Dragonlord Nekusar
Custom Cards forum
Posted on April 12, 2015, 3:33 a.m. by kengiczar
I was wondering what the heck would happen if Nekusar showed up on Tarkir. Given his past I have no doubt he would figure out how to command even dragons. This is one bad Lich that not even Dragonlord Silumgar could out scheme.
Name: Dragonlord Nekusar
Card Type: Creature - Zombie Wizard
Whenever Dragonlord Nekusar enters the battlefield choose one:
Take control of target Dragon creature card.
You have protection from Dragons until Dragonlord Nekusar leaves the field.
Power/Toughness 2/8
The first ability specifically doesn't say "until Dragonlord Nekusar leaves the battlefield", so even if he dies he's still taken control of Dragonlord Atarka for example.
There are some very interesting things happening with this card.
First: He cannot be killed through Dragonlord Atarka's ETB alone.
Second: His theft ability is a strict upgrade if facing Dragonlord Silumgar.
Third: Dragonlord Ojutai's "hex proof" doesn't matter as long as he is on the field. You just choose to give yourself protection from dragons!
Fourth: The same toughness that lets him survive Dragonlord Attarka lets him survive almost any ground haster that Dragonlord Kolaghan would want to haste out. He even downs an attacking Goblin Rabblemaster and survives as long as no more than 5 other goblins are attacking. They probably won't be because he would rather unleash a Virulent Plague upon them.
Fifth: With his "Pro Dragons" clause he also doesn't care that he can't counter a Dragonlord Dromoka. True, Dromoka will interfere with his spell casting but it just means you in response kill a few things and then kill a few more on your turn. Done.
So why not name him Dragonking Nekusar? Because before he can enforce his kingship he must deal with the dragons. Remember, on this plane whoever is the lord of all the dragons pretty much rules all. This guy would do anything to make sure he's the king banana (Sorry Tasigur) even if that means making sure the dragons swear sovereignty to him as their one and only True Lord.
His high toughness works well with a few other cards in his color scheme: Foul Renewal, Profaner of the Dead, and Phenax, God of Deception.
Given his penchant for exploiting others i'm sure he has no qualms about using his stolen subjects such as Silumgar's Sorcerer for his own use even if it kills them. Which it always will.
He also has no problem stealing the strategies of other powerful beings and using them for himself to include Kolaghan's Command and Silumgar's Command.
These are the words story tellers use to speak of Dragonlord Nekusar:
Dragonlord Nekusar Anticipate's his opponent's moves, would order you Roasted alive, and will make you Drown in Sorrow. He will Nullify your order, Dissolve your command, and cannot be Negated
He is the not so Blessed Reincarnation of Deception, bearing more hatrde than the Spite of Mogis. He is colder than a Frost Walker. He soars the skies atop his Necromaster Dragon eager to increase his domain, always wary of Shifting Loyalties. He is the object of Silumgar's Scorn.
No stranger to Psychic Intrusion, where Nekusar treads Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver follows in his Wake of Destruction.
Not even Taigam's Scheming could match his own. He sends an overWhelming Wave of fear through the hearts of his enemies.
Tango with Dragonlord Nekusar and you will pay the Ultimate Price.
And in case anyone is wondering, yes the art would be him wearing the same clothes as the art for Nekusar, the Mindrazer riding atop a Necromaster Dragon with mouth open cackling while his cloak and hair billow in the wind. He would be wearing an Avarice Amulet around his neck. A stolen Hero's Blade or Godsend would be waving in his left hand. A Shield of the Avatar clutched in his right. Rogue’s Gloves's (with the severed hands sticking out) would dangle from his belt and he would have a Witches' Eye in his left socket.
Oh and he'd be on fire cuz why the heck not?
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #3
Well in the current Standard, this would make Grixis a thing. And I feel like it's a bit too much. If this guys resolves VS some Gruul dragon deck, you win. Maybe make it so that HE has protection from dragons and has reach so he can block them, or he gives your other creatures reach, or something like that. Just throwing out ideas though.
April 12, 2015 7:23 a.m.
DERPLINGSUPREME says... #4
a game with any card of that name sounds like the equivilent of what happened when you first summoned me to J/C.
but, when looking at the actual card, its actually fine for standard. I's put in reach, maybe, but overall, he's balanced. shit for EDH, though, which is all I care about.
April 12, 2015 11:42 a.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #5
I might've missed this in the OP, but I don't see the connection between Nekusar and Dragons. He's a fine card, but I don't see the two related.
April 12, 2015 11:59 a.m.
Hjaltrohir says... #6
ducttapedeckbox I agree
But seriously this card would be busted in standard, big no no.
April 12, 2015 1:05 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #7
For context, read here. I've copied the relevant lore below.
"Nekusar is a former king who schemed to retain his power even after death. In life, he was an unpopular ruler with many enemies. He was obsessed with the machinations of his court and threats to his reign. When one of his plots to assassinate a rival backfired, Nekusar was killed in his own throne room. But he had prepared for his eventual death, and he transformed himself into a lich lord. Nekusar has positioned himself as the secret power of the realm, and now he monitors the court with his network of informants, both living and undead. He offers knowledge to the highest bidder but at a painful price. Nekusar has more power now than ever. He devastates his enemies by giving them what they think they want but cannot control."
April 12, 2015 1:41 p.m.
On Grixis being a thing in Standard: It already is.
Sorta.
Not really. Kinda!
OK, let me explain. In Khans of Tarkir, we get the story of Sarkhan's homeland. He likes Dragons, but would you believe it all the Dragons were extinct when he traveled back to Tarkir. Logically, he went back in time (not that logical but whatever) to revive Ugin, which would save the Dragons from extinction. In Fate Reforged, we learn that Yasova (yes, as in Yasova Dragonclaw, the former Khan of the Temur Frontier) was cooperating with Bolas to take down Ugin. That's why there was so much speculation around shards and Bolas's involvement in Dragons of Tarkir, because of the role he played in the story. However, we ended up getting Ugin, Narset, and (another) Sarkhan after Fate Reforged. Still, though, he's there.
.
Also, not Nekusar! Do one for Derevi!
Dragonlord Derevi 
Flying, flash
Other creatures you control with flying get +1/+1.
6/6
A little weird, but whatever.
April 12, 2015 6:19 p.m.
canterlotguardian says... #9
Guys. In the OP's post, he didn't make the creature Legendary. which means pack him in as a 4-of that you can run multiple copies of on the field at the same time.
Pls nerf.
April 13, 2015 7:53 p.m.
Oh god I totally meant for him to be legendary! So sorry about that! Way to good as a non-legendary.
kengiczar says... #2
Oh I forgot to mention this, but he also uses Silumgar Assassins to take out those who oppose him. The best part is Nekusar was never "Evil". He was just a paranoid king. No biggie. So here he's definitely not evil either. He probably thinks of himself as "freeing" the people of Tarkir from the dragons. After all his old kingdom's subjects didn't particularly care for him so maybe this is him trying to get a fresh start?
I'm sure he could learn a thing or two from the Rakshasa and doesn't mind the Qarsi's use of magic either. The world of Tarkir has a lot to offer him.
April 12, 2015 3:38 a.m.