Nissa's Pilgrimage MTG Card


Deck thinning and accelerated mana access make it a strategic asset in green decks. Spell mastery can potentially drop an extra Forest onto the battlefield. A high mana cost is a trade-off for the long-term gain of additional lands.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Abilities Spell mastery

Text of card

Search your library for up to two basic Forest cards, reveal those cards, and put one onto the battlefield tapped and the rest into your hand. Then shuffle your library. Spell mastery — If there are two or more instant and/or sorcery cards in your graveyard, search your library for up to three basic Forest cards instead of two.


Cards like Nissa's Pilgrimage

Nissa’s Pilgrimage is an integral piece of the ramp puzzle for many green decks in Magic: The Gathering, akin to other mana acceleration cards. Its closest kin is perhaps Cultivate, a card that also allows a player to search their library for two basic land cards. Where Nissa’s Pilgrimage gains an edge is through its spell mastery feature which can fetch an additional land if there are enough instant and sorcery cards in the graveyard, providing a potential land boost.

Another related card is Kodama’s Reach, mirroring the mechanics of Cultivate with the same mana cost and effect. It doesn’t, however, ensure the land acceleration that Nissa’s Pilgrimage might with its spell mastery capability. Then we have Sakura-Tribe Elder, a creature that can be sacrificed for an extra land. While it offers versatility as a creature that can block or attack, it typically secures only one land compared to the potentially three from Nissa’s Pilgrimage.

Each of these cards offers valuable mana ramp for players, but Nissa’s Pilgrimage stands out for its unique ability to scale its effect later in the game. It’s a testament to the strategic depth and varying advantages that certain ramp cards provide to MTG players.

Cultivate - MTG Card versions
Kodama's Reach - MTG Card versions
Sakura-Tribe Elder - MTG Card versions
Cultivate - MTG Card versions
Kodama's Reach - MTG Card versions
Sakura-Tribe Elder - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Nissa's Pilgrimage by color, type and mana cost

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Tranquility - MTG Card versions
Seeds of Innocence - MTG Card versions
Fallow Earth - MTG Card versions
Untamed Wilds - MTG Card versions
Wing Snare - MTG Card versions
Squall - MTG Card versions
Deep Reconnaissance - MTG Card versions
Long Rest - MTG Card versions
Rosethorn Acolyte // Seasonal Ritual - MTG Card versions
Cultivate - MTG Card versions
Lovestruck Beast // Heart's Desire - MTG Card versions
Deconstruct - MTG Card versions
Gift of the Gargantuan - MTG Card versions
Trip Wire - MTG Card versions
Kodama's Reach - MTG Card versions
Alluring Scent - MTG Card versions
Lair Delve - MTG Card versions
Search for Tomorrow - MTG Card versions
Culling Mark - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Nissa's Pilgrimage. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
GG PioneerPioneer League 2024-05-13

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nissa’s Pilgrimage is a smart play for those aiming to optimize their deck’s performance. By searching for up to three Forest cards, you not only ensure land drops in subsequent turns but also thin your deck, increasing the likelihood of drawing into non-land cards that can potentially turn the tide of the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: This card excels in ramping up your mana resources. It puts one Forest card onto the battlefield and potentially a second into your hand, accelerating your mana availability. And if you have spell mastery, a third Forest card goes directly on the battlefield tapped, pushing your resource acceleration even further and speeding up your game plan.

Instant Speed: While Nissa’s Pilgrimage doesn’t operate at instant speed, its sorcery speed is offset by its high impact on the game. When timed correctly, say after a board clear or before a crucial turn, it sets up your future plays seamlessly, allowing you to deploy threats earlier than usual or keep up with the needs of high-demand decks.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While this isn’t applicable to Nissa’s Pilgrimage, the need to discard can be a common downside in many spell cards that can hinder your strategy, especially when you’re already facing resource scarcity.

Specific Mana Cost: Nissa’s Pilgrimage requires a specific mana cost, which includes two green mana. This can be restrictive, as it demands a more focused manabase, potentially limiting the card’s inclusion in multicolored decks that may not prioritize green.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Searching for basic Forest cards is handy, yet with a cost of three mana (two of which are green-specific), players might find the cost high when considering alternative ramp or color-fixing options available at lower mana costs that potentially offer more immediate board impact or versatility.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Nissa’s Pilgrimage offers flexibility for decks that ramp up mana. It’s a great addition to green-based decks that aim to cast high-cost spells ahead of the curve, setting a solid foundation for mid to late-game dominance.

Combo Potential: The spell mastery aspect of this card can further amplify its impact by retrieving an additional land. It synchronizes well with landfall mechanics or any strategy that benefits from having numerous lands in play or in hand.

Meta-Relevance: With frequent fluctuations in the competitive scene, Nissa’s Pilgrimage maintains relevance by ensuring that your mana base keeps pace with the most resource-intensive plays, helping you stay on par or ahead in the arms race of land development.


How to beat Nissa’s Pilgrimage

Nissa’s Pilgrimage is a powerful ramp card that helps Magic: The Gathering players accelerate their mana production and thin their deck by searching for basic Forest cards. This card shines in green-based ramp or mono-green decks, providing an efficient way to access larger and more impactful spells earlier in the game. To effectively counter this card, disrupting the opponents’ mana base becomes imperative.

Strategic use of land destruction spells or cards like Ghost Quarter that force the opponent to sacrifice their lands can slow down the ramp that Nissa’s Pilgrimage provides. Additionally, incorporating graveyard disruption can be beneficial since the Spell Mastery aspect of Nissa’s Pilgrimage puts a Forest card into the graveyard first. Cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can prevent opponents from gaining the full advantage of their graveyard strategies, including future plays with Nissa’s Pilgrimage.

Dealing with Nissa’s Pilgrimage also involves putting pressure on your opponent early in the game. Faster aggro or disruptive tempo decks can outpace the ramp strategy by presenting threats that require an immediate answer, reducing the value of setting up with Nissa’s Pilgrimage.


BurnMana Recommendations

For MTG players who’ve gained insight into Nissa’s Pilgrimage, recognizing its value in enhancing deck performance is key. Root your strategy in proven tactics; ensure land drops, ramp up your mana, and exploit the synergy with landfall mechanics. Stay aware of mana cost and restrictiveness, preparing for diverse game plans. Remember, whether strengthening your green-based deck or evaluating ample mana acceleration, knowledge is power. Curious about maximizing your game and incorporating Nissa’s Pilgrimage more effectively? Dive deeper with us and harness the strategic advantage that can lead you to victory in your next MTG challenge.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nissa's Pilgrimage MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Origins, 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 Nissa's Pilgrimage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nissa's Pilgrimage Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2017-08-25. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 596772015NormalBlackChristine Choi
22015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 1902015NormalBlackMatt Stewart
32016-01-01Friday Night Magic 2016F16 12015NormalBlackChristine Choi
42017-08-25Commander 2017C17 1552015NormalBlackMatt Stewart

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nissa's Pilgrimage has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2015-06-22 Check to see if there are two or more instant and/or sorcery cards in your graveyard as the spell resolves to determine whether the spell mastery ability applies. The spell itself won’t count because it’s still on the stack as you make this check.
2015-06-22 If the spell mastery ability applies, and you find three basic Forest cards, one of them will be put onto the battlefield tapped and two of them will be put into your hand.
2015-06-22 If you only find one basic Forest card, you’ll put it onto the battlefield tapped. You won’t be able to put it into your hand, even if you want to.