This card can be devastating if used correctly. Because of the wording, if you have some way to increase the toughness, like a liege or an enchantment, then it will not die because of damage even if there are no +1/+1 counters on it.
Posted By:
buhroken
(9/14/2009 5:08:13 PM)
It has great synergy with murkfiend liege. Not only does the +1/+1 override the phantom drawback, but the untapping lets you boost more often. You could also slap an instill energy on it.
Phantom Centaur is still the best of the phantom cycle because of its pro-black. I give the nantuko a 3/5. It won't be in play long enough to be useful.
Posted By:
Laguz
(9/24/2009 5:15:11 PM)
Liege?... Graft?... Great with Mirari's Wake, in the same set...
Posted By:
nimzo
(11/25/2009 7:19:31 PM)
I remember when this was powercreep for me. Oh the bygone days before vampire nighthawk, lorescale coatl, and the like.
Posted By:
Fictionarious
(6/24/2011 10:49:42 AM)
This is actually a great card nowadays. Since in Zendikar, everything had deathtouch and lifelink, that damage is prevented so no one dies and no life is gained. I'm not sure if this cancels out -1/-1 counters, however.
Posted By:
asandberge
(7/11/2011 7:26:00 AM)
The 
combo where you enchant this thing with an untapper like Freed from the Real or Pemmin's Aura and spam its own counter-making ability is hilarious. Sure, sooner or later some spoilsport's going to walk it down the Path to Exile, but by that time it'll be 47/47 and will have killed two players.
Posted By:
Salient
(2/2/2012 5:37:58 PM)
I think this card is underrated. I play it with Forgotten Ancient, and all you really need is a way to keep it alive for the first few turns its on the battlefield, and after that, it's nigh unstoppable.
Posted By:
Powerofone
(2/24/2012 1:46:47 PM)
I use this card in a Green/White spirit deck. A good strategy I've found is to enchant/equip it with Pariah or Pariahs Shield so that you don't have to use any blockers and just let it suck up all the damage. While this is going on you let the more meaty cards like Phantom Nishoba or Phantom Tiger do all the damage.
However, I do have a question concerning the damage prevention. If you were to block a creature that has Trample. Does the damage that would normally "Trample over" the card go through to the player? or does it get prevented as well?
Posted By:
Drummer_Gamer93
(7/11/2012 8:25:53 PM)
An extremely interesting card. Sure it only comes into play with two +1/+1 counters, but when played with graft creatures this insect can become devastating. In fact this nantuko would be a great addition to my Experiment Kraj EDH deck.
Posted By:
SavageBrain89
(7/21/2009 7:42:49 PM)
Ugh. Extremely slow without support. Try Phantom Nishoba.
Posted By:
Nagoragama
(10/8/2010 1:56:49 PM)