Need help with what to drop in Nekusar
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Sept. 2, 2016, 7 p.m. by hosshughes
I was looking at adding a Consecrated Sphinx, Sigil of Sleep, Black Sun's Zenith and possibly Life's Finale or Cyclonic Rift. What are your thoughts and if it's a good idea, what would you replace?
Hurt - Nekusar Wheels
Commander / EDH
SCORE: 5 | 14 COMMENTS | 2295 VIEWS | IN 2 FOLDERS
hosshughes says... #3
@ducttapedeckbox: Thanks for the suggestions. Memory Jar is great, I just don't have a copy so I'm basically just looking at cards I already have. Unfortunately, the budget for magic cards this month is non-existent so it will have to wait. Here's what I was thinking:
Out: Chasm Skulker, Guiltfeeder, Howling Mine, Font of Mythos, Jace Beleren, Jace, Memory Adept
In: Cyclonic Rift, Consecrated Sphinx, Fellwar Stone, Swan Song, Phyresis, Glistening Oil
The infect is frowned upon in my group but oh well, I want to win and they haven't outright banned it. Thoughts on these?
September 2, 2016 8:17 p.m.
DeathChant17 says... #4
The infect is necessary to win with Nekusar. He's a fun commander but unless you are running some sort of stax package, he gives too much card advantage for too little pain. There's answers for them, your group will have to realize that.
September 2, 2016 11:05 p.m.
This all depends on what you are trying to do. Personally I DON'T want personal card draw in my Nekusar deck. Consecrated Sphinx in my deck would be a bad card.
Typically in a Nekusar deck, you should already have enough card draw. If you end up drawing more than your opponents, you run the risk of milling yourself out. Laboratory Maniac could get you a win but it's one shot and with all the cards in opponents hands, it's a hard win.
I personally run stuff like Spiteful Visions and Phyrexian Tyranny because my opponents take so much more damage than I do. With a lot of card draw, and your damage for each card, it's a fair win.
I feel as though Nekusar is best run in his niche. There are other Commanders in the Grixis colors to pull off Combo. Abuse his ability to damage with card draw and shove cards down your opponents throats.
Other interesting ideas are, lowering your opponents maximum hand size, with cards damaging opponents when they discard, (standard Nekusar play). Also the possibility of running targeted Land Destruction like Wasteland and Strip Mine to remove opponents Reliquary Tower. Run other targeted removal for Artifacts even though they are more rare. This doubles damage, opponents take damage when they draw, they have to discard, they take more damage. Especially fun when they have to discard to lower than 7. This is a different strategy though as some cards make opponents draw however many cards they were holding.
The key to Nekusar is not only his damage, but the fact that he disrupts any plans your opponents might have by forcing them to discard hand after hand. Leyline of the Void can help with opponents Graveyards.
September 3, 2016 5:01 a.m.
rob_shifflett says... #6
What about Chains of Mephistopheles? It is a hefty price tag, but so powerful.
September 3, 2016 7:30 a.m.
ArchangelAlchemist says... #7
Are Bloodchief Ascension and Duskmantle Guildmage in there twice? If so try Elder Mastery for control and Night Dealings for recurring tutor
September 3, 2016 9:36 a.m.
hosshughes says... #8
Thanks for the comments everybody!
@DeathChant17: I texted them last night and they're fine with it. So that's a plus :)
@iAzire: I too run all the mini-Nekusars like Spiteful Visions and Fate Unraveler. I've never tried the personal draw route so I'm going to give it a shot and see if I can combo easier.
@rob_shifflett: Chains of Mephistopheles belongs in every Nekky deck...except mine where I can't afford it :) It is amazing though.
@ArchangelAlchemist: They aren't in there twice, I just included them in multiple categories. Elder Mastery is good in some Nekky decks but I want them to have full hands so the wheels hurt more. Night Dealings is a really cool card and I would throw it in for fun if my playgroup wasn't so fastpaced.
September 3, 2016 1:42 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #9
Describing Nekusar as a combo deck may not have been as accurate as comparing it to a Storm deck. You look to get Nekusar (or another pain enabler) and Mind Over Matter out and chain together wheel effects. Often times you win but you can whiff - this, in my opinion, separates it from traditional combo.
Outside of wheels and pain enablers, you want protection for your game plan, ramp to accelerate that game plan, and tutors to find the pieces. If you can't confidently place any card in your deck into one of these categories, chances are that it doesn't belong.
Consecrated Sphinx is an interesting case because it is an incredibly powerful card but doesn't solidly fit in any of these categories. It can be loosely described as a tutor because of the sheer amount of cards you draw from it, though I have been concerned with its performance. With an increasing budget, you get better tutors like Vampiric Tutor and Demonic Tutor, as well as lower-costed draw/manipulation in Sensei's Divining Top which makes Sphinx less relevant.
ducttapedeckbox says... #2
I'm not impressed by Chasm Skulker or Guiltfeeder. They're both pretty easy to deal with and underwhelming when you're looking to chain wheel effects.
Cyclonic Rift is a must-have in nearly any blue deck, and Consecrated Sphinx is very powerful. The other three cards that you listed are good but not auto-includes.
I also stray from recurring draw effects like Howling Mine as those tend to provide advantage rather than contribute to pain. I took more of a combo approach with my list, though it can come down to personal preference and how lethal you want to be.
I notice the lack of Memory Jar which is an incredibly powerful wheel effect and would recommend including.
September 2, 2016 7:27 p.m.