Cease to exist; your mind is breaking free - Rob Zombie
Im new to Magic, and even newer to EDH (only been playing this format for about three months as of the original writing of this), but its quickly become my favorite format. I tend to focus on more gimmicky or themed decks, because I play for fun with a casual night playgroup. But Id like at least one deck thats designed to be merciless and focus on winning, just for those instances when I feel like getting serious. Or when Im tired of some sore winners attitude and want to put them in their place.
Thats when I decided to make the acquaintance of a certain lich king.
I love both the flavor of the decks strategy, and its utility. Given that my other main deck is an Atraxa-led beatdown, Id like to branch out into new strategy types, and this particular type of direct damage appeals to me. Make my opponents dread to draw cards? I like this brand of cruelty.
This deck isnt finished in real life by a long shot I only have a handful of the cards on this list, but am working on steadily acquiring the rest from my local card shop. Im posting this list because I want feedback and advice from players who know more than I do so I can optimize this deck as much as possible. This list was put together by researching the builds of others, searching up cards that would complement the strategy, and eventually whittling down the resultant huge list to the 100 cards seen here. Im working on a budget, so I tend to exclude cards that cost too much, but Ill still take all suggestions into considerations.
GOALS
As stated above, one of my goals with this deck is to build something focused on victory over gimmicks. I want this deck to win fast and hard something that might be suitable for a proper tournament should I ever wish to participate in one. Im also eager to finally cut my teeth on Red, since its the only color I havent used in a deck yet. Nothing against it or anything, I just havent come up with a deck concept that uses it yet (at least, not one that didnt fall apart halfway through being built). Everythings a learning experience for a n00b!
MECHANICS
Nekusar is clearly the linchpin of this deck. Force opponents to draw, and punish them for doing it. However, this tactic, while steady, is slow. Aside from cards like Wound Reflection (increase the damage opponents take each turn) or Underworld Dreams (stack damage from drawing onto what Nekusar does), there are a few options to hasten the demise of everyone else at the table:
Putting Helm of the Ghastlord on Nekusar makes it so that every time he does damage, you draw something and your opponent discards something. Cast Waste Not while this is active, and you also get to play something each time they discard. This allows you to further profit from your opponents pain, which is always nice.
And if youve decided you dont want friends anymore, cast Windfall or Dark Deal while you have the above combo going and lock your opponents out of ever having a hand again. I normally dislike these sorts of combos, considering them poor sportsmanship, but given that it doesnt instantly hand me the win, and takes a while to set up, Im willing to include it. Plus this deck is supposed to be merciless anyway, so it fits.
Phyresis and Grafted Exoskeleton both give Nekusar Infect, which lowers your win clock from 40+ damage down to 10. If you have something like Reliquary Tower in play to give yourself as many cards in hand as possible, cast something like Windfall when you have 10 or more to just instantly nuke everyone who isnt you. Or keep that tactic in reserve as either a contingency plan or a bargaining chip.
-This deck can also generate a good deal of hand advantage. While most of this is unilateral, keep in mind that your opponents will be suffering every time they have to draw. Plus, if something like Reliquary Tower is on your side of the field, you dont have to discard all the extra cards youve drawn.
POLITICS
Nekusars tyrannical style of rule is what led him to his current undead state. Unfortunately, he doesnt seem have learned from his experience, and is still kind of a dick to everyone who isnt him (or his controller). That means you will be a dick to everyone as well. Because of the group slug nature of this deck, opponents will likely identify Nekusars player as a common threat and try to unite to kill him. Im still not sure how to get around this, as Ive never even seen a group slug deck in action (much less used one), but I love the concept and would love advice from more experienced players. At the moment, the best I can come up with is to try and convince everyone that since Im a unilateral threat, they can use me as a source of extra damage against the others. Basically, try to get them to risk keeping me around to help kill the others and save me for last, thinking all I have is slow-burn damage. Then play Jaces Archivist and make them cry.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
There are certain cards like Ophidian Eye and Curiosity which I am considering, but this is the build Im working towards for now. Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre is also on my maybeboard, partly to help counteract all the discarding this deck can force on its user, and partly to counteract the meta in my playgroup (i.e. to help deal with that one player whose only deck is a Phenax-led mill deck). I may splice Elixir of Immortality into the deck at a later point to further help with this issue, but thats a consideration for my own situation, and wont be applicable to everyones.
If you've actually made it this far, thanks for reading!
UPDATE (05/19/2017)
The deck has been built and playtested for several weeks now. So far, it is performing wonderfully. I've updated the deck list to reflect the changes I've made to the build as a result. I cut some of my draw power and/or draw burn cards, because I had too many of them and came close to decking MYSELF out several times. I replaced them with some more useful utility cards that help me deal with local challenges.
Fog Bank and Guard Gomazoa help provide additional defense against attackers (and when you pair them with Archfiend of Depravity, their jobs get a lot easier), and while I haven't had a chance to actually cast them yet (I've won too quickly, lol), I'm keen to see how well Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs and Dissipation Field work out.
Archfiend of Ifnir is the most impressive newcomer. I got one as a promo at the Amonkhet prerelease, and a friend suggested it would be good in a Nekusar deck. And is it ever! Given the number of times I have to discard a large hand with Windfall or one of its standins, the Archfiend turns into a creature boardwipe in most situations. I actually won a 4 player match a few nights ago when I did this and everyone else at the table scooped in unison, heh.
Infect has also proven to be a game changer (and in many cases, game winner) for me. I've won several matches with it so far, and it's even helped with the politics around the table: people are willing to leave me alone until Poison Counters become an issue, though by then it's usually too late for them to stop me. And I'll always treasure the moment when I first cast Phyresis on Nekusar - the looks of sheer horror I got from the other players at the table as they realized what was about to happen were priceless.
So far, I'm happy with the deck, so I'll make changes as they become necessary. For now though, it's off to the next project!
