Nettling Imp. Does this card seem viable in EDH? My feeling is no, but here's my thought. Dinky little utility generals are used as much (or perhaps even more) than red zone ones. These guys don't like to attack, but often times don't draw targeted hate (Angus Mackenzie is a great example). Additionally, if I'm reading the rules on him right, you could use something like Icy Manipulator to tap the creature, effectively turning the Imp into a convoluted assassin.
My feeling is that in a vacuum there's enough utility dorks that don't want to attack that he wouldn't be a dead draw. However, in practice he's probably not good enough to make the cut.
Is BFFs with No Mercy, Dread, Vengeful Pharaoh, etc. I'm not sure how it would stack up against Attrition, Grave Pact, or even just plain old Murder in terms of killing things, though. Black is pretty good at killing.
He's only worth it if you think he will kill more than one creature every time you cast it, because murder will kill a guy 100% of the time, and doesn't require you to wait a turn.
Any cards that force the opponent out of position and make them do something weither they want to or not is always a good thing. You can always make them attack with something into your deathtouching creature force, lifelinkers, or things such as punish attacking like blood reckoning. Maddening Imp is a WAY better option than nettling imp, unless you're including both into a strategy.
Is BFFs with No Mercy, Dread, Vengeful Pharaoh, etc. I'm not sure how it would stack up against Attrition, Grave Pact, or even just plain old Murder in terms of killing things, though. Black is pretty good at killing.
See, I was thinking something like an Esper pillowfort deck, where I could load up on effects that generally steer people away from attacking me as it is, and then add that as well.
See, I was thinking something like an Esper pillowfort deck, where I could load up on effects that generally steer people away from attacking me as it is, and then add that as well.
You could also play stuff like Static Orb, and just target their tapped creatures. If you build the deck right he seems like he would be repeatable removal (and easy to recur when he gets killed).
Jace SHOULD be unbanned in modern. I hate all the people saying "JACE IS BROKEN OHMYGOD HE'LL TAKE OVER AND CAWBLADE WILL REIGN SUPREME AGAIN" when bloodbraid elf literally comes down after jace and kicks jace right in the crotch, takes jace's lunch money, and jace is left to bleed out on the sidewalk in agonizing pain.
Maddening Imp is a WAY better option than nettling imp, unless you're including both into a strategy.
It depends on what you want to happen. Sometimes you don't want all of your opponent's creatures to attack. I run Nettling Imp in my Glissa deck as a way to enable her ability (and get rid of nuisance creatures like Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir at the same time).
In addition to others' comments, one problem with these sorts of cards is that in multiplayer, you can't dictate who the opponent attacks. So, they don't have to run into your wall of deathtouch creatures backed up by No Mercy.
The only creature along those lines I ever play is Norritt. Occasionally the "make a guy attack" thing comes in useful, but more often than not I use him to untap a useful blue creature. Drawing cards with Arcanis twice a turn isn't too bad.
In addition to others' comments, one problem with these sorts of cards is that in multiplayer, you can't dictate who the opponent attacks. So, they don't have to run into your wall of deathtouch creatures backed up by No Mercy.
But see, I think that's great. Its a win/win. They either don't attack and die, or attack someone else.
But see, I think that's great. Its a win/win. They either don't attack and die, or attack someone else.
That can happen, sure, and when it does, it's absolutely a good thing. Something that potentially impacts two opponents at once is usually good. But it isn't reliable in multiplayer.
I've also seen the guy running something like Fog Bank decide to play politics. An offer of "Hey, attack over here and I won't kill your creature" is accepted, and then Mr. Politics and the guy you made attack with his utility creature team up against you.
Sometimes things like the Imp also just draw hate removal, since a lot of people find it really annoying for the reasons Wikked Clown mentioned. Though I consider that okay, because that means something more important to the deck doesn't eat that removal.
Mind you, I'm not saying it's a terrible card, but more often than not it just isn't going to make the cut. The only reason Norritt has ever made the cut for me - and most of the time he doesn't, either - is that he has two abilities, each of which can sometimes be useful, so he becomes a somewhat-versatile utility creature.
I know this is really old but you missed the point, I'm afraid. Nettling imp is basically a modified royal assassin that combos with a real royal assassin. On its own, it destroys any tapped creature. So having a solo imp lets you take out any creature that is not indestructible and has a tapping ability. Forcing a tapped creature to attack (which it can't do because its already tapped) then destroys it. Obviously this also combos with Icy Manipulator. About the only creature immune back in the day was Serra Angel because this was before they came up with the word "vigilance" to describe her ability and gave it to other creatures - one of the reasons the Angel was in so many decks in the early 90s.
My feeling is that in a vacuum there's enough utility dorks that don't want to attack that he wouldn't be a dead draw. However, in practice he's probably not good enough to make the cut.
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He's only worth it if you think he will kill more than one creature every time you cast it, because murder will kill a guy 100% of the time, and doesn't require you to wait a turn.
See, I was thinking something like an Esper pillowfort deck, where I could load up on effects that generally steer people away from attacking me as it is, and then add that as well.
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You could also play stuff like Static Orb, and just target their tapped creatures. If you build the deck right he seems like he would be repeatable removal (and easy to recur when he gets killed).
It depends on what you want to happen. Sometimes you don't want all of your opponent's creatures to attack. I run Nettling Imp in my Glissa deck as a way to enable her ability (and get rid of nuisance creatures like Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir at the same time).
Avatar of Woe is generally preferable to it, too, especially since she's cheaper once you get past the first few turns of a game.
The only creature along those lines I ever play is Norritt. Occasionally the "make a guy attack" thing comes in useful, but more often than not I use him to untap a useful blue creature. Drawing cards with Arcanis twice a turn isn't too bad.
But see, I think that's great. Its a win/win. They either don't attack and die, or attack someone else.
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That can happen, sure, and when it does, it's absolutely a good thing. Something that potentially impacts two opponents at once is usually good. But it isn't reliable in multiplayer.
I've also seen the guy running something like Fog Bank decide to play politics. An offer of "Hey, attack over here and I won't kill your creature" is accepted, and then Mr. Politics and the guy you made attack with his utility creature team up against you.
Sometimes things like the Imp also just draw hate removal, since a lot of people find it really annoying for the reasons Wikked Clown mentioned. Though I consider that okay, because that means something more important to the deck doesn't eat that removal.
Mind you, I'm not saying it's a terrible card, but more often than not it just isn't going to make the cut. The only reason Norritt has ever made the cut for me - and most of the time he doesn't, either - is that he has two abilities, each of which can sometimes be useful, so he becomes a somewhat-versatile utility creature.
Misc. EDH Stuff: Commander Cube | Zombies (Horde)
Resources:Commander Rulings FAQ | Commander Deckbuilding Guide
Follow me on Twitter! @cryogen_mtg