@ ozzar For me, the decision between Forced Fruition and Hive Mind was a challenge. I wanted to forcefeed them like crazy, but I also want to limit how much value people get out of the cards they get. Introducing some Chaos was a fun way for me to do that I thought.

@ nobu_the_bard

I think I'm going to hold off on the graveyard recycling, and opt to try and just win by stacking as many different damage generators together as I can until I can cast a big Windfall or something.

I'm also going to hold off on the Maniac for now. My meta is finally just getting off the ground so I want to see what else comes to play.

@ nobu_the_bard

I added Notion Thief and couldn't not add Laboratory Maniac after that. There's some small anti-synergy with Library of Leng but with the amount of card draw potential I think it's ok.

What does everybody think?

I run Venser's Journal in my Nekusar deck. Another no max hand size card plus it gains me life from what I have in hand.

I don't know how I missed Hive Mind and I can't imagine what chaos I could cause with that and Forced Fruition (which I do have in mine) out on the field. Mwuahahaha.

I love my slowly evolving Nekusar deck for the crazy chaos that it has been causing in games. So much fun that I don't even care if I win, and I do win half the time.

Here is mine: Crazy Nekusar's Card Drawing Emporium though I think you have most of what I have in mine as well. :) +1 from me for sure on yours!!

Oh and Price of Knowledge can be fun it gives everyone no maximum hand size but only damages your opponents and if you are constantly filling them up to 7 cards a turn then they will take 7 on their upkeep.

One of my friends uses Venser's Journal quite extensively. I think it's a great card that can really put you miles ahead. The downside for this deck is unless I'm already ahead I usually only have 2-5 cards in hand so the life gain is minimal AND it competes with other stuff at or around its CMC. Usually if I haven't ramped into my threats early I want to be sweeping the board around turn 5-6. I'm planning to cut Decree of Pain for Damnation eventually to make that a more viable line of play.

I also really like Price of Knowledge but I feel like at 7 mana I have other more immediate things I could be doing. Also, if my Notion Thief game plan pans out nobody will have cards in hand but me.

Thanks for the comments! If I was to cut something for those two cards what would you suggest?

Have you considered Phyrexian Arena and Bloodgift Demon ? I run both in my Nekusar deck and they have been awesome. Bloodgift Demon is especially nice because it gives you a large flyer. I also just added Mogis, God of Slaughter and his ability worked wonders. One other creature you may want to consider is Kederekt Creeper . Deathtouch and can't be blocked except by 2 or more creatures is phenominal. Just some thoughts.

@tgger000

Youre right Bloodgift Demon and Phyrexian Arena are awesome. Staples of black commander decks some might say. In this case, I'm just not sure they contribute to my overall game plan as much. What would you replace for them and why?

I first started playing during Shards of Alara with a Grixis Prince of Thralls deck with Demon's Herald to find him. We had a house rule at the time that you only had to sacrifice enough creatures to satisfy the color requirements of the Herald to activate the ability so Kederekt Creeper was a shoe-in for a slot. I've got some good memories of him, but honestly I think the creeper is outclassed in EDH. He's a ground guy so flyers aren't worried about him and his potential two damage/turn is underwhelming with so many sweepers running around. Vampire Nighthawk has the same body but he flies AND has lifelink. Like I said...I've got fond memories but that lovable blob has been outclassed.

Mogis on the other hand is interesting. I've been considering going in a Stax direction as my defense strategy but so far have held off. I don't have a copy of Mogis but I could see the "sac or get shocked" choice be annoying for people eventually. I may have to consider finding one. I want a way for all the cards my opponents end up with to not bite me in the ass.

Both Bloodgift Demon and Phyrexian Arena would allow you to have more options and enable you to do more. At least that is what I have found in my experience.

I would probably replace Nivix Guildmage with Bloodgift Demon . I used to have the guildmage in my deck but found that it was a bit slow and I was using the mana to cast other stuff that would be more beneficial. I see your point about Kederekt Creeper not flying but the fact that it has deathtouch and can potentially take out 1-2 creatures whether it is attacking or blocking is still really strong

I also noticed you run 38 lands. Is there a reason it is so high? I'm not the most experienced EDH player but I run 34 in mine and with all the card draw I never run short on mana. With all the mana rocks you have I would think you could probably go without the Mana Crypt and Rakdos Signet as well. The possibility of losing 3 life every turn from Mana Crypt can take its toll really quickly. That would in essence allow you 6 more slots to put more utility/creatures in.

I noticed you didn't have any counters like Counterflux or Counterspell . Those two along with Dissipate , Faerie Trickery and Remand are all in my deck and have come in handy in dealing with big creatures or other annoying spells.

You may want to look at Minamo, School at Water's Edge . It has saved me quite a few times. Btw...how are you able to run lands such as Marsh Flats or Misty Rainforest ? According to EDH rules you are only allowed to have colors that your general has.

maybe I missed it in the comment thread but what about City of Shadows and Blue Sun's Zenith ?

If you are looking for creatures to sac, I run Army of the Damned as well :)

Lands are colorless. EDH rules don't allow lands to produce mana outside of your generals color identity but Marsh Flats simply allows me to search for a plains or a swamp...I don't have any Plains so I just find Swamp s, Badlands , Underground Sea , Watery Grave or Blood Crypt with it.

You're probably right about Nivix Guildmage . I was keeping it in because it's also a wizard to tap with Azami but I'm realizing that's a silly reason to keep it around. I'm honestly thinking cutting Azami may be the right thing to do too because you're right, I draw so many cards as is. Bloodgift Demon or Seizan, Perverter of Truth are competing for that spot currently.

I don't plan to cut any land or mana rocks, I use my wheel effects strategically so it's still important to be able to hit my land drops and accelerate into my 5 and 6 drops. Especially Mana Crypt ; 2 mana for free that 50/50 could Lightning Bolt me in the head when I start with 40 life just isn't threatening enough. It does add up with the fetches and Ancient Tomb though. Not often I have them all chipping away but when I do I'm usually so far ahead anyway...

I Despise counterspells...it's not my style. I see their utility I just don't like them. I've considered Counterflux but my metagame needs to flesh itself out a bit before I make a change like that.

@ Zebgora

Blue Sun's Zenith doesn't do enough for me. I don't generate enough mana on a regular basis to justify the cost considering it only causes one player to draw. It would be a different story with Hive Mind out but I could see that going badly.

I'm thinking of going back to Army of the Damned rather than Cruel Ultimatum actually. I think the tokens are more valuable to me than pwning one player. I love the flavor of both of them though. Also, I don't think City of Shadows does enough for me to justify running it over something else...maybe Ancient Tomb but I think it's too conditional and aside from tokens my creatures are all too valuable.

Thanks for the comment! I appreciate the thought.

Hive Mind could go badly no matter what the situation, couldn't it? I mean, with the "right" circumstances and game-state, things could get really ugly really quickly, no?

Hive Mind is always dangerous for sure. I want it for two reasons; 1) potential win-con with Nekusar and Wheel of Fortune /Windfall or 2) chaos defense against putting too many cards in people's hands.

That is really cool! I have to admit, I have only been playing Commander since the first of the year, but I had been looking in to it well before that and trying to get my friends to at least try it out. This is really the only format that I would consider playing a Nekusar deck in, as he's not my normal play style. Just for reference, here is the deck that I am making with him as General: Nekusar and Friends

Not TOO much different but I would love to get your opinion on it :D

Definitely +1

I'd suggest Sire Of Insanity and Fate Unraveler . Also maybe Minds Aglow

I used to run Sire Of Insanity and I really like it. It gets even better with Library of Leng but at the same time I don't like limiting my options and I don't feel like I have enough recursion. I just added Snapcaster and am considering Mystic Retrieval to try and combat that though...what would you take out for Mystic Retrieval and Sire Of Insanity ?

I don't think I like Minds Aglow . It's a cool card and all, but I see the potential upside being outweighed by "so I can pay X mana to draw an extra X cards and deal an extra X damage to myself?" I'll think about it. Who knows.

Finally, I find Fate Unraveler underwhelming. Underworld Dreams on a creature just seems too fragile.

Thanks!

I think City of Shadows + Minds Aglow COULD work really well. haven't actually run MY Nekusar deck since i made all the tweeks to it, but we will see :D

another interesting idea that I have had suggested to me was Sakashima the Impostor . copy nekusar without taking his name and get double the fun!

I also ran Sakashima for a small amount of time. It's definitely a commander staple. Do you think it's worth a slot over something like Vampire Nighthawk ?

Having access to a land that makes X mana does seem like it could be good. With proliferate it could get even more out of control. I brought Army of the Damned back but it's the most expensive spell in my deck and even now I feel like I often have too much colorless mana.

Have to be honest, I had not considered Nighthawk, as it did nothing toward the theme of my deck. I DO have a playset of them in my Vampire Deck, i believe.

It does look like it fits in really well tho with your deck. :)

I feel like he's a valuable defensive option. Hm.

I totally agree on the defense thing! Just about anything that has deathtouch and/or lifelink is. I may try changing up my creature base, but like i said before, I really have to test the deck out before i do anything else major to it

Either way, Nighthawk is on a short leash. If I find it rots in my hand quite a bit...it's getting the cut.