Nexus Wardens MTG Card


Nexus Wardens synergizes with enchantments, granting lifegain that fuels card advantage and strategic depth. While color-restricted and potentially costly, it provides a defense against aggressive strategies with consistent life gain. Effective against Nexus Wardens includes bypassing its reach, using removal, and countering its enchantment synergy.
Nexus Wardens - Theros Beyond Death
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Satyr Archer
Abilities Constellation,Reach
Released2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set nameTheros Beyond Death
Set codeTHB
Power 1
Toughness 4
Number184
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDan Scott

Text of card

Reach Constellation — Whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, you gain 2 life.

The Summer Nexus is a holy grove in Setessa where the starfields of Nyx glitter in the shadows.


Cards like Nexus Wardens

Nexus Wardens steps onto the field as a unique defender in the enchantment-centric decks of Magic: The Gathering. Similar to other creatures such as Wall of Omens, it provides a defensive body that can shield players from early aggression. Unlike Wall of Omens, which grants an immediate card draw upon entering the battlefield, Nexus Wardens offers a consistent life gain advantage with its ability to gain life whenever an enchantment enters under your control.

Considering Overgrown Battlement, it too is a defender with an ability tied to similar creatures; however, it focuses on mana ramping rather than life gain. While Nexus Wardens provides incremental health boost, Overgrown Battlement offers the potential for explosive plays by generating green mana for each defender you control. Courser of Kruphix serves as another comparison point. Although not a defender, it presents a repeated deck filtering benefit alongside a modest life gain whenever a land enters the battlefield, offering a different approach to value generation in creature form.

Ultimately, what sets Nexus Wardens apart in decks revolving around enchantments is its synergy with multiple instances of enchantment casting. It’s this distinctive life-gaining feature that enables it to shine in specific strategic setups, making it a card worth considering for players who enjoy a more enchantment-driven playstyle in Magic: The Gathering.

Wall of Omens - MTG Card versions
Overgrown Battlement - MTG Card versions
Courser of Kruphix - MTG Card versions
Wall of Omens - MTG Card versions
Overgrown Battlement - MTG Card versions
Courser of Kruphix - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Nexus Wardens. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Selesnya AurasSelesnya Auras GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 09 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nexus Wardens stand out by offering repeated life gain which pairs well with enchantments, setting the stage for drawing additional cards in decks that leverage life as a resource. This synergy amplifies card advantage as you consistently gain value from the life gain triggers.

Resource Acceleration: Although Nexus Wardens don’t directly produce mana or tokens, their consistent life gain can be an enabler for other cards that translate life into resources, indirectly contributing to resource acceleration in the right deck build.

Instant Speed: While Nexus Wardens themselves are a creature card and not played at instant speed, their ability triggers during any phase. This allows you to gain life on your terms, often in response to enchantment spells that can be played at instant speed, giving you flexibility and surprise defense against aggressive strategies.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nexus Wardens demands a strategy focused on enchantments, potentially necessitating the discard of valuable non-enchantment cards from your hand to leverage its ability, which can lead to a decreased hand quality and versatility.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that demands green mana, the Nexus Wardens are restricted in terms of deck inclusion, often requiring a commitment to green-centric or multicolored mana bases, potentially reducing the card’s synergy in decks not oriented around this color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Priced at three mana for a 1/4 creature, the Nexus Wardens sit at a mana cost that might be considered heavy for players prioritizing speed and efficiency. For decks aiming at a lower curve, other creatures may offer similar defensive benefits without as much of a mana investment.


Reasons to Include Nexus Wardens in Your Collection

Versatility: Nexus Wardens slots into a variety of MTG decks, particularly those that revolve around enchantments. Its ability to gain life whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control makes it a valuable addition to enchantment-centered strategies or in decks that seek a lifegain component.

Combo Potential: This card excels in synergy with strategies that play numerous enchantments, essentially turning each enchantment cast into a small life boost. This can be crucial for surviving against aggressive decks and can be a part of a combo to trigger beneficial effects every time you gain life.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where aggro decks are prevalent, including Nexus Wardens can be a smart move. The consistent lifegain helps to stabilize your health while you set up your board, making it tougher for opponents to race you down. Its presence on the battlefield can also deter attacks, providing a passive defensive advantage.


How to Beat Nexus Wardens

Nexus Wardens serves as a steadfast line of defense in many MTG decks, offering both a deterrent against flying creatures and a reliable source of life gain whenever an enchantment hits the board. While this card can bolster the resilience of enchantment-heavy strategies, knowing how to dismantle its advantages is key to overcoming your opponent’s defenses.

One effective tactic is to employ spells that can bypass the Wardens’ reach trait, or to utilize enchantment removal to disrupt the synergy and life gain. Creature removals like Doom Blade or board wipes such as Shatter the Sky can clear the way for your strategy to unfold uninhibited. Moreover, utilizing counterplay cards like Negate ensures that Nexus Wardens never even enters the battlefield, maintaining the tempo in your favor. Another angle is to leverage cards that offer life loss irrespective of creature damage, sidestepping Nexus Wardens’ defensive utility entirely. In essence, with strategic planning and the right countermeasures, you can mitigate the impact of Nexus Wardens and press on to secure victory in your MTG games.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nexus Wardens MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 Nexus Wardens and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nexus Wardens has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-01-24 A constellation ability triggers whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control for any reason. Enchantments with other card types, such as enchantment creatures, will also cause constellation abilities to trigger.
2020-01-24 An Aura spell that has an illegal target when it tries to resolve doesn’t resolve and is instead put into its owner’s graveyard. It doesn’t enter the battlefield, so constellation abilities don’t trigger.