Nightmare Shepherd MTG Card


Nightmare Shepherd turns creature deaths into opportunities for creating 1/1 copies, maintaining board presence. Its ability integrates well with sacrifice strategies, offering a chance to pivot during opponents’ turns. Demands strategic deck construction due to specific mana requirements and potential delayed impact.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment Creature — Demon
Abilities Flying
Power 4
Toughness 4

Text of card

Flying Whenever another nontoken creature you control dies, you may exile it. If you do, create a token that's a copy of that creature, except it's 1/1 and it's a Nightmare in addition to its other types.


Cards like Nightmare Shepherd

Nightmare Shepherd is a unique creature card that resonates with players who enjoy manipulating the graveyard in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to exile a creature when it dies and create a token copy with a power and toughness of 1/1 sets it apart. This functionality is akin to the effects found on cards like Mimic Vat, which also creates token copies, albeit with an artifact’s involvement and additional mana cost requirements.

Another relative to this card is Whip of Erebos, which also deals with creatures in the graveyard by giving them pseudo-reincarnation and lifelink, although its effect is temporary and the creatures don’t stay on the battlefield as tokens. Luminous Broodmoth is a creature that offers a similar resurrection mechanic, granting flying to the returned creatures, symbolizing a transformative rebirth, yet unlike Nightmare Shepherd, doesn’t create a token but brings the actual creatures back on the battlefield.

In comparing these options, Nightmare Shepherd provides a seamless synergy with sacrifice and death-triggered mechanics, fitting perfectly into decks that capitalize on such interactions. This places the card in a prominent position for players designing strategies around enduring value from their deceased creatures.

Mimic Vat - MTG Card versions
Whip of Erebos - MTG Card versions
Luminous Broodmoth - MTG Card versions
Mimic Vat - MTG Card versions
Whip of Erebos - MTG Card versions
Luminous Broodmoth - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Nightmare Shepherd by color, type and mana cost

Cursed Land - MTG Card versions
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Lich - MTG Card versions
Nether Void - MTG Card versions
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Feast of the Unicorn - MTG Card versions
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Grave Pact - MTG Card versions
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Tainted Aether - MTG Card versions
Strands of Night - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Desire - MTG Card versions
Nefarious Lich - MTG Card versions
Cursed Land - MTG Card versions
Pestilence - MTG Card versions
Lich - MTG Card versions
Nether Void - MTG Card versions
Breeding Pit - MTG Card versions
Greed - MTG Card versions
Takklemaggot - MTG Card versions
Feast of the Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Koskun Falls - MTG Card versions
Grave Pact - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Servitude - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Embrace - MTG Card versions
Vile Requiem - MTG Card versions
Parasitic Bond - MTG Card versions
Brink of Madness - MTG Card versions
Death Pit Offering - MTG Card versions
Tainted Aether - MTG Card versions
Strands of Night - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Desire - MTG Card versions
Nefarious Lich - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Abzan MidrangeAbzan Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 10 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nightmare Shepherd creates an avenue for card advantage by allowing you to essentially clone your creatures when they die. Each non-token creature that hits the graveyard under your control will give you a 1/1 copy with the same abilities, thus helping you maintain board presence and gaining incremental value over time.

Resource Acceleration: This four-mana creature can be a catalyst for resource acceleration in enchantment and reanimator decks. By utilizing the 1/1 copies created by the Shepherd’s ability, you can fuel various synergies and combos, converting demise into a resource and potentially setting up powerful plays much earlier than normal.

Instant Speed: While Nightmare Shepherd itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with instant-speed sacrifice outlets or flash creatures, allowing you to respond to opponent’s actions by sacrificing your creatures on your terms. This strategic flexibility can catch opponents off guard and ensures that you extract value from your creatures even in the face of exile effects or board wipes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Utilizing Nightmare Shepherd’s ability means sacrificing a nontoken creature, which might strain your resources if not timed well or lacking sufficient creature cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Nightmare Shepherd demands both black and generic mana, requiring careful mana base construction, especially in multicolored decks, potentially limiting its inclusion.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring four mana, including two black, might delay gameplay impact, with other cards potentially offering immediate board presence or tempo advantage at the same cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Nightmare Shepherd offers a flexible role in any deck that leverages creature synergies. Its ability to recreate creatures from the graveyard gives it a natural fit in both aggressive and control strategies alike.

Combo Potential: This card excels in setups that are designed to exploit enter the battlefield effects or death triggers. With Nightmare Shepherd, you’re essentially doubling the impact of your creatures’ abilities, leading to potential game-winning combos.

Meta-Relevance: Given its unique ability to generate token copies, Nightmare Shepherd holds its ground in a variety of meta games. Particularly in environments where creature-based strategies are prevalent, this card can be a game-changer by offering resilience against board wipes and spot removals.


How to beat

Nightmare Shepherd is a unique card in MTG that can give players a significant advantage by creating token copies of creatures that die. Overcoming this enchanting demon requires strategic removal and timing. Targeted removal spells that exile, such as Path to Exile or Scavenging Ooze’s ability, can prevent the Shepherd’s ability from triggering. Silence effects, like Hushbringer, can also shut down the Shepherd, negating the ability of triggered creature tokens to enter the battlefield upon a non-token creature’s death.

Moreover, board wipes that exile, rather than destroy, ensure creatures don’t return as copies. Playing around the Shepherd entails recognizing the key moments to disturb your opponent’s board without enabling their strategy. Consider applying pressure that forces the opponent to make unfavorable blocks, thus making their Shepherd less effective. Adjusting your play style to apply constant pressure while keeping exile-based removal in hand is often crucial for outmaneuvering Nightmare Shepherd’s persistent presence on the battlefield.

Ultimately, it’s about disrupting your opponent’s game plan while advancing your own. Respecting the power of Nightmare Shepherd but not allowing it to dictate the pace of the game will give you a greater chance of securing victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

After dissecting the strengths and weaknesses of Nightmare Shepherd, it’s clear that the card is an asset to players seeking to capitalize on creature death triggers. For enthusiasts aiming to push their strategic depth further, Nightmare Shepherd is a cornerstone piece for decks emphasizing graveyard play and token generation. Its ability to sustain a heavy board presence even after mass removal is invaluable and supports various archetypes. If you’re intrigued by the prospect of turning loss into advantage, refining your deck with the versatile Nightmare Shepherd might be your next big play. Dive deeper into its vast potential and discover new, thrilling ways to outmaneuver your opponents, ensuring your creatures leave a lasting impression, even beyond their demise.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nightmare Shepherd MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Theros Beyond Death Promos, 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 Nightmare Shepherd and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nightmare Shepherd Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-01-24 and 2020-01-24. Illustrated by Tyler Jacobson.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 799052015NormalBlackTyler Jacobson
22020-01-24Theros Beyond Death PromosPTHB 108s2015NormalBlackTyler Jacobson
32020-01-24Theros Beyond Death PromosPTHB 108p2015NormalBlackTyler Jacobson
42020-01-24Theros Beyond DeathTHB 3152015NormalBlackTyler Jacobson
52020-01-24Theros Beyond DeathTHB 1082015NormalBlackTyler Jacobson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nightmare Shepherd 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 Nightmare Shepherd 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 Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the copied creature will trigger when the token enters the battlefield. Any “as
-his creature] enters the battlefield” or “
-his creature] enters the battlefield with” abilities of the creature will also work.
2020-01-24 If something becomes a copy of the token, the copy is also a 1/1 and a Nightmare.
2020-01-24 If the copied creature had in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.
2020-01-24 If the copied creature was copying something else, then the token enters the battlefield as whatever that creature copied.
2020-01-24 If the token is a copy of a creature whose power and toughness are defined by an ability (usually printed as */* or similar), the token doesn’t copy the ability that defines its power and toughness. It remains a 1/1 creature.
2020-01-24 The token copies exactly what was printed on the original creature and nothing else (unless that creature is copying something else; see below). It doesn’t copy whether that creature was tapped or untapped, whether it had any counters on it or Auras or Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that had changed its power, toughness, types, color, or so on.
2020-01-24 The token copies the creature as it last existed on the battlefield before it died, not as it existed in the graveyard before it was exiled.