Nemesis of Mortals

Creature — Snake

Nemesis of Mortals costs 1 less to cast for each creature card in your graveyard.

7{G}{G}: Monstrosity 5. This ability costs 1 less to activate for each creature card in your graveyard. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put five +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)

Discussion (50)

TheVectornaut on Blue-Black Deck

1 month ago

I'd start by identifying what you want the main goal of your deck to be. I see two main ideas here that could be built around.

The first is dealing unblocked damage by disincentivizing blocks with deathtouch. Darkblade Agent , Eternal of Harsh Truths , Graveblade Marauder , and maybe Blightsteel Colossus (with enough reanimation) fit this archetype. Because of the two "blade" cards, there is some overlap with the second archetype which I'll cover next (and if you keep them, cards like Notion Rain , Mission Briefing , Thought Erasure , and Discovery / Dispersal are likely to get more mileage than Divination or Secrets of the Golden City ), but there may be even better ways to profit from unblocked creatures. Curiosity enchantments like Curious Obsession , Sixth Sense , and Keen Sense are frequent accompaniments to the Invisible Stalker s and other bogles of the world, and Bident of Thassa is a strong option for those going wide. I like Quietus Spike as a sort of midway point between Basilisk Collar and Master of Cruelties in decks like these too. Other beaters to get in with could be Tomebound Lich , Oona's Blackguard , Dimir Cutpurse , Looter il-Kor , Shadowmage Infiltrator , Surrakar Spellblade , Wharf Infiltrator , or Virtus the Veiled if he's legal in whatever format this is for. More generic deathtouch synergy could include Hooded Blightfang , Viridian Longbow , Thornbite Staff , Psionic Gift enchantments, and any source of first strike. Finally, I like Cipher as a way to gain advantage from repeated attacks, so maybe a Hidden Strings or Paranoid Delusions could come in handy.

The second main idea is to stack the graveyard(s) with as many creatures as possible to extract value from Undergrowth and similar mechanics. Avatar of Woe , Lotleth Giant , Trepanation Blade , Teferi's Tutelage , and some of your Disentomb effects fit here. Major threats in these kinds of decks include Wight of Precinct Six , Jace's Phantasm , Consuming Aberration , Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker , Fleet Swallower , Nemesis of Reason , Bonehoard , Mortivore , and Nighthowler . If you want to focus on your own graveyard, green is a great color to dip into as I alluded to earlier. Ghoultree , Boneyard Wurm , Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord , Splinterfright , Nyx Weaver , Nemesis of Mortals , Spider Spawning , and Kessig Cagebreakers are just some of the tools you get access to. Golgari is also the king of Undergrowth, so Hatchery Spider , Izoni, Thousand-Eyed , Molderhulk , Rhizome Lurcher / Undergrowth Scavenger , Kraul Harpooner , and Necrotic Wound are on the table. If milling your opponents is more your thing, some staples to consider are Thought Scour , Sphinx's Tutelage , Drown in the Loch , Traumatize , Fraying Sanity , and the crab duo. Jace's Erasure , Psychic Corrosion , and the Tutelage pair benefit the most from other draw synergy, and Visions of Beyond is an obvious inclusion if that's the route you take. Either way, I'd cut down to only the most efficient of your reanimate to hand cards and the like since you don't want to be stuck with a fist full of them and no creatures in the graveyard to target. Speaking of cuts, for maximum power, it's usually correct to play as close to the 60 card minimum as possible. Picking a single strategy to hone in on should make it easier to whittle down to the most important 60 in the deck.

If you have questions, let me know. Good luck with your build!

zamiero on Vial and Ghost!

3 months ago

3> Ahhh I've been wanting to play with Obosh, the Preypiercer and Angrath's Marauders - glad you found a spot for them. While you're at it, you could also consider other "damage doublers" such as Wound Reflection and Fiendish Duo. I've thought about a Vial-Smasher deck with a White partner just to add Gisela, Blade of Goldnight.

3> I see you enjoy big monsters and X-spells here. Oh to be young again... but seriously, this seems like a good deck to play them in as you would be rewarded. Instants are your friend, as you can Smash Vials on everyone's turn! No Comet Storm?

3> I would be worried about Vial-Smasher getting nuked from orbit as soon as your turn passes and it's no longer indestructible. You'll find Heroic Intervention and Slippery Bogbonder will help with targeted Exile removal. You already have Destroy and Sacrifice covered I see.

3> I see some cost-reduced and commander-free spells in there, but you have a limited suite. While doing research for my thoughts on Vial-Smasher, I found the following might be helpful - list is just copy/paste, so it will include some White and/or Blue cards:

• 3- Offalsnout (evoke B)
• 3- Rushwood Legate (opponent control island)
• 4- Skyshroud Cutter (control forest, opponents gain life)
• 4- Frogmite (artifacts battlefield)
• 4- Bone Picker (creature dies)
• 4- Briarhorn (evoke 1G)
• 4- Deepwood Legate (opponent control forest)
• 5- Stormwing Entity (cast instant/sorcery)
• 5- Ingot Chewer (evoke R)
• 5- Shriekmaw (evoke 1B)
• 5- Glarewielder (evoke 1R)
• 5- Mulldrifter (evoke 2U)
• 6- Igneous Elemental (land graveyard)
• 6- Nemesis of Mortals (greatures graveyard)
• 6- AEthersnipe (evoke 1UU)
• 6- Spitebellows (evoke 1RR)
• 6- Cloudthresher (evoke 2GG)
• 6- Hooting Mandrills (cards graveyard)
• 6- Ethereal Forager (cards graveyard)
• 6- Soulflayer (cards graveyard)
• 6- Sultai Scavenger (cards graveyard)
• 6- Tasigur, the Golden Fang (cards graveyard)
• 6- Salvage Titan (sacrifice three artifacts)
• 6- Sawtusk Demolisher (creature battlefield)
• 6- Shatterskull Minotaur (party)
• 6- Somber Hoverguard (artifacts battlefield)
• 6- Veteran Adventurer (party)
• 7- Gurmag Angler (cards graveyard)
• 7- Ore-Scale Guardian (lands graveyard)
• 7- Myr Enforcer (artifacts battlefield)
• 7- Cryptic Serpent (instant/sorcery graveyard)
• 7- Gearseeker Serpent (artifacts battlefield)
• 7- Quicksilver Behemoth (artifacts battlefield)
• 7- Dargo, the Shipwrecker (sacrifice artifacts/creatures)
• 7- Mournwhelk (evoke 3B)
• 7- Faultgrinder (evoke 4R)
• 8- Ghoultree (creatures graveyard)
• 8- Avatar of Woe (creatures graveyard)
• 8- Walker of the Grove (evoke 4G)
• 8- Shambling Attendants (cards graveyard)
• 8- Bedlam Reveler (instant/sorcery graveyard)
• 8- Qumulox (artifacts battlefield)
• 9- Molderhulk (creature graveyard)
• 9- Sibsig Muckdraggers (cards graveyard)
• 9- Necropolis Fiend (cards graveyard)
• 10+ Stratadon (basic land types)
• 10+ Primeval Protector (creatures battlefield)
• 10+ Ghalta, Primal Hunger (power of creatures battlefield)
• 10+ Draco (basic land types)
• 10+ The Great Henge (power of creatures battlefield)
• 10+ The Cauldron of Eternity (creatures graveyard)

3> I see some cost-reduced and commander-free spells in there, but you have a limited suite. While doing research for my thoughts on Vial-Smasher, I found the following might be helpful - list is just copy/paste, so it will include some White and/or Blue cards:

• 3- Light Up the Stage (opponent damage)
• 4- Reverent Silence (control forest, opponents gain life)
• 4- Snuff Out (control swamp, pay life)
• 4- Ensnare (return two islands)
• 4- Flameshot (discard mountain)
• 4- Outbreak (discard swamp)
• 4- Snag (discard forest)
• 4- Unmask (black card hand)
• 4- Ravenous Trap (opponent 3 cards enter graveyard)
• 4- Lethargy Trap (three creatures attacking)
• 4- Bolt Bend (4-power creature battlefield)
• 4- Massacre (opponent control plains)
• 4- Refreshing Rain (opponent control swamp)
• 4- Ricochet Trap (opponent cast blue)
• 4- Tentative Connection (menace creature battlefield)
• 4- Drag to the Underworld (devotion to black)
• 4- Snag (discard forest)
• 4- Hagra Mauling  ^Flip (opponent has no basic lands)
• 4- Price of Fame (targets legend)
• 5- Bounty of the Hunt (green card hand)
• 5- Contagion (black card hand)
• 5- Force of Will (blue card hand)
• 5- Cave-In (red card hand)
• 5- Submerge (opponent control forest)
• 5- Gush (return two islands)
• 5- Misdirection (blue card hand)
• 5- Dark Triumph (sacrifice creature)
• 5- Thoughtcast (artifacts battlefield)
• 5- Murderous Cut (cards graveyard)
• 5- Rite of Undoing (cards graveyard)
• 5- Coveted Prize (party)
• 5- Deadly Alliance (party)
• 5- Baral's Expertise (cast CMC 4 or less)
• 6- Pyrokinesis (red card hand)
• 6- Fireblast (sacrifice two mountains)
• 6- Pulverize (sacrifice two mountains)
• 6- Into Thin Air (artifacts battlefield)
• 6- Tasigur's Cruelty (cards graveyard)
• 6- Spinning Darkness (black cards graveyard)
• 6- Become Immense (cards graveyard)
• 6- Set Adrift (cards graveyard)
• 6- Will of the Naga (cards graveyard)
• 6- Runeflare Trap (opponent drew 3 cards)
• 6- Zahid, Djinn of the Lamp (artifact battlefield)
• 6- Magmatic Sinkhole (cards graveyard)
• 6- Thwart the Grave (party)
• 6- Curtains' Call (per opponent)
• 6- Cobra Trap (noncreature destroyed by opponent)
• 6- Rishkar's Expertise (cast CMC 5 or less)
• 7- Divergent Transformations (per opponent)
• 7- Into the Story (opponent 7+ cards graveyard)
• 7- Assert Authority (artifacts battlefield)
• 7- Seeds of Renewal (per opponent)
• 7- Needlebite Trap (opponent gain life)
• 8- Treasure Cruise (cards graveyard)
• 9- Blasphemous Act (creatures battlefield)
• 10+ Dead Drop (cards graveyard)
• 10+ Volcanic Salvo (power of creatures battlefield)
X
• 3- Chord of Calling (untapped creatures battlefield)

Dr_Wurm on Delve Deck

6 months ago

Consider Nemesis of Mortals. For obvious reasons. He is cheap and really good in a Delerium deck I use

Optimator on No Need For Any More Snake-Makery

10 months ago

Nemesis of Mortals

Kazierts on Abzan Eldrazi Emerge

1 year ago

I think if you want to focus on the Emerge plan, you should maybe forget a bit about the token plan since tokens are kinda of a nombo with emerge as they can help you cast the big Eldrazi.

One thing I remember that people used to do in pauper, if I'm not mistaken, was to play Spire Golem cheaper thanks to its affinity to Islands and emerge Wretched Gryff for almost free. Of course, those decks were monoblue but there's a cycle of these cards, each with an affinity for each basic land type. Don't know it taking this route would interest you.

Another route that came to my mind was to fill your graveyard with cards like Sakura-Tribe Elder that can sac itself to help you or cycling creature cards to cheapen the cost of cards like Avatar of Woe , Nemesis of Mortals , Ghoultree and Molderhulk . The only problem is that most Emerge cards aren't that strong and these ones that I have mentioned are a bit better. Maybe with something like Emrakul's Influence you would have a better payoff for playing them.

Hope anything I said helps. I'm always happy to see people trying unusual conecpts for decks.

Barbarian_Sun_Pope on Nylea Pioneer

1 year ago

Hmmm ... I think Nemesis of Mortals and Polukranos, World Eater would be a better fit than Nessian Asp and possibly Arbor Colossus . Voracious Hydra would also be a nice fit for your deck. Hope this helps.

SP3CTR3_chelts on Are you delirious

1 year ago

grisly salvage and Grapple with the Past are similar cards. Early game GS is better and if you are adding one of the suggested recursion cards i would therefore ditch grapple. doom blade is a good swap out for nameless inversion.

I think your creature count is probably a little high:

Moldgraf Scavenger - is not the most active creature in the deck a 0/4 isn't great early game and a 3/4 is not great late game

Ghoultree & Nemesis of Mortals do not have any evasion or trample so i'm not sure how often they will win you the game in a deck that cant give them either.

Soo long story short my recommendations would be:

Doombladex3-> Nameless Inversion x3

Moldgraf Scavenger x4 & Dead Weight x2-> Traveler's Amulet x4 & Satyr Wayfinder x2

Grapple with the Past x3-> Return from Extinction x3

Ghoultree x2 & Nemesis of Mortals -> Mindwrack Demon x3

xxslatteryxx on Golgari Graveyard (Modern) w/ new Fiend Artisan

1 year ago

c0rocotta A couple things about grave hate when playing this deck from my own experiences. Rest in Peace is almost unbeatable unless you draw Nature's Claim or Assassin's Trophy .

The grave hate that one time removes your graveyard like Nihil Spellbomb , Relic of Progenitus , and Tormod's Crypt can actually be played around to a somewhat decent level. For example, if you have 4 creatures in your grave and they have not popped spell bomb or relic or crypt by the time you gain priority on your own main phase 1, you can cast Nemesis of Mortals for 2 mana and they can't do anything about it. Same with Ghoultree . Once these creatures are on the stack it doesn't matter if your graveyard is eliminated. Your opponent often lets you get these creatures into play because they want to wait and wait until you have a really full yard, but you don't need that many creatures in your yard to start casting these two guys on turn 3.

You can also bounce back pretty quickly once they do decide to exile your graveyard. If you hold a Grisly Salvage back that can usually get you back in it. Another thing to note, when your graveyard is exiled by bomb, relic, or crypt, any of your Splinterfright or Boneyard Wurm that die as a result will go to the graveyard after it was exiled and will start you off with a creature or two.

Grave hate definitely still wrecks you, but these are the ways you can sort of be strategic in the way you deploy your cards to get around some of the common hate cards out there.