Nezahal, Primal Tide MTG Card


Nezahal allows for considerable card draw, keeping your hand full amidst spell-heavy matches. It’s a formidable presence that can dodge removal and survive board wipes with ease. Demands careful deck building due to its specific and substantial mana requirements.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Elder Dinosaur
Power 7
Toughness 7

Text of card

Nezahal, Primal Tide can't be countered. You have no maximum hand size. Whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell, draw a card. Discard three cards: Exile Nezahal. Return it to the battlefield tapped under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step.


Cards like Nezahal, Primal Tide

In the vast ocean of powerful creatures that Magic: The Gathering offers, Nezahal, Primal Tide stands out as a Leviathan of the deep. Much like its colossal counterparts such as Consecrated Sphinx, Nezahal excels in filling a player’s hand with a plethora of cards. While Consecrated Sphinx doubles up on card drawing by triggering off opponents’ draws, Nezahal maintains a steady stream of cards by being uncounterable and by drawing whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell.

We can also draw comparisons with Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur, another sea beast that replenishes seven cards at the end of the controller’s turn. However, Jin-Gitaxias has an upkeep cost, whereas Nezahal’s advantage is its passive survival ability to escape targeted spells by exiling itself temporarily. The card draw might not be as vast but the resilience against removal is a distinct perk. Moreover, Nezahal has no maximum hand size, akin to Reliquary Tower in creature form, enabling a vast reserve of options without the need to discard.

Analyzing these similarities and differences, Nezahal holds its ground as a formidable option for players who value resilience and consistent card advantage, securing its niche in the game’s vast ecosystem of giant aquatic monsters.

Consecrated Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur - MTG Card versions
Reliquary Tower - MTG Card versions
Consecrated Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur - MTG Card versions
Reliquary Tower - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nezahal stands out as a massive source of card advantage. It lets you draw a card whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell. In formats where spells fly thick and fast, this card can quickly replenish your hand, ensuring you never run out of options.

Resource Acceleration: While Nezahal itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, it provides an indirect form of resource acceleration by consistently filling your hand with cards, increasing your land drops and giving you more spells to play each turn. This can be likened to having an engine that constantly feeds your capability to make impactful plays.

Instant Speed: This Leviathan has an ability akin to instant speed action. It can make itself indestructible by exiling it from the battlefield, then return it to play tapped under its owner’s control at the beginning of the next end step. This not only skirts removal but allows you to dodge board wipes and reestablish board presence with relative ease, all while potentially drawing you a card if triggered by an opponent’s noncreature spell.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Nezahal Primal Tide offers the ability to become uncounterable by discarding three cards, it can be a significant setback if your hand is already depleted. This can force you to make tough decisions about resource management, possibly discarding valuable late-game power plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Nezahal’s casting cost not only demands a large amount of mana but also requires a commitment to blue mana symbols. This specific mana cost makes it a challenging fit in multicolored decks that may struggle with mana consistency, particularly for those looking to play it as early as possible.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of seven mana, Nezahal Primal Tide can be considered quite the investment. In a game where board presence and tempo are key, dedicating an entire turn to summoning Nezahal might put you behind other players utilizing more mana-efficient creatures and spells.


Reasons to Include Nezahal Primal Tide in Your Collection

Versatility: Nezahal Primal Tide serves as a dynamic tool in blue-heavy decks, capable of withstanding removal and providing consistent card draw. Its inherent protection from spells makes it a durable threat on the board.

Combo Potential: As a source of card advantage, Nezahal can easily become the cornerstone in combo decks. Its ability to draw cards whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell means it synergizes well with strategies that aim to out-resource the opposition.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta saturated with control decks, Nezahal’s cannot-be-countered clause and potential for unending card draw make it a resilient choice that can often swing games in your favor, especially in longer, grindy matches.


How to Beat Nezahal, Primal Tide

Battling against Nezahal, Primal Tide in Magic: The Gathering can feel like an uphill struggle. This formidable creature from the depths is not only a massive body on the board but also presents a unique set of challenges due to its ability to draw cards and its protection from spells. However, like all creatures in MTG, strategies exist to tip the scales in your favor.

One effective tactic is utilizing cards that force your opponent to sacrifice creatures, such as Crackling Doom or Diabolic Edict. These bypass Nezahal’s spell protection feature since they don’t target. Another approach involves playing cards that change the battlefield’s rules, like Cursed Totem or Linvala, Keeper of Silence, which prevent the activation of abilities, thus limiting Nezahal’s effectiveness.

Moreover, countering Nezahal can be achieved through board wipes—cards like Wrath of God or Damnation, which remove all creatures from the board, spell trouble for the dinosaur. And lastly, using exile effects from cards like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares as a response to Nezahal’s triggered ability can ensure it doesn’t return to haunt your game. Strategies will differ with each match-up, but knowing your options against Nezahal, Primal Tide increases your chances of success.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG means constantly adapting, and the inclusion of Nezahal Primal Tide in your deck could mark the turn of the tide in gameplay. With solid defenses against removal and a reliable card draw mechanism, Nezahal can be the keystone of your strategy in spell-heavy matches. Analyze your deck and playstyle to determine if this leviathan’s strengths align with your game plan. Whether you’re tweaking your deck’s dynamics or just aiming to diversify your collection with resilient creatures, understanding Nezahal’s potential is key. Dive deeper into our MTG resources to optimize your decks and harness the true power of Nezahal Primal Tide.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nezahal, Primal Tide MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Nezahal, Primal Tide and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nezahal, Primal Tide Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2018-01-19 and 2022-07-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-01-19Rivals of IxalanRIX 452015NormalBlackSam Burley
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 12682015NormalBlackYeong-Hao Han
32020-09-26The ListPLST RIX-452015NormalBlackSam Burley
42020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 4012015NormalBlackSam Burley
52022-07-07Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's GateHBG 9072015NormalBlackSam Burley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nezahal, Primal Tide has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-01-19 After Nezahal returns to the battlefield, it will be a new object with no connection to the creature that was exiled. It won't be in combat or have any additional abilities it may have had when it was exiled. Any +1/+1 counters on it or Auras attached to it are removed, and any Equipment will no longer be attached.
2018-01-19 Nezahal's triggered ability resolves before the noncreature spell that caused it to trigger.
2018-01-19 Players can cast spells and activate abilities after Nezahal's triggered ability resolves but before the spell that caused it to trigger does. Notably, the card you draw may be able to counter that spell or may be discarded to activate Nezahal's last ability.
2018-01-19 Your maximum hand size is checked only during the cleanup step on your turn. If Nezahal's last ability is activated before your turn's end step, it will return before your next cleanup step and you'll have no maximum hand size.