, one might weigh it against the likes of Icy Manipulator, a card that similarly meddles with opponent strategies but through tapping artifacts, creatures, or lands. Nettling Imp is narrower, targeting only creatures, yet it can be tactically potent by making an opponent’s creature attack at an inopportune time. There’s also the classic Creature Bond, which adds damage to a creature’s controller when it dies; although this isn’t the same lane of control, it shares the theme of turning an opponent’s creatures against them.

When evaluating Nettling Imp, its unique ability to influence combat gives it a noteworthy place among MTG control cards. It’s a potent tool that when timed precisely, can disrupt an adversary’s line of play significantly.

Roaring Primadox - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Creature Bond - MTG Card versions
Roaring Primadox - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Creature Bond - MTG Card versions

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Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Plague Rats - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Wall of Bone - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Lasher - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Husk - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nettling Imp doesn’t directly offer card advantage in the traditional sense, but its ability to force opponents to attack with a creature of your choosing can disrupt their strategy and potentially lead to advantageous trades on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: While Nettling Imp itself doesn’t accelerate resources in terms of mana, it can serve as a tactical accelerant by allowing you to control combat phases, potentially removing costly threats from the board without expending additional cards or mana.

Instant Speed: Nettling Imp’s ability can be activated at instant speed, providing a significant advantage by dictating the flow of combat on your opponent’s turn. This ensures a more strategic and calculated approach to each turn, keeping your adversaries on their toes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nettling Imp demands that you have a creature to target with its ability, potentially forcing premature plays or bluffing strategies that can backfire, especially if your opponent lacks creatures or has a superior board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring one black and two generic mana, Nettling Imp can be challenging to cast in multi-colored decks that may not consistently produce the necessary black mana in the early game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana for a 1/1 creature, Nettling Imp’s stats are underwhelming compared to other three-mana creatures, and its activated ability doesn’t quite justify the initial investment without a focused strategy.


Reasons to Include Nettling Imp in Your Collection

Versatility: Nettling Imp offers a unique form of control in black decks, allowing players to force opponents to attack with creatures they may prefer to keep back for defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: This card works well with other cards that punish tapped creatures or benefit from the opponent’s creatures attacking, thus introducing strategic layers to your gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where large, cumbersome creatures are common, Nettling Imp can be an excellent tool to disrupt your opponent’s game plan and swing the tide of the match in your favor.


How to beat

Nettling Imp is a classic creature from the early sets of Magic: The Gathering. Its unique ability to force opposing creatures to attack can be used to your advantage or become a nuisance if you’re not prepared. Overcoming the Imp’s effect involves strategic creature management and timing. A straightforward method is to remove it from the game with direct removal spells such as Murder or Path to Exile, thus nullifying its ability to dictate combat.

It’s also beneficial to control the field with creatures that have drawbacks when forced to attack, such as ones with “Echo” or “Cumulative Upkeep,” utilizing the Imp’s ability against your opponent. Additionally, creatures with “Vigilance” or “Defender” can withstand being chosen by Nettling Imp since they’re either ready to block or can’t be forced into an attack position. By accounting for these interactions, you can neutralize the strategic threat posed by Nettling Imp and maintain the upper hand in your Magic: The Gathering matchups.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nettling Imp MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Nettling Imp and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nettling Imp Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Quinton Hoover.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 1171993NormalBlackQuinton Hoover
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 1181993NormalBlackQuinton Hoover
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 1181993NormalWhiteQuinton Hoover
41993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 1181993NormalBlackQuinton Hoover
51993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 1181993NormalBlackQuinton Hoover
61994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 1191993NormalBlackQuinton Hoover
71994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 1191993NormalWhiteQuinton Hoover
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 1191993NormalWhiteQuinton Hoover
92022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 4111997NormalBlackQuinton Hoover
102022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 1142015NormalBlackQuinton Hoover

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nettling Imp has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 If the Imp leaves the battlefield before the end of the turn, the creature still is destroyed.
2004-10-04 The creature is destroyed if it does not attack because it simply can’t do so legally.
2004-10-04 You can use this effect on a creature you know won’t be able to attack. For example, you can use it on a tapped creature.
2013-09-20 If a turn has multiple combat phases, the ability can only be activated before the beginning of the declare attackers step of the first combat phase in that turn.