I've been thinking of playing Xantcha, Sleeper Agent as one of the 99 in my Nekusar list (that is already so tight and i really like how it plays). I've broken down Xantcha when it comes to what i want or think it does for me.
1. Its a pretty darn good beater for 3 mana.
2. If we compare it to a wheel,a wheel often needs a partner for it to start working. But Xantcha can probably deal some damage on her own and it WON'T be directed towards me!
3. It can remove a potential target off of my head.
4. It gives me a manasink and It can also make people tap out more often.
5. It gives me an opportunity to do my stuff if people tap out.
6. It can let people who have a bad hand actually get back into the game (this is actually one of my main reasons to build the deck, to get the game going / help people out and then win when people let down their guard).
7. I can give it to another player as a blocker if they really need one.
8. It can bully a strong opponent and their opponents can burn them out without having to spend cards and its "uncounterable".
9. Its more than a Howling Mine, people actually have to PAY MANA to draw cards and it also deals damage to the controller. Also like i said, Xantchas controller can swing at other people which equals more damage/ less resources from me being spent on removal (mostly for my part).
10. Easy to cast with Mana Geyser/Waste Not mana. Borh of them are important pieces of my combos and my deck is quite black/red manacost wise.
The negatives could be:
1. It being not a good topdeck later on, but the mana sink does mitigate this quite a big. And its still a 5/5. Atleast it will be a one for one and it won't be me thats spending that card.
2. It could help my other opponents winning since its a mana sink for them. Especially if they have a inf mana combo but no wincon/draw effect.
Otherwise i don't see much issues with it. I discussed it a bit with someone and they said that its an odd choice since Xantcha and Nekusar does different things, that Xantcha is a build around and that a wheel is better.
But i don't see why i can't play it in the 99 and it being a bad choice.
What do you think and have you played Xantcha in the 99? Whats your experience?
If people are sick of reading about stuff just stop taking part. You have 100% control over what you read. Simic Ascendancy isn't going to get banned just because you didn't tell someone to shut up on the internet.
Well it can't hurt. I might be biased (see my username), but I think it's a good idea. If no one draws from it, then they aren't finding answers to your Nekusar, plus Xantcha is hitting them for 5 damage a turn. If they do use her to draw, then you're killing them faster. Seems good. In my experience, people cannot resist the temptation to draw extra cards.
I guess the only downside is if Xantcha takes the spot of a card that is better for Nekusar. But I'm not a Nekusar player so I don't know what would be better.
As a Xantcha player, I don't find this to be a particularly good usage of her. Her attack damage is gravy, and with Nekusar filling everyone's hand, very likely your opponents will be able to make her smash into something that will kill her.
First and foremost, it sucks I didn't get any notifications like i usually get. Maybe its just responses to my posts and not posts in my thread?
Anyway, some answers!
It seems way off point in Nekusar, no one is going to pay into it just to get hit. I am sure there are better mana sinks that only help you.
I have seen it in the 99, but only as a true beater in a agro style deck.
Yeah, i actually removed a manasinker from the deck just to try her out. I removed Commune with Lavafor now just to test her out. I figured Commune with Lavais a really good card but more late game ish since i usually do not get huge amounts of mana. I had problems to figure out which card to remove for Xantcha but i tried this approach. I haven't drawn Commune with Lava in months.
But that was the good thing, people actually had problem to block her. She survied until the end of the game. I was second in the turnorder so Xantcha could come out early. I actually drew her in my second 7 card mulligan with enough lands.
Well it can't hurt. I might be biased (see my username), but I think it's a good idea. If no one draws from it, then they aren't finding answers to your Nekusar, plus Xantcha is hitting them for 5 damage a turn. If they do use her to draw, then you're killing them faster. Seems good. In my experience, people cannot resist the temptation to draw extra cards.
I guess the only downside is if Xantcha takes the spot of a card that is better for Nekusar. But I'm not a Nekusar player so I don't know what would be better.
After just one game with her, I also think its a good idea (and its something different) to include her.
I've only managed to get her in one game, the one game i actually got to play with the Nekusar deck. She did about 30 damage by herself and with a little help from some creatures buffs + people drawing cards. She immediately drew attention to her and i could just see her controller succumb to the whole Xantcha play. He seemed to get a bit salty haha.
Like i said, she survived until the end of the game. She did more damage that most wheels. But that was a early game Xantcha and luckily she survived for a long time.
As a Xantcha player, I don't find this to be a particularly good usage of her. Her attack damage is gravy, and with Nekusar filling everyone's hand, very likely your opponents will be able to make her smash into something that will kill her.
I don't always have him out as soon as i can. My deck does not have superfast mana so i try and pick my places. I added Trinket Mage since i got a little T-Mage package going. Can help me smooth out draws, gain mana or help me in other ways. But sometimes you just gotta throw Nekusar out onto the battlefield and hope he survives until my turn. She did a lot of work that one game. Im gonna keep testing her and see if there's another card i should remove for her to take its place.
I know the decks manasituation isn't the best when it comes to ramp, but there's so much i want to have in the deck haha. I even play with a wishboard (10 cards, they have to be unique and cannot be featured in both the maindeck and the wishboard. I have 11 atm because I've started tinkering with the sideboard. Seeing if i should include a wheel or other answers there.)" to make ends meet".
Like i said, one problem still remains and that is if the player that controls her dies, she end up my care and if they have infinite mana or just enough mana, they can burn me out. But thats a risk I'll take I mean i already play cards like Necropotence, Treasonous Ogre, Final Fortune etc. Necro into Final Fortune is so broken haha, last times i've gotten them I've either had Library of Leng or Reliquary Tower out out and just drew as much cards as i could and won in my next turn.
I’m glad she worked out in one game, though I run her as my general and can tell you that she can be pretty tough to keep around. I run Mystifying Maze, Maze of Ith, Shizo, Death’s Storehouse and Shizo, the Bloodsoaked Keep as ways to keep her around through attacking, as most people will attack someone who has a block that will kill her.
Don’t get me wrong, I love her, and if you need the draw, go for it.
I’m glad she worked out in one game, though I run her as my general and can tell you that she can be pretty tough to keep around. I run Mystifying Maze, Maze of Ith, Shizo, Death’s Storehouse and Shizo, the Bloodsoaked Keep as ways to keep her around through attacking, as most people will attack someone who has a block that will kill her.
Don’t get me wrong, I love her, and if you need the draw, go for it.
She aids my strategy quite well and i think thats also the thing that she's not super important. She's not superessential for my strategy. She has the potential to deal a lot of damage if left unanswered, which is good! She's like a burnspell for me.
Someone asked me if i played Font of Mythos and I don't since thats way too much value without me gaining from it. Thats why i removed almost all Howling Minelike that are considered (to me) as "nice" effects (I even got a foiled 7th edition one). Arcane Denial and Teferi's Puzzlebox is the only card I have that is not a Wheel that lets my opponent draw cards without taking damage for it. Puzzlebox atleast screw up their line of possible plays. Atleast with Xantcha, she actually burns one player.
I've been thinking of playing Xantcha, Sleeper Agent as one of the 99 in my Nekusar list (that is already so tight and i really like how it plays). I've broken down Xantcha when it comes to what i want or think it does for me.
1. Its a pretty darn good beater for 3 mana.
2. If we compare it to a wheel,a wheel often needs a partner for it to start working. But Xantcha can probably deal some damage on her own and it WON'T be directed towards me!
3. It can remove a potential target off of my head.
4. It gives me a manasink and It can also make people tap out more often.
5. It gives me an opportunity to do my stuff if people tap out.
6. It can let people who have a bad hand actually get back into the game (this is actually one of my main reasons to build the deck, to get the game going / help people out and then win when people let down their guard).
7. I can give it to another player as a blocker if they really need one.
8. It can bully a strong opponent and their opponents can burn them out without having to spend cards and its "uncounterable".
9. Its more than a Howling Mine, people actually have to PAY MANA to draw cards and it also deals damage to the controller. Also like i said, Xantchas controller can swing at other people which equals more damage/ less resources from me being spent on removal (mostly for my part).
10. Easy to cast with Mana Geyser/Waste Not mana. Borh of them are important pieces of my combos and my deck is quite black/red manacost wise.
The negatives could be:
1. It being not a good topdeck later on, but the mana sink does mitigate this quite a big. And its still a 5/5. Atleast it will be a one for one and it won't be me thats spending that card.
2. It could help my other opponents winning since its a mana sink for them. Especially if they have a inf mana combo but no wincon/draw effect.
Otherwise i don't see much issues with it. I discussed it a bit with someone and they said that its an odd choice since Xantcha and Nekusar does different things, that Xantcha is a build around and that a wheel is better.
But i don't see why i can't play it in the 99 and it being a bad choice.
What do you think and have you played Xantcha in the 99? Whats your experience?
Who needs Colours?
My most played EDH deck:
X Kozilek, the Great Distortion
UBR Nekusar, the Mindrazer
I have seen it in the 99, but only as a true beater in a agro style deck.
I guess the only downside is if Xantcha takes the spot of a card that is better for Nekusar. But I'm not a Nekusar player so I don't know what would be better.
RBGLiving EndRBG
EDH
UFblthpU
BRXantchaRB
BGVarolzGB
URWZedruuWRU
Anyway, some answers!
Yeah, i actually removed a manasinker from the deck just to try her out. I removed Commune with Lavafor now just to test her out. I figured Commune with Lavais a really good card but more late game ish since i usually do not get huge amounts of mana. I had problems to figure out which card to remove for Xantcha but i tried this approach. I haven't drawn Commune with Lava in months.
But that was the good thing, people actually had problem to block her. She survied until the end of the game. I was second in the turnorder so Xantcha could come out early. I actually drew her in my second 7 card mulligan with enough lands.
After just one game with her, I also think its a good idea (and its something different) to include her.
I've only managed to get her in one game, the one game i actually got to play with the Nekusar deck. She did about 30 damage by herself and with a little help from some creatures buffs + people drawing cards. She immediately drew attention to her and i could just see her controller succumb to the whole Xantcha play. He seemed to get a bit salty haha.
Like i said, she survived until the end of the game. She did more damage that most wheels. But that was a early game Xantcha and luckily she survived for a long time.
I don't always have him out as soon as i can. My deck does not have superfast mana so i try and pick my places. I added Trinket Mage since i got a little T-Mage package going. Can help me smooth out draws, gain mana or help me in other ways. But sometimes you just gotta throw Nekusar out onto the battlefield and hope he survives until my turn. She did a lot of work that one game. Im gonna keep testing her and see if there's another card i should remove for her to take its place.
I know the decks manasituation isn't the best when it comes to ramp, but there's so much i want to have in the deck haha. I even play with a wishboard (10 cards, they have to be unique and cannot be featured in both the maindeck and the wishboard. I have 11 atm because I've started tinkering with the sideboard. Seeing if i should include a wheel or other answers there.)" to make ends meet".
Like i said, one problem still remains and that is if the player that controls her dies, she end up my care and if they have infinite mana or just enough mana, they can burn me out. But thats a risk I'll take I mean i already play cards like Necropotence, Treasonous Ogre, Final Fortune etc. Necro into Final Fortune is so broken haha, last times i've gotten them I've either had Library of Leng or Reliquary Tower out out and just drew as much cards as i could and won in my next turn.
Btw everyone,this is my deck: http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/23-03-19-nekusar-the-mindrazer/?cb=1553354336
I really like the deck and its been quite consistent for me!It definetly has a place in my heart and I haven't dropped Nekusar since day 1.
I wonder if this works... @Ken Carson , @CursedByXantcha , @MRHblue
Who needs Colours?
My most played EDH deck:
X Kozilek, the Great Distortion
UBR Nekusar, the Mindrazer
Don’t get me wrong, I love her, and if you need the draw, go for it.
RBGLiving EndRBG
EDH
UFblthpU
BRXantchaRB
BGVarolzGB
URWZedruuWRU
She aids my strategy quite well and i think thats also the thing that she's not super important. She's not superessential for my strategy. She has the potential to deal a lot of damage if left unanswered, which is good! She's like a burnspell for me.
Someone asked me if i played Font of Mythos and I don't since thats way too much value without me gaining from it. Thats why i removed almost all Howling Minelike that are considered (to me) as "nice" effects (I even got a foiled 7th edition one). Arcane Denial and Teferi's Puzzlebox is the only card I have that is not a Wheel that lets my opponent draw cards without taking damage for it. Puzzlebox atleast screw up their line of possible plays. Atleast with Xantcha, she actually burns one player.
I really like her as well =)
Who needs Colours?
My most played EDH deck:
X Kozilek, the Great Distortion
UBR Nekusar, the Mindrazer