Nightstalker
- This page is about the creature type. For the theme deck, see Nightstalkers (deck).
| Nightstalker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Creature Type | |
| (Subtype for creature/kindred cards) | |
| Introduced |
Legends (updated) Portal Second Age (printed) |
| Last used | Prophecy |
| Scryfall Statistics | |
Nightstalker is a creature type and species.
Description
Nightstalkers are malevolent black-mana entities from Dominaria. They are roughly humanoid, but have elongated limbs, spiked hair and long, sharp teeth.
History
The Shimian Night Stalker was printed in Legends with the creature type Night Stalker, as were the Nightstalkers of Mirage. After the appearance of Nightstalkers in Portal Second Age which had the creature type as one word, the disparity was straightened out in the Grand Creature Type Update.
At some timepoint the cards would have been considered Night-Stalker with a hyphen, but were never printed as such. But this would've been the official text at the time to show that Night and Stalker weren't separate creature types. Later, the creature type was simply written together as one word.
Storyline
Nightstalkers are most prolific in Dakmor, where they were magically created servants of the swamp queen Tojira. They ride large mechanical beasts, which they use to attack the Alaborn. Weapons were given to them by Tojira.
Nightstalkers were also found on Urborg, although they were much more spirit-like than the nightstalkers of Caliman. They were the minions of Kaervek, serving as assassins in his attempt to conquer Jamuraa. The most feared of these were the Breathstealers, who remained a threat in Suq'Ata even after Kaervek's defeat, infamously killing the Suq'Atan vizier Qhattib of Amiqat. They worshipped the mysterious Spirit of the Night.
Nightstalkers are also common in Shimia. A Shimian Night Stalker was once summoned by Palladia-Mors using a Black Mana Battery.
Trivia
The original name for Spirit of the Night was "Spirit of the Nightstalker". It was too long, so it got cut down during editing.[1][2]
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 23, 2020). "How Trivial". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 9, 2023). "Trivial Pursuit: What's in a Name?". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
