Hunted NightmareHow it works & interactions with other cards

A High-Risk Menace

Hunted Nightmare is a 4/5 creature for just three mana, making it significantly larger than most creatures at that cost. The Menace keyword ensures it can only be blocked by two or more creatures, which often forces your opponent into disadvantageous trades. However, its 'Hunted' trigger allows an opponent to place a deathtouch counter on one of their own creatures, potentially turning a small blocker into a lethal threat.

Resolving the Trigger

When Hunted Nightmare enters the battlefield, its triggered ability goes on the stack. You must target an opponent. When the ability resolves, that opponent chooses exactly one creature they control to receive the deathtouch counter. Note that if the opponent controls no creatures at the moment the ability resolves, the counter is simply not placed anywhere, and the ability finishes with no effect.

Strategic Considerations

A common mistake is forgetting that the opponent, not you, chooses the creature. If they have a creature with First Strike or a creature that can ping yours, the deathtouch counter becomes much more dangerous. Additionally, because the ability targets an opponent, effects that give a player hexproof can prevent the ability from being placed on the stack at all, though this is rare for the player casting the Nightmare.

When to Cast It

The best time to cast Hunted Nightmare is when your opponent has an empty board. Since the ability only targets a creature 'they control' during resolution, an empty board means the deathtouch counter is lost forever. Alternatively, wait until you have removal ready to deal with whichever creature they choose to empower.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Downside

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne with 'Nightmare' chosen as the creature type, Hunted Nightmare's enters-the-battlefield ability will trigger twice. Your target opponent will choose a creature to receive a deathtouch counter, and then they will choose a creature (the same one or a different one) to receive a second deathtouch counter. Since counters of the same type are redundant, this usually results in two different creatures gaining deathtouch or one creature getting two identical counters.

Empty Battlefield Advantage

If you cast Hunted Nightmare on turn three and your opponent has no creatures in play, the ability still triggers and targets the opponent. Upon resolution, the opponent checks their board; since they have no valid creatures to receive the counter, the effect does nothing. You now have a 4/5 Menace creature with no drawback.

Sequence of Triggers

Solemn Simulacrum

If Hunted Nightmare and Solemn Simulacrum enter the battlefield at the same time (for example, via a mass resurrection spell), you can choose the order in which the triggers are put on the stack. You could resolve the Solemn Simulacrum's land search first, then resolve the Nightmare's trigger. If your opponent controls the Solemn Simulacrum and it was already on the board, they could choose to put the deathtouch counter on it, making it a much more effective blocker against your Nightmare.