---
name: "Nin, the Pain Artist"
mana_cost: "{U}{R}"
cmc: 2
type_line: "Legendary Creature — Vedalken Wizard"
colors: []
color_identity: ["R", "U"]
keywords: []
set: "CMD"
set_name: "Commander 2011"
collector_number: "213"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "Brad Rigney"
oracle_id: "ec439630-e18b-45f6-8034-2ecbea27772f"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/nin-the-pain-artist-cmd"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "not_legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "not_legal"
---

# Nin, the Pain Artist
- **Mana Cost:** `{U}{R}` (CMC: 2)
- **Type:** Legendary Creature — Vedalken Wizard

## Oracle Text
{X}{U}{R}, {T}: Nin deals X damage to target creature. That creature's controller draws X cards.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Staff of Nin](/printing/staff-of-nin-cm2.md) — Artifact
2. [Ninja of the Deep Hours](/printing/ninja-of-the-deep-hours-c18.md) — Creature — Human Ninja
3. [Ingenious Infiltrator](/printing/ingenious-infiltrator-mh1.md) — Creature — Vedalken Ninja
4. [Moon-Circuit Hacker](/printing/moon-circuit-hacker-neo.md) — Enchantment Creature — Human Ninja
5. [A-Nashi, Moon Sage's Scion](/printing/a-nashi-moon-sages-scion-neo.md) — Legendary Creature — Rat Ninja
6. [Go Ninja Go](/printing/go-ninja-go-tmt.md) — Sorcery

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Commander 2011 (CMD) #213
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** Brad Rigney
- **Total Printings:** 5 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `not_legal` | Pioneer: `not_legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `not_legal`

## Official Rulings
- *(2011-09-22)* If the ability resolves, but the damage is prevented or redirected, the controller of the targeted creature will draw X cards, regardless of how much damage was dealt or what the damage was ultimately dealt to.
- *(2011-09-22)* If the damage is lethal, the cards are drawn before the creature is destroyed (the next time state-based actions are checked).
- *(2011-09-22)* If the creature is an illegal target when Nin's ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. No player will draw cards.
- *(2011-09-22)* The effect is not optional. The creature's controller can't choose to draw fewer than X cards.
- *(2011-09-22)* You may choose a value for X that's greater than the creature's toughness. Its controller will draw that many cards.