Razing the Stakes

Commander / EDH Octrate

SCORE: 89 | 102 COMMENTS | 21735 VIEWS | IN 49 FOLDERS


Imagine That.... —Dec. 27, 2014

Massive revamp on this deck. Haven't touched this deck list mostly due to habit and tradition, but I eventually felt I had to change things.

Resetting comments. Will soon update description to reflect these changes.

Dropped:

Added:

If you like the niv combos. Then you could add in Helm of the Ghastlord Tandem Lookout and Mind Over Matter

Even if you have an aura in hand without niv in play, you can hook it to nekusar and start drawing every time your opponents draw.

Also MOM acts like an engine to keep wheeling or as a control option to tap down large threats or mana screw an opponent. +1

Check out my list for more possible card options. Nekusar's Perfect StormI'm always looking for advice. Thanks in advance.

July 10, 2014 9:30 a.m.

Inforussle says... #2

A Forced Fruition could probably either a lot of control, or a lot of damage to your deck, depending on how your opponents react. It would end up in the upper edge of your CMC though.

August 1, 2014 4:11 p.m.

Octrate says... #3

PrestonShilling: I've gotten around to testing your suggestions, and I think you've led me to a breakthrough. Mind Over Matter is so ridiculously broken in this deck that I'm having a hard time imagining my life without it. It is officially a staple in my deck. I'll try to think of some suggestion for you, friend. But thank you for your suggestion.

Inforussle: Forced Fruition is a suggestion I get a lot, and each time I am suggested it, I test it. I did so in this circumstance as well and found it to be daunting to play against, but too powerful for my opponents. I'm certain a time will come when I will find it relevant for my build, but I just can't say that day is today. Thanks for the suggestion though. I really appreciate it.

August 4, 2014 9:36 p.m.

Kozelek says... #4

August 4, 2014 10:20 p.m.

csobacki says... #5

Forced Fruition + Possibility Storm is brutal making them draw 14 cards per spell cast, can make for some big damage depending on what you have out in play. Throw in Painful Quandary and let the fun begin..

Sire Of Insanity with some discard pain Liliana's Caress , Megrim and Bloodchief Ascension will help with all the extra draw giving them too much card advantage. Library of Leng is so broken with Sire.

Wound Reflection has worked out great for me in my Nekusar, My play group hates me deck.

Every time I'm able to get Archmage Ascension into play and it sticks I win the game. This card is too easy to activate in this deck.

August 7, 2014 6:50 p.m.

Weirdhat says... #6

Waste Not is a pretty awesome card in any nekusar deck, you could try it out. Maybe take a look at my deck Hurricane Nekusar could use some suggestions.

August 21, 2014 6:48 p.m.

Evee142 says... #7

This is a fun combo, but you would have to rotate a few lands out for other nonbasics to pull it off.

Tainted Pact + Laboratory Maniac + draw effect = Free win :D

August 26, 2014 1:21 p.m.

More mana rocks and less lands can speed you up. Just a tought.

August 26, 2014 1:55 p.m.

DrownBot says... #9

Thanks for sharing this great deck!Been following your work for quite a while and this one here lead me build my own Nekusar.Two cards i really like in my build that could suit yours aswell: Phyresis and Grip of Chaos.

The first one is instadeath to all if remains unanswered, the second can ensure that people dont find answers and suitable removal, it really messed up opposing gameplans.

+1

November 6, 2014 8:36 a.m.

DrownBot says... #10

oops, i meant Possibility Storm, forget about the grip..

Really didnt like that thing until a friend forced me to test it. worked everytime i played it - i can see people be sceptical about it though.

November 6, 2014 3:31 p.m.

GarthaLeBleu says... #11

Pardon my idiocy, but why is Mind Over Matter such a staple in your deck? How do you use it with Niv-mizzet?

Thanks

November 27, 2014 2:44 p.m.

Octrate says... #12

Hey, thanks for the comment DrownBot for the suggestions! Phyresis and the like (Tainted Strike)are certainly on my radar, because they can be so devastating. I don't currently use them, as my meta already sees this deck as volatile. As for Possibility Storm, I could consider using it if I dropped some of my counterspells.

GarthaLeBleu: Mind Over Matter has many uses in this deck. With Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind, I can tap Niv to draw a card, deal a damage, discard the card to untap Niv, rinse and repeat. I can do it with Temple Bell as well! to mill everyone. Other uses are to empty out my hand and untap mana while a spell like Wheel of Fortune is on the stack. These are just a handful of some of its uses. Hope that helps explain it a little.

November 27, 2014 3:03 p.m.

GarthaLeBleu says... #13

Thank you Alizer313! That clears up alot! Would have never thought to discard cards so you can untap lands while Wheel of Fortune is on the stack. That gives you a huge advantage over your opponents, as you can now cast whatever you drew. Nice!

Also, one more question if you don't mind...Who do you encode Whispering Madness with once it resolves? Not with Nekusar, as he does not inflict combat damage with his ability?

November 30, 2014 1:47 p.m.

Octrate says... #14

Anytime, GarthaLeBleu, I am really happy to answer your questions! You're right about the cipher on Whispering Madness in that it requires combat damage. The cipher effect is really a bonus, while the spell itself is the main focus. Paying an extra black to get a Windfall that could resolve again is worth it to me. I usually encode in onto Nekusar, the Mindrazer (occasionally a flier like Consecrated Sphinx). However, triggering the cipher doesn't always happen, because I can't usually swing with Nekusar safely. But, if I were to Cyclonic Rift, or something, then... that's an entirely different story.

November 30, 2014 4:17 p.m.

GarthaLeBleu says... #15

Thanks again for answering my question. Really appreciate it:)I'm strongly thinking of building this deck. Will be a fun experience indeed!P.S. Have you considered adding Psychosis Crawler?

December 1, 2014 3:33 p.m.

Cerealkillah says... #16

Alizer313 I have been following this deck for quite some time. This deck has been an inspiration for me and is well built! I was wondering what sort of luck you have with this build in 1 vs 1?

I run a similar build to this, but over time i have removed cards like Elder Mastery, Helm of the Ghastlord, Curiosity and Ophidian Eye and replaced them with Waste Not, Megrim, Liliana's Caress, Leyline of the Void, Leyline of Anticipation. The main reason for doing so is the "2 for 1" removal effect my opponents get when they kill an enchanted Nekusar. In my meta, Nekusar is killed almost instantly so I started looking for ways to win even if I never cast Nekusar. By separating the pain from Nekusar, I am trying to force them to use more removal. I also ended up dropping almost all my "fork" like effects.

I am looking to play in a 1 vs 1 tournament next weekend and was looking at maybe bringing back the Helm of the Ghastlord and either Ophidian Eye or Curiosity in place of Waste Not and Megrim and making room to add back in the forks.

I know it is nearly impossible to give good advice when I haven't posted my deck here, but knowing how your build runs in 1 vs 1 would help me figure out if I am on the right path.

December 5, 2014 2:06 p.m.

Octrate says... #17

Hey there Cerealkillah, thanks for the comment and supportive feedback. I'll try to help you as much as I can by offering my experiences in 1v1.

This deck has stuck pretty solid in 1v1 games. However, to make it more competitive, I'll agree with you and run things over Elder Mastery and Ophidian Eye, due to their heavy cost. Stifle would be a good card to throw in, perhaps a strong single target discard spell too like Hymn to Tourach. In the 1v1 games I've played, Helm of the Ghastlord still strikes as a winning card, when it is played at the right time. Curiosity is a card I can't leave home without, due to the synergy it has with most, if not all, cards in my deck. I heavily suggest it, especially if you're running cards like Fate Unraveler and Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind. Fork effects can certainly be useful in 1v1 play, but I personally wouldn't run any more than two.

The largest issues I face when going in 1v1 is usually against another control deck. Cavern of Souls, Riptide Laboratory, and Boseiju, Who Shelters All are the best suggestions I can offer, because lands are difficult to remove or stop. If this interests you, I'd perhaps recommend a Tolaria West to have a uncounterable way to grab these utility lands, maybe even an Expedition Map. Occasionally, I sometimes can run out of card drawing steam, and that can put you in a pickle. Aside from control, I've outlasted brutal Xenagos, God of Revels aggro builds, combo-riddled Ghave, Guru of Spores, and voltron Sigarda, Host of Herons. The best thing you can do is know your audience. Understanding the meta can make or break a deck. (Also, a bunch of tutors never hurt.)

I hope I was able to help a little bit. Let me know if you have any further questions, and I hope you have a lot of fun at that tournament.

December 5, 2014 7:17 p.m.

Cerealkillah says... #18

Alizer313 - Thank you for your feedback! I think we are looking at things in the same light. I got my hind-end handed to me by a Maelstrom Wanderer deck in the "store qualifier" last night. I did hold up well against the other decks I played and feel like there is hope.

Here's to getting cards here before next Saturday!

December 5, 2014 10:03 p.m.

Cerealkillah says... #19

I just wanted to drop by and show you what I came up with, Alizer313.

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/the-mindrazers-gamble/

December 11, 2014 5:22 p.m.

Cerealkillah says... #20

December 11, 2014 5:28 p.m.

Sweet deck, Nekusar is a commander I'd love to build but I can't ever make a good deck out of lol.

Have you considered adding Underworld Dreams for extra Nekusar effects? Maybe Strionic Resonator to copy Nekusar's ability also.

Chasm Skulker looks like it could get a bit crazy in a build like this.

Again, great deck. +1

December 26, 2014 5:24 p.m.

lemmingllama says... #22

I think that Delay and Memory Lapse are somewhat subpar in here. You can probably devote those slots to other ways of protecting yourself. Cards like Propaganda can give you some leeway against aggressive decks, and cards like Meekstone can slow them down. You could also consider Devastation Tide as a blowout card to reset the board if it is getting too crazy, plus it works well with Winds of Change type effects.

I also love seeing Magus of the Jar in these builds. Not the most competitive suggestion, but he is a card that most people forget about.

December 26, 2014 5:51 p.m.