Streamlining Nekusar
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Aug. 17, 2016, 4:48 p.m. by ducttapedeckbox
Now that I have events to attend, I'm looking to streamline my Nekusar, the Mindrazer deck. I have an idea of which cards are weak and a few ideas for replacements, so I was hoping to get some feedback. Here is the deck for reference:
Crudelis Imperium - A Cyclic Chaos
Commander / EDH*
SCORE: 33 | 129 COMMENTS | 5240 VIEWS | IN 13 FOLDERS
I'm thinking of removing:
- Hive Mind - seems more like a win more card, though I haven't tested it enough
- Forced Fruition - slow and another win more card
- Sangromancer - meh
- Teferi's Puzzle Box - not completely confident, doesn't go off when I want it to
- Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker - Doesn't fit, slow, and mostly there for flavor
- EDIT: and Tomorrow, Azami's Familiar
For any or all of the following:
- Misdirection - for protection
- Glistening Oil / Phyresis / Tainted Strike
- Skirge Familiar - Bad Mind Over Matter but gets the job done
- Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind / Curiosity combo (since Niv also works with MOM)
- Lim-Dul's Vault
Those are just some thoughts I've had. I'm open to others as well. My goal is to make this as competitive as possible while retaining some level of budget (no cards over $20 or so). Thanks in advance!
ducttapedeckbox says... #3
Thank you for your suggestions, TheDevicer. I'll start with a quick rundown of my meta to hopefully clarify where I want this deck to be.
There have only been two events thus far, with most decks being mid-tier generals with less than optimal lists. Most games are clunky and last a while, and a lot of the players are just there to have some fun. There have been a few that aren't regulars with incomplete top-tier lists - those games were very one-sided. Mulligans are Vancouver style with one free. The prize support is also awarded based on the number of players you eliminate from the match.
I figure it'll be easiest to make this as fast, consistent, and lethal as possible and then tone it down depending on the adaptation of the meta.
- I agree that the ramp package could be adjusted, so I will replace Gilded Lotus and Thran Dynamo with Chrome Mox and Izzet Signet.
- I guess the logic I applied to Hive Mind is more appropriate for Melek. Melek is win-more, whereas Hive Mind is a must-answer.
- Agreed with Crawlspace, though I haven't included Propaganda because I think I traded it to you XD What are your thoughts on Meekstone?
- I already cut Tomorrow in some cuts I did before seeing your post. Fact or Fiction is great.
- Agreed with Helm of the Ghastlord and voltron effects. Will remove.
- Agreed with Bloodchief Ascension. I'm going to keep it in for now, but it will be high up on the chopping block once I see how the meta evolves.
- Many of the decks I've played against thus far (again, only two events, but these are mostly regulars) are creature-based, but Breathstealer's Crypt is in the same boat as Ascension.
- Sadly cut Bolas already as well :(
From my current list which is slightly updated from what I think you saw, how about cutting:
- Gilded Lotus
- Thran Dynamo
- Melek, Izzet Paragon
- Helm of the Ghastlord
- Blue Sun's Zenith - I'm not convinced this is worth it without infinite mana
- Crawlspace
For:
- 2 lands
- 2 rocks
- re-ad Hive Mind
- Fact or Fiction
Thoughts? Thank you again for your help!
August 17, 2016 10:56 p.m.
Meekstone has saved my Nekusar deck more than once against creature decks and I would highly recommend it. I did notice you have Archmage Ascension in there. How often does that go off for you?
August 18, 2016 9:39 a.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #5
@ Podma101 - I haven't played this deck in a while, but I imagine that Archmage Ascension would rarely go off. Probably should look to cut it.
August 18, 2016 10:35 a.m.
OH THAT'S RIGHT! I have your propaganda. Lol. It's in my Grand Arbiter deck atm. Thanks, mate. Meekstone isn't bad, but it's not as reliable in preventing damage as other permanents available to you. Also, if your meta has people running elves and they have overruns, Meekstone isn't that great. It's a meta-based call, really.
Your suggestions seem fine. Archmage Ascension is ass. Also, Nekusar decks run tons of redundant cards. Finally, I forgot to mention that you should prob run Chaos Warp over Vandalblast because it hits anything (something Grixis needs), is instant-speed, and works better vs combos.
August 18, 2016 3:28 p.m.
I am actually working on upgrading my Nekusar right now as well.
Hive Mind should absolutely stay in the deck. If it sticks it is a game ender. What is really key is every player MUST copy the spell. Any copy with X in the cost is copied with the X amount you selected. This allows any of your Wheel effects or Draw X cards, like Prosperity, to end the game.
August 18, 2016 3:40 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #8
Thanks again, TheDevicer. I'll just pick up whatever damage prevention permanent that I find (that's also relevant). The only thing I know for sure is that one of my good friends runs Sigarda, Host of Herons and will be at pretty much every event that I am. Last week I was with him in all four matches. Not fun.
Removed Archmage Ascension already. Realized just how bad it is. Six counters is never happening. Used the slot to up my land count.
I really like Vandalblast because it helps against the Sigarda deck in particular while also being relevant against most others. I should find room for Chaos Warp though.
What do you think about Dack Fayden?
August 18, 2016 3:44 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #9
Realizing that about Hive Mind, iAzire. From a theory perspective, draw X spells seem to be less efficient that wheels unless you ramp really hard. Is this different in practice? I haven't played my deck in ages.
August 18, 2016 3:46 p.m.
Dack Fayden doesn't help much. He's on the same level as Blue Sun's Zenith. Nekusar wants cards that target the whole table, not a single opponent. They aren't good enough for a spot imo.
Jace Beleren is a decent choice.
I feel as though, even as rarely as you might Ult him, Jace, Memory Adept would still be better than Dack.
August 18, 2016 3:49 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #11
I don't like Jace Beleren much because the incremental card draw becomes irrelevant when you're force-feeding seven per wheel. I don't like JMA either because, as you mentioned, he'll never get to ult.
August 18, 2016 3:54 p.m.
Well I run cards like Prosperity because Nekusar costs so much. Much of my early game is ramping. I own many of the best ramping cards like Mana Crypt because I use them in decks like Zur the Enchanter.
The X cost cards come in handy due to the tons of ramp I believe you should be running.
It has also allowed me to increase the overall hand size for cards that require players to draw as many as they discarded, or Draw as many as the largest hand size.
I mentioned the Jace twins because they are more useful to the deck than Dack imo. Not that they are fantastic options.
August 18, 2016 3:56 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #13
Yeah, I agree that I should be running more ramp. Preferably at least 9 rocks/ramp sources. Do you have any suggestions of what to add / where to find the room for them?
August 18, 2016 3:59 p.m.
Mana Crypt is worth it, although that may not be in your budget.
Talisman of Indulgence is a reasonable choice.
Mox Diamond is good.
August 18, 2016 4:47 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #15
I'm trying to stay. <$20 per card, so Crypt and Diamond aren't a possibility right now. Talisman is fine, better or worse than Signets though?
August 18, 2016 4:59 p.m.
Library of Leng is a card I would highly recommend. Providers fantastic utility of not wheeling what you don't want to and having infinite hand size
August 18, 2016 5:18 p.m.
I typically run both the Signet and Talisman when possible for the colors I'm in.
The Talisman provide mana right then, and 
without you taking damage when you don't need a specific color.
The Signet allow you to filter your colors. Both serve a purpose.
The only time I won't include a certain Signet or Talisman is when my deck is heavy on one color, then I'll just use the Artifacts that have those colors. As Nekusar is typically pretty balanced, it shouldn't be much of an issue. You should always have Artifacts to cast or Blue/Red Draw/Wheel effects.
August 18, 2016 5:32 p.m.
Talisman are better than signet once your land base has proper fixing.
August 18, 2016 6:58 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #19
@ Podma101 - Already running Library :]
@ iAzire & TheDevicer - Thanks for the input. Where might I find room for two more rocks? The worst cards look like Geth's Grimoire and the two TheDevicer previously mentioned - Bloodchief Ascension and Breathstealer's Crypt. A combination of these two for two rocks, or?
August 18, 2016 11:06 p.m.
That's what I get for doing this on mobile lol. I would actually suggest to remove Jace's Archivist. While it is a great card, I always found it very slow and it never managed to live to see another turn, and from what I can tell the only card you have to get an immediate wheel is Swiftfoot Boots. Also, I'd suggest finding room for Glacial Chasm. I have found it REALLY helpful when you want to just go all in and not worry about defenses.
August 18, 2016 11:37 p.m.
I would suggest Geth's Grimoire and Bloodchief Ascension.
The other has more use. Is going to cost your opponents more life which is good, or they discard which won't be helpful for them.
I haven't checked the deck again, are you running damage on Discard effects as well?
Arvail says... #2
Your ramp is too costly. Things like Gilded Lotus and Thran Dynamo aren't really useful in competitive games because things tend to move quickly. You've got cheap and fantastic alternatives available. Obv, you'd want cards like Chrome Mox and Mox Diamond, but if budget is an issue, I'd go with cheap stuff like Thought Vessel, Izzet Signet, etc. Just use cheap rocks even if they aren't great. You want to hit your mana acceleration early and consistently. That means going up to 9 sources of cheap acceleration minimum. Nekusar turns also tend to be quite expensive mana-wise, so having rocks out helps.
How's your mulligan rules? Without partial paris, you should prob go 38 lands to ensure you hit those drops. Dimir Aqueduct and other karoos are fucking awful because of the wealth of Strip Mine effects EDH tends to run. If you're going to run lands that enter tapped, use the temples. They're cheap and do what they need to do.
Cuts:
I actually like Teferi's Puzzle Box because it makes long-term planning so difficult. It's a recurring wheel and Nekusar decks tend to be redundant, so getting a fresh grip doesn't hurt all that bad. I have a similar relationship with Hive Mind. It doesn't do much when it comes out other than deter others from casting stuff. Oh, and a single wheel with this thing out ends the game.
Misdirection, Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind and Lim-Dul's Vault are all good.
August 17, 2016 9:05 p.m.