Nymph

Nymph
Creature Type
(Subtype for creature/kindred cards)
Statistics	18 cards 16.7% 16.7% 16.7% 16.7% 22.2% 5.6% 5.6% as of Modern Horizons 2
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type:"Nymph"

Nymph is a creature type used on cards that depict divine spirits who animate nature, in the form of beautiful, young nubile maidens (though some Theros nymphs are male) who love to dance and sing.

History

In Greek mythology, a nymph (νύμφη, nymphē) is a minor female nature deity typically associated with a particular location or landform. Different from goddesses, they are believed to dwell in mountains and groves, by springs and rivers, and also in trees and in valleys and cool grottoes. Although they would never die of old age nor illness and could give birth to fully immortal children if mated to a god, they themselves were not necessarily immortal. These nymphs are the frequent target of satyrs.

The first Magic card to bear the creature type was Shanodin Dryads from Alpha. The subtype nymph was obsoleted in Sixth Edition and replaced by Dryad. However, the type was reinstated for the Theros block where they appear as enchantment creatures in all five colors. As Dryads are one of the five species of Nymphs, they have a double creature type in the Theros block (Nymph Dryad). In the Theros update of the comprehensive rules, Shanodin Dryads also gained the double type.

Storyline

Theros

On Theros, nymphs were intentionally created by the gods and can act as companions, messengers, guardians, or scouts. All nymphs demonstrate the "infusion" of the night sky that all the gods have in common, it's taken as evidence that they are servants of the gods, native to Nyx, and only visiting the sunlit, mortal world at the gods' behest. Most are benevolent and associated with healing or other life-giving magic, but dark nymphs dwell near the entrances to the Underworld and in places of great sorrow as well. Nymphs of all kinds pay homage to Nylea, Goddess of the Hunt.

Alseids

Alseids are white-aligned land nymphs that inhabit meadows. They protect flocks and are in closer proximity to human civilization than any of the other nymphs.

Naiads

Naiads are blue-aligned water nymphs which are found in the streams and grottos of the Nistos Forest. Naiads also make their home on isolated beaches and shorelines, although they prefer areas with more cover.

Lampads

Lampads are black-aligned Underworld nymphs that help Athreos in guiding the dead. They sometimes bear torches that burn violet.

Oreads

Oreads are mountain nymphs, and their characteristics mirror the mountain they inhabit. Those that dwell on wooded mountains, such as the Spearpoint Oread, are skilled at hunting and navigating the mountain, and are able to produce valuable rocks and minerals. The fiery volcano oreads are the most aggressive and dangerous nymphs. Purphoros is fond of the company of all types of oreads, and they take part in wild satyr bakkeia.

Dryads

Nylea has created many green-aligned plant nymphs, and her followers can be found throughout the Nistos and Skola regions.

Notable nymphs

• Arasta — formerly a dryad and companion to Nylea who has been transformed into a humanoid spider by Phenax.
• Kestia — the overseer of fertile fields, crop growth, and irrigation on Theros.
• Sythis — the most powerful agent of Karametra, referred to as her 'daughter'.

Game play

There is a common cycle of nymphs in Theros. They are all 2/2 enchantment creatures with bestow. As auras, each provides +2/+2 and another ability which they themselves have. — Observant Alseid, Nimbus Naiad, Cavern Lampad, Spearpoint Oread, and Leafcrown Dryad.

Another cycle of nymphs is printed Journey into Nyx These are also all enchantment creatures, but have constellation instead of bestow. — Harvestguard Alseids, Whitewater Naiads, Dreadbringer Lampads, Forgeborn Oreads, Oakheart Dryads

Theros Beyond Death brings the third cycle of Nymphs, again enchantment creatures. There is no mechanical linkage and the cycle spans three rarities, but all have flavor text attributed to a Meletian poet Psamilla.