This card should be rare, but ill take it, and love it :) vamps are finally here with lots of low cost goodies mmm mm!
Laguz
★☆☆☆☆ (1.7/5.0)(3 votes)
Amazing p/t and set of abilities for the low casting cost, and great artwork to back it up. The vampire deck is going to be absolutely sick. Turn one Vampire Lacerator, Turn three Nighthawk. Imagine this in vintage or legacy with legal dark ritual!
Why can't this be in my colors? I hate black.
Lestat13
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(3 votes)
One of two great consistent vampire fliers you gain life with it swinging overhead AND I can use it to kill any 8/8 for six? Be glad it's uncommon.
madformedusa
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(6 votes)
Yet another overpowered vampire! Wizards is really pushing mon-black vampire tribal. I wonder why???
True_Mumin
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(5 votes)
Crazy good. This dude is the main reason Vampires will be a viable deck in standard now. 5/5
mkniffen
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(6 votes)
why the hell would they print this? It would be overpowered with just 2 of those abilities. I thought the power creep was going to stop when lowyn block left type 2.
Volcre
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(5 votes)
Hate this card... so damn powerful
DeviousPie
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(13 votes)
Hurloon Minotaur when he went evil and got superpowers. Kinda like Spiderman.
LeoKula
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(6 votes)
Again, broken and should be mythic rare. Just can't believe this is uncommon.
Blue is the number one colour for flyers and you don't get a 2/3 flyer with 3 mana without a drawback, what say lifelink and deathtouch!
In my opinion, most powerful card in the entire set.
MilfHunter
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
My prerelease went like this- Turn 1 Lacerator, Turn 2 two more Lacerators, Turn 3 NightHawk. WTF! So broken.
Spideredd
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I love this card, and as soon as I saw it, I had to have four.
But I have one question, why does this not cost ? It has three Good abilities and a solid 2/3 body.
pervythemilkman
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(7 votes)
This will easily be the most sought-after uncommon in zendikar. I pulled one in my prerelease and I couldn't believe my eyes. Its even better than kitchen finks, and in a vampire deck....I could only imagine how horrible it could be against the opponent. It could win the game all by itself.
djpraiseadelik
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
So powerful that two of these kicked out two hippies (Hypnotic Specters) in my red/black burn and discard deck and paved the way for a double pair of Goblin Artillery to make it in. Enough said.
so, now it is a 2/3 flying lifelinking deathtoucher, with double strike and a pump ability
your opponent blinks and scoops at that point, cause you can just go, "I will have my nighthawk attack, oh and, your really big creature, yeah that (insert huge creature w/ flying) it must block her"
and the best part, she has to be blocked by 3 creatures if your opponent has any chance of killing her, and the third must be a 7+ power creature to have a chance at killing it
the other 2 cards, well, lets pump her up by 2 each and give her haste or regenerate so she can block anything, and live, sure it is 3 colors, but remember jund, the BRG shard, those are the 3 colors, plus green helps with some nasty landfall
in all, I really like this card, under mana priced for what it is we all need 4 for any deck that has black, even a small splash
Mode
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(4 votes)
Apparently Vampires lately have the license of being some sort of black weenie. If that's not a vanilla creature i don't know what it is. Ohai thar, powercreep!
Of course, black still won't get 3/3 bodies for , but who cares if you can simply get a 2/3 death-touching, life-absorbing flyer for ?
Pantheon
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(15 votes)
This is the best uncommon 3 drop for black ever printed. Power creep indeed! Compared to the other black 3 drop flyers this is by far the stand-out card.
A black french vanilla 2/3 with no drawback would be a steal at 3 cmc, so to have one with 2 additional abilities is great, especially when those abilities are Deathtouch and Lifelink. 5 star card. No question.
JaxsonBateman
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
As has been mentioned, this card is insanely good. 2/3 flier with lifelink and deathtouch? Hell yeah. For some reason I initially included two Children of the Night and two of these in my vampire deck, but for one mana, Child of the Night doesn't even hold a candle to it.
FogRaider
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
This card makes Vamp Aggro so crazy, it's hard not to call power creep. I just thank my lucky stars it still dies to Lightning Bolt. 5/5.
Jokergius
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Wizards dawned upon Mono-Black cars and said "Hmm...We need a card to make people LOVE black all over again! Forget White Meat, go for Dark!!" *I'm obviously gonna get shot, for saying that...* BUT, yeah, Grappling Hook+Blade of the Bloodchief+Vampire Nighthawk+Savage Silhouette ('cause I like the regeneration ability that it will get)="Oops, I did it again!" Unless they block it with three creatures, but the last creature SHOULD have *as stated* power 5+. Or else it can roam around freely like it just didn't give a damn.
*Note* You can get TWO of these in the "Rise of the Vampire" intro pack. >:)} <== (Ironically, it looks like a vamp emoticon!)
Mightyass
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(15 votes)
Too. Good. I mean, how come this is not a rare? I ve just come from a draft with one this guy and whenever I pulled it out, it was basically game over! Three mana two three would make a great common flier and with lifelink its just impossible to race. When I attacked with it for the first time I thought "ok, two damage and two life for three mana - this guy has just done enough to justify itself" and then I happily attacked with it for the rest of the game. And deathtouch? Really? Come on. We have a three mana guy that destroys pretty much everything that isnt a Baneslayer angel. A nice tournament card, but at uncommon, it crushes any Limited environment. I cant think of any uncommon this powerful, it s stronger than Inceremental Blight, stronger than Shriekmaw, stronger than Rhox War Monk, its just ridiculous.
Pwnsaw
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(11 votes)
This is the new standard for black. Every other creature you run will be weighed against vampire nighthawk. In most cases , its like lightning bolt vs shock, there's no contest.
Kryplixx
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(3 votes)
Seriously wtf were they thinking. There's OP cards and that's fine... there has to be some. This is just broken.
OutlawD1
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
broken hell at 1BB, a 2/3 black flier would have been great. but then they added deathtouch.....then lifelink....and its still 1BB if this was a mythic legend, you could maybe possibly start entertaining the idea that this isn't completely broken
Yotika
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
A couple people mentioned slapping grappling hook and such on it, and the opponent requiring at, least 3 creatures to kill it. This is not the case, since the new death touch rule, he could kill his power worth of blockers in the first strike damage. 3 will not be enough, sadly, in these situations...
spacechaser0001
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
turn 1 : swamp + Dark Ritual + Vampire Nighthawk = WTF 5 star's all the way i run 4 in my black weenie deck by far the best weenie card i have seen since Hypnotic Specter and Savannah Lions
AbyssalManZero
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(1 vote)
This card is SO dang good I had to get a set for my vampire deck... The most terrifing vamp I ever came across...
gnilleps
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
i want 4!!!
Etregan
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This is like the black version of Baneslayer Angel, where its not really a choice. Theres just no comparison, so theres not really another option.
jerry171
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
this card with the blade of the blood cheife equipped to it is the best combination ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Donovan_Fabian
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
They are pushing the vampires a lot for sure, but I like my big beasties and they haven't gone any heavy beast schemes since naya, so thats where most of my faves are. All the new black creatures are tempting though. Will for sure hurt blue, who also has some low level fliers but don't usually come with this many extra abilities at that low of a cost. Winged coatl is the only potential contender, which is arguably better because you can sneak it in with flash.
Red black decks with soul's fire and this card will be amazing though, instant kill for 3 and gain 2 life.
jetzine
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(8 votes)
This card is insanely broken.
Nickkom
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(4 votes)
This is the best black creature in standard at 3 CMC, in terms of aggro.
However, fleshbag marauder is 2B, and a very powerful creature.
Hypnotic Specter is also 1BB, and can provide recurring card advantage, which is very powerful in its own right.
Each of these cards are uncommon. (or were at some point).
My point is that while nighthawk is on the edge of the bell curve, it isn't broken.
CatsAreCthala
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Very powerful for the cost. I didn't know it had flying for a while.
nineyears
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Vampire Nighthawk thanks for being so powerful and cheap. Flying, Deathtouch, Lifelink, 2/3 for BB1. the art is above and beyond great going Jason Chan you rock.
kittyspit
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
so one day, i thought, you know what would be great for my monoblack life gain/drain deck? 4 VAMPHAWKS OF COURSE!! 8D next day...4 NIGHTHAWKS. just like that :DDDD
anyway, very good card. if i was on the opposing end of this card, i'd freak. but i'm not so i love it ^^ sure beats the hell outta kelinore bats at any rate.
far to good , it itdidn't fly would still be to good for mana cost . i want 4 for my soul fire deck
TK-1138
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This is good... very good... that it is a turn 3 creature that's still relevant in the late game is great. This must be played in any black aggro deck in standard and especially in extended where all the different dual colored lands make the double colored mana cost no issue.
JosirisDavid
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Actually, since they also overpower Terra Stomper, might as well they make nighthawk casting cost as BBB, flying, lifelink and deathtouch, 3/3
grandkill
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Whenever this card comes out, I always zap it with a Lightning Bolt. It's just too powerful to ignore.
It's a very efficient (or undercosted) card. It should have been like: 1BB Flying 2/3 "This creature gains lifelink and deathtouch whenever an opponent has 10 or less life." I would have given it a 6/5 rating but I can't make a broken rating for a broken uncommon card.
5/5 hands down.
2blu4u
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(2 votes)
In combination with a kicked Rite of Replication, this can be wicked scary for opponents :D
Vorthosian
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
This is very good, but it really isn't broken. There are plenty of answers to it in Standard, and it's not like your opponent automatically dies if you play it. It's just a good, efficient creature.
5/5
bakofried
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Actually, I read a really good article on power creep. It said that Wizards are pushing creatures, and creature removal, to bring a balance to legacy and vintage, where the creatures are nowhere near as broken as non-creatures.
Qazior
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(5 votes)
It is really good, yes, but as some ppl have mentioned here, it is quite easy to handle:
In standard, i see that green has more difficulties than other colors at this, but then again, do green really need to care about this? It just attacks with 5000 elves and this blocks 1 of them.
Wow. My longest comment ever yet.
kowrip
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Wow. This is absolutely an awesome card. A 2/2 flying creature with 2 great, not mediocre, abilities for 3 mana ? 4 of these and 4 Hypnotic Specters will quickly force your opponent to spend their creature removal spells. 5/5
EnV
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(5 votes)
You fools! If this card was rare, less would be in circulation meaning HIGHER DAMN PRICES=DOUBLE THE CURRENT FIVE DOLLAR VALUE.
Originalsin
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I never thought I would see a black creature that was better than hypnotic specter... guess I was wrong.
daekoaram
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I LOVE THIS CARD! , i don't know if its broken or not but I got to tell you , this is one of the best flying creature card ever and it's uncommon too :), death touch and life link , it's like saying give me your life before i die hehehe :) 5/5 for me :)
thezanet
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
It's so pretty!!!
Sytega
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I have two of these guys in my deck and they are so awesome my favorite card even though hes not my strongest
Gaussgoat
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(20 votes)
Who is not rating this as a 5? I mean, seriously? For 3CC you're getting a flying 2/3 who has lifelink AND deathtouch.
On top of all of that, as if it wasn't enough, it combos well with other vampires, and it is black so it resists the usual removal from things like Doomblade.
3 Mana can't be better spent folks.
5/5, 6/5 if it was possible.
ArtBell
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I love it when people say a card is really easy to handle. You can say that for any card.
Face it, the Nighthawk is as badass a creature for the black three slot as there has been in a looooooong while.
Tobolococo
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
it's not broken, its just awesome, but since it doesn't have shroud its quite easy to handle, the other night at the FNM, i was playing against a mono white deck, i had 2 of this guys in the initial hand, among with a lacerator and a hideous end. When i put this down, the other guy instantly played path to exile, then when i put down the other one he played ANOTHER path to exile, finally i was able to keep a third one in the late game and won with it along with some other cards.
The pont is that wizards always makes sure that there are ways to destroy stuff, this is awesome, not broken.
jyang74
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(1 vote)
easily the most powerful creature in the game with respect to its cost. a game ending power play at 3 cmc!
Tarmin
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Cool, powerful, flavorful, but NOT overpowered. 5/5
hhfgd
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
the zendiar block really messed up the rankings on rares and uncommons.easily a rare
this card is always problamatic to opponents. 5\5..maybe on the last release in the block
a rare will be a rare..am i the only one that thinks worldwake is total crap? o well..
BattleMagnum
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(8 votes)
Probably the best 3 drop for black. Ever.
LordCapulet
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(11 votes)
Strictly better than everything.
Mulmaster
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Where's the fun in this?
jumpenrun
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
The best Vampire card ever made in my opinion. Its just right that this was made uncommon. This is not a pesky creature that is hard to be remove. There are too many white removal spell that can remove this guy name it, Path to Exile, Journey to Nowhere, Oblivion Ring and etc. And there are too many red removal spell that can toast this one, plus add the Maelstrom Pulse and Terminate to that. Its has no protection from color nor shroud nor indestructible, so it just right that this wasnt made rare.
Zefaris
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(5 votes)
i would like it more if he would have protection from everything...
Dethraven
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
BEST black drop for 3 since Hypnotic Specter. Hands down.
spectermonger
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
MBA gets a new BFF. Attach a Jitte do this and watch heads role. Even without add-ons it can maintain control of the board until you cna drop a bigger creature--or even the Persecutor on the next turn.
Azymth
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(1 vote)
My favorite memory with this card: I was playing a friend casually, who claimed he had a "unbeatable fast" deck. I was just playing an all black baddie deck (not even a vampire deck) I dark ritualled to put this dude out on the first turn. My opponent countered with a jackal familiar. On the second turn, I put down another swamp and unholy strengthed this dude twice...His unbeatable fast deck was done by turn 4. (I got out a child of the night on turn 3) and my life was 40. Good times...
BTW this card is WAY too cheap...
Skyknight
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Cue players scrambling frantically to find something with both flying and first strike...
agalloch
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Best card in Zendikar, and an uncommon at that.
I would expect a 2/3 with flying, deathtouch, AND lifelink to have a cmc of about 5. Maybe 4, but even that would be pushing it. But 3?!! That's insane! Jund prevents vamp decks from being viable right now, but expect to see them dominate after Alara rotates out, and this guy will be leading the way.
Even in non-vamp mono-black decks, this card slays. The Vampire type is just icing on the cake.
PaladinOfSunhome
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This card is strong. Even starting out with 3 Toughness is just awesome. Any simple pump spell will make this unkillible to common damage spells.
4.5
iantewks
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
so cool and so very broken. SO WRONG
Aun
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
The little brother of Baneslayer Angel, haha. If the other colors would have equal opportunities I would be morely okay with them...
pumaman83
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(19 votes)
I just love the "but there are ways to kill it so that means it isn't overpowered" comments. By that rationale a 20/3 trampler for 1CMC isn't all that overpowered because you could just Path to Exile, Lightning Bolt, or Doom Blade it.
WarZak
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
This is by far one of the most powerful uncommon cards I have seen in a long time, and it can be slightly annoying to have to play against it. But there are many ways to easily deal with this card, from simple things like Pacify or Lightning Bolt to more desperate moves, such as Wrath of God.
@ Mightyass: In your posting, are you saying that Baneslayer Angel would survive due to having first strike or protection from demons? I was just wondering because basically any creature with a toughness of 3 or greater and first strike would survive on defense (but might need more toughness to survive being multi-blocked if attacking). Nighthawk isn't a demon, so I figured you had to be referring to the first strike ability.
jstorrie
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(3 votes)
An excellent way to hold back aggro, since they won't want to attack into it when it has summoning sickness and it gains you life once you send it on the offense. Vulnerable to almost every popular form of removal in Alara-Zendikar Standard, though... 3 toughness is Bolt-bait, as always.
Nice to have a flying nonrare vamp for my vamp deck, but even being a dedicated vamp player, i think this one is too much. Lifelink AND death touch in a 2/3 FLYER for 3mana!!!
Even though I enjoy using it, I think it is too strong. They should either remove lifelink or deathtouch (and this is a vamp deck user talking).
Anyone not giving this guy 5 stars shouldn't rate cards.
NuclearMECCA
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I'm glad Wizards is embracing efficency over true balance. If I pay strict mana costs like 1BB, I better get something good, nay, GREAT! This is too good to be true. Wizards keep reprinting this card, everyone else stock up on playsets.
Azure_Dreamer
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
All of a sudden, Black is White now... :O a dilemma against Sphinx of Jwar Isle
TheGodOfWar91
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(4 votes)
Next to Necropotence as the best black 3-drop ever.
Smithney
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(4 votes)
One of things that can kill Emrakul. Anyway, I just had to have this 4 times in my vampire deck (well, I've got 2 of these in DCI foil).
Cubozoan
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Not broken, but it is most certainly overpowered. This one card was the reason I was afraid that Zendikar block was going to push vampires so hard as to make the deck broken, but fortunately I was mistaken in my assumption. Still, this card is an insanely strong 3-drop, one of the strongest black has ever had. 5 stars.
Almost too good. 3 CMC and you get a 2/3 flyer with deathtouch and lifelink?! Crazy.
6/5
Revelation666
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(5 votes)
I like to drop him on turn 3 and equip him with a Nightmare Lash on turn 4 and swing with a 6/7 flying/deathtouch/lifelink. This is just one of those cards where if you own it, its so hard not to put it in your deck because it is just too good.
SPhoenix
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Broken, I wonder if they are going to keep the power ramp up.
channelblaze
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Would be lawlz with sword of vengeance.
4/3 flying lifelink deathtouch trample haste first strike vigilance
zositmos
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
this card drives me nuts when my friend has it with lure and beastmakers magemark
xRockFan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Broken. Remove deathtouch, and I'll consider it fair at least.
IshubarashI
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(5 votes)
Pfft, I'd rather just pay 2 extra mana to play my Chimney Imp
Winterhawk200
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
favorite three drop ever
phantom.lance
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
what were they thinking? this should be rare, if not mythic, and definitely legendary. amazing defense and offense for just 3 CMC
This card is extremely overpowerd but you can also just kill it easly to. U can use Act of Treason so you get control of him,then U can use it to atack with your other creatures and then use Fling so you can destroy it afterwards maybe togheter with Goblin Arsonist to deal more damage to your opponent. ^^ Easy as that. :D
Galgus
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Just overpowered.
Jourdain15f
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
It is an amazing card, but it just sucks it can be bolted right when it comes out..
GoblinNaysayer93
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(9 votes)
As others have said, I can't think of a better 3 mana investment for black in most decks. You don't even have to run vampires for this to be good.
Baconradar
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Power creep indeed.
I also agree with the mention of lightning bolt vs shock. Printing a card like this causes people to, for a long time after its printing, feel unhappy with the alternatives. That's how power creep spirals get set in motion.
Hand_Bannana
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
he needs to be either 3 black mana or rare.
Wohlerbear
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
My favorite MTG card ever. Just saying...
Boday1
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Doesn't get much better than this, a definite four-of in any black aggro deck.
dragonking987
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
best 3 drop black creator out other then stillmoon cavalier.
Bluecash
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Absolutely outstanding. One of the best black creatures ever for sure.
surewhynot
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Thank god his art is good too.
guitargamer79
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
One of the best black creatures and flying creatures ever in MTG. I still think he should have cost BBB. It would have made him more balanced. Most creatures at best give you a 2 for 1, he is a solid 3 for 1. Without the lifelink he would have still been heavily played I think, Vampire deck or not.
LarsBM
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(3 votes)
Extremely cost-effective even in a non-vampirethemed deck.
BroteanHulk
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
There is no reason not to have him in a black deck, or 4 in a vamp deck.
ZombieSnail
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
People are right about this guy, You don't leave him out of anything black, you just don't. The awesomeness hardly needs to be explained, it's just 3 great keywords on a very solid creature. 10/5
lazymuse
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(4 votes)
Just one word: SWEET. ^^
theoneinsafety
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(13 votes)
Turn 1: Dark Ritual....playing Nighthawk Turn 2: did I win yet?
d-101
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(7 votes)
People will be reminiscing about this one for years to come. It works in any black deck, and serves as a painful reminder to your opponent that their biggest creatures can all be foiled for a simple 3 mana, and lifegain is a nice bonus. 5/5
PrimeSonic
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(18 votes)
3 mana... Not a bad cost. 2/3 body... okay. It's not terrible. Flying... Yeah, now it's playable. Deathtouch... Oh snap, it's above the curve. Lifelink... WTF?!!!!!
Bursama
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Broken. Sick and broken. And it's UNCOMMON!
LordAlvon
★★☆☆☆ (2.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Strictly better than Chimney Imp.
snapbee
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Let me say further that this card is just terrific for old-school Mono Black Control/Aggro-Control type decks because of its versatility.
That is to say, it's almost filling a removal slot (Smother/Diabolic Edict/whatever) and a creature slot at the same time. Even without the deathtouch to block Tarmogoyfs, the fact that it's 2/3 instead of 2/2 would make it beat a lot of stuff at a similar cost.
Mana Curve shmana curve ... I run both 4 of this guy and 4 Hypnotic Specters (and 4 Dark Ritual, naturally) in my legacy-casual Monoblack Control deck. Everyone hates me, obviously. :)))
Aburaishi
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(12 votes)
... You serious? 3 CMC for a 2/3 flying card is pretty much grounds for an uncommon. Give him two additional abilities, both of which are devastasting in the right conditions? Somebody at Wizards likes vampires. A lot.
Stray_Dog
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(12 votes)
Vampire tribal's quarterback and part-time shaman.
I would feel more comfortable about him if he were . I mean, this is how black does an über uncommon right?
PlanesMoyza
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(8 votes)
So broken, it's shattered.
DacenOctavio
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
The absolute most important thing to chuck a Lightning Bolt at.
Khultar
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
even if his lifelink isnt amazing at first, (just 2 life big deal) as soon as you give at least a +2+2, hes a menacing nighthawk of lifelinking deathtouching sexyness.
Demonic_Math_Tutor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Retarded is rating this below a 4.5.
THis card is absolutely amazing! I nailed this and two bloodchief ascensions in the first pack of zendikar i opened!
GO VAMPIRES AND DEMONS!
StreamHopper
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Everyone shut up. Black deserved this.
vigo17
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
3 mana for flying deathtouch and lifelink and not rated 5????
made4ipod
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(4 votes)
Unbelievably good for an uncommon. Why wizards, Why.
How do you know it's good? Simple. If you opened a pack of Zendikar during a draft and you were in it to win it, out of all the cards, your first pick would be Vampire Nighthawk.
divine_exodus
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(5 votes)
The only way I could like this card more is if it had flavor text.
Chess_76
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(6 votes)
When I compare this to my beloved deadly recluse, I cry. Apparently B buys you +1/+1, flying (over reach), and lifelink. I know its in black not green but still...
5/5 Altough without a drawback it doesn't feel very blackish...The commons and uncommons these days are far better than rares for the most part, it's not bad this way.
Sterling_Archer
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Vampire Nighthawk + Lashwrithe is all I want.
WateryMind
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(6 votes)
Can you say OP?
JoeyWalker
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Best magic black creature overall.
Kruggles
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
This is the best uncommon 3 drop for black ever printed. Actually, Priest of Gix is rated higher. And if you include multicolor, Putrefy is rated higher than both. That being said, Priest of Gix is a bit better for agro, but this is really good in every black deck ever.
EvilCartographer
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(5 votes)
There are, probably, better cards in Magic. As long as I can keep this guy in my deck, though, I don't really feel the need to find out what they are.
Just bananas. You play mono black, you have 4, you run 4, simple as that.
SAllison87
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Incredible creature. The combination of abilities makes him an extraordinary offensive or defensive play. Easy 5/5 for the card's efficiency, versatility, and power
rinoh20
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
@Stray_Dog
no gate keeper kicked {B}{B}{B} is how black does uber-uncommon
ROBRAM89
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(18 votes)
I don't even WANT to give this five stars but my hands won't let me not do it.
I hate this thing. I want it to die.
Kiteflyerofhell87
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Incredible card. I have two and play them both in the same deck, can't count how many games they've won me espiecially with blade o/t bloodchief.
Necrokeryx
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(3 votes)
I love when people take a simple french vanilla creature like this and lose their minds over it. It's not that hard to deal with.
In aggro, it will often just trade with a bigger creature and it's controller will gain 2 life. (Which is still arguably pretty good, but nothing to go crazy about.) If the person with the Nighthawk is in the position to consistently NOT block, then the aggro deck they're playing against must not be very good.
In control and combo, this thing may never come out, and even if it does it will probably be removed, anyways. This isn't so much of a 'it can die to removal' argument so much as it is an 'it WILL die to removal' argument, because decks like that often have more solutions like that than creatures.
This is a very good card, probably worth 5 stars even. It may even be one of the best black three drop creatures of it's time. But it's not going to win the game on it's own. And it most certainly is NOT broken.
infernox10
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(8 votes)
The people rating this lower than a 5 either hate the powercreep, or have a friend who plays this against them.
Paladin85
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(9 votes)
Power creep at its worst
Makes Hypnotic Specter and Abyssal Specter look like noobs (1 more toughness than hyp and arguably better abilities whilst costing less than Abyssal for the same P/T)
Thanks for ruining my old creatures WotC!
5/5 for its sheer power
Chaka-K-Rock
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
three awesome keywords for three mana = sick card. pair with nightmare lash for more fun in a mono-black
Arachibutyrophobia
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(3 votes)
my explanation for why they gave this guy deathtouch is that green had way too many deathtouch creatures, while the ability has much more black flavor, so they forced deathtouch onto this guy to help even it out. but all they succeeded in doing was creating a creature with powercreep on steroids.
@Paladin85
This is better than Hypnotic Specter? Why, because it has got two shiny keywords and one more toughness? You really don't understand the impact of discarding one random card, do you?
While this guy either deals 2 damage or kills a blocker, all while gaining you 2 life, Hypnotic will only completely ruin your opponent's strategy.
Sure, sometimes you'd prefer having a Nighthawk, but a Hypnotic Specter still kicks copious amounts of ass. Not that I've ever been hit by either of them, I usually play Red and get these things Lightning Bolted or Searing Blazed the moment I see their smug faces.
One thing that I've always asked myself is how the hell this thing flies. Like, it hasn't got any visible wings and it definitely doesn't transform into a bat (only Innistrad's vampires do that, as seen in Screeching Bat). Maybe he has some kind of magical wings - after all, he's a shaman. Wait - as if all the value this thing has in vampire decks, now we have found it is also really good with Thornbite Staff?
This + staff = "2: destroy target creature. you gain 1 life".
One of my favorite cards. I wrote a little bit about him here: http://birdsofparadise-mtg.blogspot.com/2011/10/vampire-nighthawk.html
AncientTimer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.7/5.0)(3 votes)
There is too much value for the cost packed in this card. Just like in Phyrexian Obliterator or Grave Titan. Not good for the color balance to combine best creatures and best creature removal in same single color. 1/5 in total scope.
Half-dead
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Sooooooo... is this on the reserve list or they dont do that anymore?
Cause if this gets reprinted one might as well reprint a few other cards on the reserve.
i am always happy to see this in my hand..i run 4 in my the gate deck.. anyone else noticed how he resembles the predator..
Gcrudaplaneswalker
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Looks like we'll be seeing you in M13!! ;)
chaosbringer91
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Turn 1. Swamp, Dark ritual, Nighthawk.....Problem?
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If he was a rare it would cost 30 bux for a playset, and mythic proly 60. Even tho ide never be able to pay that i agree he definitely deserves a rare title at least.
RDorothy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
this card is ridiculously good
blackaggro
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Best 3 mana creature drop in game hands down
Pick15
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If you opened this in a Zendikar draft, you slam picked it. You didn't even look at the rest of the pack except the rare, because the only things you took over this were Malakir Bloodwitch, and Sorin Markov. That was it. Sometimes you even took this over Sorin, because that's how fast the format was. Astoundingly good card, one of the best creatures ever printed. It's just a solid, solid card. Glad to see it in M13, hopefully it gets more reprints in the years to come. 5/5, 6/5 if I could.
Reflection_Pool
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Why are the other versions rated 4.0/5 while this one is 4.5?
dynamiteplaneswalker
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
i dont understand Zendikar deathtouch ability. Why does it say you can divide his damage among any number creatures blocking or blocked by it if he cant block more then one creature?
Samfu
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@dynamiteplaneswalker, it's because there are certain enchantments and such that give the ability to do so. I have one, but can't remember the name off the top of my head, but it gives the enchanted creature the ability to block an extra creature.
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
-Eats fatties -Eats chumps -Bigger than first strikers most of the time -Flies -Gains you health -Brutal with pumps/equips
4.5/5
TravisBlanchard
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
dynamiteplaneswalker if they block it with two creatures it will kill both since one damage point is enough to kill the first blocker and the leftover would go to the second blocker same goes for if you gave it the ability to block multiple creatures like echo circlet or the equipment from innistrad
also forgot to say this card is epic only argument you could make for a better 3 drop is hypnotic specter
Cubesphere
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
This thing killed my attacking Emrakul and I lost the round after. WTF^^ 5/5 for utter hate M2014 has Deathgaze ***atrice which is +1cmc, -0/-1 and -lifelink, it even gets censored...
Comments (174)
Why can't this be in my colors? I hate black.
Blue is the number one colour for flyers and you don't get a 2/3 flyer with 3 mana without a drawback, what say lifelink and deathtouch!
In my opinion, most powerful card in the entire set.
But I have one question, why does this not cost
so, now it is a 2/3 flying lifelinking deathtoucher, with double strike and a pump ability
your opponent blinks and scoops at that point, cause you can just go, "I will have my nighthawk attack, oh and, your really big creature, yeah that (insert huge creature w/ flying) it must block her"
and the best part, she has to be blocked by 3 creatures if your opponent has any chance of killing her, and the third must be a 7+ power creature to have a chance at killing it
the other 2 cards, well, lets pump her up by 2 each and give her haste or regenerate so she can block anything, and live, sure it is 3 colors, but remember jund, the BRG shard, those are the 3 colors, plus green helps with some nasty landfall
in all, I really like this card, under mana priced for what it is we all need 4 for any deck that has black, even a small splash
If that's not a vanilla creature i don't know what it is. Ohai thar, powercreep!
Of course, black still won't get 3/3 bodies for
A black french vanilla 2/3 with no drawback would be a steal at 3 cmc, so to have one with 2 additional abilities is great, especially when those abilities are Deathtouch and Lifelink. 5 star card. No question.
*Note* You can get TWO of these in the "Rise of the Vampire" intro pack. >:)} <== (Ironically, it looks like a vamp emoticon!)
I mean, how come this is not a rare? I ve just come from a draft with one this guy and whenever I pulled it out, it was basically game over! Three mana two three would make a great common flier and with lifelink its just impossible to race. When I attacked with it for the first time I thought "ok, two damage and two life for three mana - this guy has just done enough to justify itself" and then I happily attacked with it for the rest of the game. And deathtouch? Really? Come on. We have a three mana guy that destroys pretty much everything that isnt a Baneslayer angel.
A nice tournament card, but at uncommon, it crushes any Limited environment. I cant think of any uncommon this powerful, it s stronger than Inceremental Blight, stronger than Shriekmaw, stronger than Rhox War Monk, its just ridiculous.
hell at 1BB, a 2/3 black flier would have been great. but then they added deathtouch.....then lifelink....and its still 1BB
if this was a mythic legend, you could maybe possibly start entertaining the idea that this isn't completely broken
5 star's all the way i run 4 in my black weenie deck
by far the best weenie card i have seen since Hypnotic Specter and Savannah Lions
Red black decks with soul's fire and this card will be amazing though, instant kill for 3 and gain 2 life.
However, fleshbag marauder is 2B, and a very powerful creature.
Hypnotic Specter is also 1BB, and can provide recurring card advantage, which is very powerful in its own right.
Each of these cards are uncommon. (or were at some point).
My point is that while nighthawk is on the edge of the bell curve, it isn't broken.
anyway, very good card. if i was on the opposing end of this card, i'd freak. but i'm not so i love it ^^ sure beats the hell outta kelinore bats at any rate.
Seriously, with this one, Gatekeeper of Malakir and Feast of Blood, you apparently don't need any mythic/rares to run your vamp deck (although Vampire Nocturnus and Sanguine Bond in a vamp deck is kickass)
This is good... very good... that it is a turn 3 creature that's still relevant in the late game is great. This must be played in any black aggro deck in standard and especially in extended where all the different dual colored lands make the double colored mana cost no issue.
It's a very efficient (or undercosted) card. It should have been like: 1BB Flying 2/3 "This creature gains lifelink and deathtouch whenever an opponent has 10 or less life." I would have given it a 6/5 rating but I can't make a broken rating for a broken uncommon card.
5/5 hands down.
5/5
White just pwns it with paths, oblivion rings, journey to nowheres, and maybe even celestial purges.
Blue just counters or bounces it.
Black... well black has this and other vampires, tendrils of corruption and with red, terminate.
Red has lightning bolt and other burn spells.
Green has some potential deathtouchers, including deadly recluse. With blue, green has winged coatl.
In standard, i see that green has more difficulties than other colors at this, but then again, do green really need to care about this? It just attacks with 5000 elves and this blocks 1 of them.
Wow. My longest comment ever yet.
On top of all of that, as if it wasn't enough, it combos well with other vampires, and it is black so it resists the usual removal from things like Doomblade.
3 Mana can't be better spent folks.
5/5, 6/5 if it was possible.
Tolarian Academy? One Stone Rain takes it out. Skullclamp jobs to Shatter. I'll Terror your Tarmogoyf. The point is, in the right deck, these cards are beast.
Face it, the Nighthawk is as badass a creature for the black three slot as there has been in a looooooong while.
The pont is that wizards always makes sure that there are ways to destroy stuff, this is awesome, not broken.
this card is always problamatic to opponents. 5\5..maybe on the last release in the block
a rare will be a rare..am i the only one that thinks worldwake is total crap? o well..
BTW this card is WAY too cheap...
I would expect a 2/3 with flying, deathtouch, AND lifelink to have a cmc of about 5. Maybe 4, but even that would be pushing it. But 3?!! That's insane! Jund prevents vamp decks from being viable right now, but expect to see them dominate after Alara rotates out, and this guy will be leading the way.
Even in non-vamp mono-black decks, this card slays. The Vampire type is just icing on the cake.
4.5
SO WRONG
@ Mightyass: In your posting, are you saying that Baneslayer Angel would survive due to having first strike or protection from demons? I was just wondering because basically any creature with a toughness of 3 or greater and first strike would survive on defense (but might need more toughness to survive being multi-blocked if attacking). Nighthawk isn't a demon, so I figured you had to be referring to the first strike ability.
A little slow for aggro, who might prefer Arrogant Bloodlord and Gatekeeper of Malakir instead.
Even though I enjoy using it, I think it is too strong. They should either remove lifelink or deathtouch (and this is a vamp deck user talking).
Anyone not giving this guy 5 stars shouldn't rate cards.
6/5
4/3 flying lifelink deathtouch trample haste first strike vigilance
U can use Act of Treason so you get control of him,then U can use it to atack with your other creatures and then use Fling so you can destroy it afterwards maybe togheter with Goblin Arsonist to deal more damage to your opponent. ^^ Easy as that. :D
I also agree with the mention of lightning bolt vs shock. Printing a card like this causes people to, for a long time after its printing, feel unhappy with the alternatives. That's how power creep spirals get set in motion.
The awesomeness hardly needs to be explained, it's just 3 great keywords on a very solid creature.
10/5
Turn 2: did I win yet?
2/3 body... okay. It's not terrible.
Flying... Yeah, now it's playable.
Deathtouch... Oh snap, it's above the curve.
Lifelink... WTF?!!!!!
And it's UNCOMMON!
That is to say, it's almost filling a removal slot (Smother/Diabolic Edict/whatever) and a creature slot at the same time. Even without the deathtouch to block Tarmogoyfs, the fact that it's 2/3 instead of 2/2 would make it beat a lot of stuff at a similar cost.
Mana Curve shmana curve ... I run both 4 of this guy and 4 Hypnotic Specters (and 4 Dark Ritual, naturally) in my legacy-casual Monoblack Control deck. Everyone hates me, obviously. :)))
I would feel more comfortable about him if he were
THis card is absolutely amazing! I nailed this and two bloodchief ascensions in the first pack of zendikar i opened!
GO VAMPIRES AND DEMONS!
Black deserved this.
Wait...
Step 2) ?????
Step 3) PROFIT!
Simple.
If you opened a pack of Zendikar during a draft and you were in it to win it, out of all the cards, your first pick would be Vampire Nighthawk.
Actually, Priest of Gix is rated higher. And if you include multicolor, Putrefy is rated higher than both. That being said, Priest of Gix is a bit better for agro, but this is really good in every black deck ever.
Just bananas. You play mono black, you have 4, you run 4, simple as that.
no gate keeper kicked {B}{B}{B} is how black does uber-uncommon
I hate this thing. I want it to die.
In aggro, it will often just trade with a bigger creature and it's controller will gain 2 life. (Which is still arguably pretty good, but nothing to go crazy about.) If the person with the Nighthawk is in the position to consistently NOT block, then the aggro deck they're playing against must not be very good.
In control and combo, this thing may never come out, and even if it does it will probably be removed, anyways. This isn't so much of a 'it can die to removal' argument so much as it is an 'it WILL die to removal' argument, because decks like that often have more solutions like that than creatures.
This is a very good card, probably worth 5 stars even. It may even be one of the best black three drop creatures of it's time. But it's not going to win the game on it's own. And it most certainly is NOT broken.
Makes Hypnotic Specter and Abyssal Specter look like noobs (1 more toughness than hyp and arguably better abilities whilst costing less than Abyssal for the same P/T)
Thanks for ruining my old creatures WotC!
5/5 for its sheer power
This is better than Hypnotic Specter? Why, because it has got two shiny keywords and one more toughness? You really don't understand the impact of discarding one random card, do you?
While this guy either deals 2 damage or kills a blocker, all while gaining you 2 life, Hypnotic will only completely ruin your opponent's strategy.
Sure, sometimes you'd prefer having a Nighthawk, but a Hypnotic Specter still kicks copious amounts of ass. Not that I've ever been hit by either of them, I usually play Red and get these things Lightning Bolted or Searing Blazed the moment I see their smug faces.
One thing that I've always asked myself is how the hell this thing flies. Like, it hasn't got any visible wings and it definitely doesn't transform into a bat (only Innistrad's vampires do that, as seen in Screeching Bat). Maybe he has some kind of magical wings - after all, he's a shaman. Wait - as if all the value this thing has in vampire decks, now we have found it is also really good with Thornbite Staff?
This + staff = "2: destroy target creature. you gain 1 life".
Freaky overpowered card. Makes Barony Vampire unhappy.
http://birdsofparadise-mtg.blogspot.com/2011/10/vampire-nighthawk.html
Cause if this gets reprinted one might as well reprint a few other cards on the reserve.
Fantastic creature 5 stars all day
anyone else noticed how he resembles the predator..
Astoundingly good card, one of the best creatures ever printed. It's just a solid, solid card. Glad to see it in M13, hopefully it gets more reprints in the years to come.
5/5, 6/5 if I could.
I have one, but can't remember the name off the top of my head, but it gives the enchanted creature the ability to block an extra creature.
-Eats chumps
-Bigger than first strikers most of the time
-Flies
-Gains you health
-Brutal with pumps/equips
4.5/5
also forgot to say this card is epic only argument you could make for a better 3 drop is hypnotic specter
M2014 has Deathgaze ***atrice which is +1cmc, -0/-1 and -lifelink, it even gets censored...
Totally a powercreep, we can see why this isn't Standard anymore, would be a pain in the ass in that block.
Totally could see this as a Rare, or even maybe Mythic (stretching it, but I would understand)
And it's a shaman to boot!