{"ops":[{"attributes":{"color":"#5a3e00","bold":true},"insert":"NEKUSAR, THE MIND RAZOR"},{"attributes":{"align":"center","header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#c8860b","italic":true},"insert":"Group Slug"},{"attributes":{"align":"center","header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#666666"},"insert":"Commander EDH · Grixis (U/B/R) · Bracket 4"},{"attributes":{"align":"center","header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred"},"insert":"Deck Philosophy"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Put’em up, Slugger! is the purest expression of Group Slug using Nekusar, the Mindrazer's game plan: accelerate the game for everyone, then punish them mercilessly for participating. Nekusar sits at the intersection of group hug and group slug — he gives opponents more cards, which sounds generous, until every draw trigger fires sixteen damage simultaneously across the table. The deck is hellbent on one thing: stacking as many 'whenever an opponent draws a card, they lose life' effects as possible, then casting wheels to make everyone draw seven at once. When four pain permanents and Nekusar are on board and a Windfall resolves, each opponent takes 40 damage from one spell. The game ends in a single turn cycle.\nThe infect package sits in the background as a nuclear option. Phyresis or Grafted Exoskeleton on Nekusar converts all that draw damage to poison counters. Ten poison counters means death regardless of life total. One wheel with infect active removes all opponents simultaneously. It is a Bracket 4 weapon deployed selectively and with intent.\n\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred"},"insert":"Game Plan by Phase"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Early Game — Turns 1–3: Build the Pain Web"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The priority is establishing pain permanents before wheels. Chrome Mox, Mox Diamond, Mana Vault, and Sol Ring enable explosive starts. Land Kederekt Parasite, Underworld Dreams, Fate Unraveler, or Scrawling Crawler early — each is an independent Nekusar trigger that stacks with the commander. Orcish Bowmasters covers the table whenever anyone draws beyond their first card each turn, which happens constantly. By turn 3 you want Nekusar on board with at least two other pain pieces. A hand of seven with one wheel now deals 21 damage per opponent on resolution.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Mid Game — Turns 4–6: Release the Wheels"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"With the pain web established, start casting wheels. Windfall with a full opponent table deals damage equal to the largest hand size times your pain count times three opponents. Jace's Archivist provides a repeatable tap ability that wheels the table every turn. Teferi's Puzzle Box creates constant background pressure: at the start of each player's draw step they discard their hand and draw fresh, triggering every pain piece each time. The table is bleeding out without you casting anything. Hold Tainted Strike for a wheel turn if an opponent is at risk — seven poison counters from one wheel is three short of lethal, and a follow-up Winds of Change closes it.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"The Harmonic Prodigy Turn"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Harmonic Prodigy doubles triggered abilities of Wizards. Nekusar is a Wizard. With Prodigy on the battlefield, Nekusar's trigger fires twice per card drawn — each card deals 2 damage instead of 1. Add Ghyrson Starn, who makes any source dealing exactly 1 damage deal 3 total, and Nekusar's original trigger hits for 3 while the copied trigger hits for 2. Five damage per card drawn from two permanents. One Windfall at a full table: each opponent draws 7, takes 35 damage. One wheel. Every player dead.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"The Infect Turn"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Phyresis and Grafted Exoskeleton are your nuclear options. Equip or enchant Nekusar with either and any wheel converts every draw trigger to a poison counter instead of life loss. Ten poison kills regardless of life total. With Nekusar and four opponents drawing seven each, that is seven poison per opponent per wheel — one Echo of Eons wins the game outright. Tainted Strike is the instant-speed version: cast it targeting Nekusar in response to a wheel resolving, and all that turn's draw damage becomes poison. Opponents cannot interact once the wheel is on the stack.\n\n\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred"},"insert":"The Pain Web — All 16 Draw & Discard Punishers"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Stack as many of these as possible before casting any wheel. Each one multiplies the damage of every draw trigger. With four in play and Nekusar, a seven-card wheel deals 35 damage per opponent.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#1a0505","color":"white","bold":true},"insert":"Card"},{"attributes":{"table":"1"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#1a0505","color":"white","bold":true},"insert":"Triggers on"},{"attributes":{"table":"1"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#1a0505","color":"white","bold":true},"insert":"Effect per trigger"},{"attributes":{"table":"1"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" \n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Nekusar, the Mindrazer"},{"attributes":{"table":"2"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Draw"},{"attributes":{"table":"2"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"1 damage per card drawn — all opponents"},{"attributes":{"table":"2"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Underworld Dreams"},{"attributes":{"table":"3"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Draw"},{"attributes":{"table":"3"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"1 damage per card drawn — all opponents"},{"attributes":{"table":"3"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Kederekt Parasite"},{"attributes":{"table":"4"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Draw"},{"attributes":{"table":"4"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"1 damage per card drawn (requires black permanent)"},{"attributes":{"table":"4"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Fate Unraveler"},{"attributes":{"table":"5"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Draw"},{"attributes":{"table":"5"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"1 damage per card drawn — all opponents"},{"attributes":{"table":"5"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Scrawling Crawler"},{"attributes":{"table":"6"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Draw"},{"attributes":{"table":"6"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"1 damage per card drawn + forced draw each upkeep"},{"attributes":{"table":"6"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin"},{"attributes":{"table":"7"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Draw beyond first"},{"attributes":{"table":"7"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"1 damage + +1/+1 counter per extra draw"},{"attributes":{"table":"7"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Razorkin Needlehead"},{"attributes":{"table":"8"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Draw beyond first"},{"attributes":{"table":"8"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"1 damage per extra card drawn each turn"},{"attributes":{"table":"8"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Spiteful Visions"},{"attributes":{"table":"9"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Draw"},{"attributes":{"table":"9"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"1 damage per card drawn (you too — manage carefully)"},{"attributes":{"table":"9"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Phyrexian Tyranny"},{"attributes":{"table":"10"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Draw"},{"attributes":{"table":"10"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"2 damage or 2 life per card drawn — opponent chooses"},{"attributes":{"table":"10"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph"},{"attributes":{"table":"11"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"1 damage source"},{"attributes":{"table":"11"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Deals 2 more when any source deals exactly 1 — doubles most triggers"},{"attributes":{"table":"11"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Sheoldred, the Apocalypse"},{"attributes":{"table":"12"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Opponent draws"},{"attributes":{"table":"12"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"2 damage per opponent draw"},{"attributes":{"table":"12"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Orcish Bowmasters"},{"attributes":{"table":"13"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Opponent draws beyond first"},{"attributes":{"table":"13"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"1 damage + 1/1 token per extra draw"},{"attributes":{"table":"13"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls"},{"attributes":{"table":"14"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Opponent loses life"},{"attributes":{"table":"14"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Triggers and can return from graveyard"},{"attributes":{"table":"14"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Liliana's Caress"},{"attributes":{"table":"15"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Discard"},{"attributes":{"table":"15"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"2 damage per card discarded"},{"attributes":{"table":"15"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Megrim"},{"attributes":{"table":"16"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Discard"},{"attributes":{"table":"16"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"2 damage per card discarded"},{"attributes":{"table":"16"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted"},{"attributes":{"table":"17"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#3d3535"},"insert":"Draw (planeswalker -2)"},{"attributes":{"table":"17"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Forces opponent to draw 3, each draw deals 1 damage"},{"attributes":{"table":"17"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred"},"insert":"The Wheel Package — 13 Mass Draw Effects"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Tags: [WHEEL] = wheel spell or permanent. Each one forces mass draws that trigger the entire pain web simultaneously.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#1a0505","color":"white","bold":true},"insert":"Card"},{"attributes":{"table":"1"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#1a0505","color":"white","bold":true},"insert":"Cost / Type"},{"attributes":{"table":"1"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#1a0505","color":"white","bold":true},"insert":"Notes"},{"attributes":{"table":"1"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" \n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Wheel of Fortune"},{"attributes":{"table":"2"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"R sorcery"},{"attributes":{"table":"2"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Discard hand, draw 7. The gold standard. One mana of red for a 7-card mass draw."},{"attributes":{"table":"2"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Windfall"},{"attributes":{"table":"3"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"2U sorcery"},{"attributes":{"table":"3"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Discard hand, each player draws equal to largest hand size. Best mid-game with full opponent hands."},{"attributes":{"table":"3"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Timetwister"},{"attributes":{"table":"4"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"2U sorcery"},{"attributes":{"table":"4"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Everyone shuffles graveyard into library and draws 7. Resets graveyards too."},{"attributes":{"table":"4"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Echo of Eons"},{"attributes":{"table":"5"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"4UU sorcery (free from graveyard)"},{"attributes":{"table":"5"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Draw 7 for all players. Can be cast from graveyard by exiling it for 1U. The surprise wheel."},{"attributes":{"table":"5"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Reforge the Soul"},{"attributes":{"table":"6"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"3RR sorcery (miracle 1R)"},{"attributes":{"table":"6"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Draw 7 for all. Miracle cost is an extraordinary rate if drawn off a draw trigger."},{"attributes":{"table":"6"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Wheel of Misfortune"},{"attributes":{"table":"7"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"1R sorcery"},{"attributes":{"table":"7"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Each player secretly bids life. Highest bidder discards and draws 7, takes damage. Political tool."},{"attributes":{"table":"7"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Dark Deal"},{"attributes":{"table":"8"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"2B sorcery"},{"attributes":{"table":"8"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Each opponent discards hand and draws one fewer. Asymmetric — opponents draw less, triggering more discards."},{"attributes":{"table":"8"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Winds of Change"},{"attributes":{"table":"9"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"R sorcery"},{"attributes":{"table":"9"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Cheap 1-mana wheel. Gets worse late game but excellent early when hands are full."},{"attributes":{"table":"9"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Molten Psyche"},{"attributes":{"table":"10"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"2R sorcery (metalcraft)"},{"attributes":{"table":"10"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Draw 7 for all. With metalcraft (3+ artifacts), opponents also take damage equal to cards drawn — stacks with Nekusar."},{"attributes":{"table":"10"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Whispering Madness"},{"attributes":{"table":"11"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"2UB enchantment"},{"attributes":{"table":"11"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Wheel spell with cipher. Every time the enchanted creature deals damage, cast it for free again."},{"attributes":{"table":"11"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Jace's Archivist"},{"attributes":{"table":"12"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"2U creature"},{"attributes":{"table":"12"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Tap: each player discards hand, draws equal to largest hand. Repeatable every turn."},{"attributes":{"table":"12"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Teferi's Puzzle Box"},{"attributes":{"table":"13"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"4 artifact"},{"attributes":{"table":"13"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Permanent wheel: each draw step, put hand on bottom, draw that many. Constant pressure every single turn."},{"attributes":{"table":"13"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Anvil of Bogardan"},{"attributes":{"table":"14"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"2 artifact"},{"attributes":{"table":"14"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Each player draws an extra card each turn, then discards. Slow but persistent extra draw punish."},{"attributes":{"table":"14"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred"},"insert":"Key Combos & Kill Lines"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Every combination below represents a realistic game-ending scenario at a four-player table.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#1a0505","color":"white","bold":true},"insert":"Combo"},{"attributes":{"table":"1"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#1a0505","color":"white","bold":true},"insert":"Requirements"},{"attributes":{"table":"1"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#1a0505","color":"white","bold":true},"insert":"How it kills"},{"attributes":{"table":"1"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" \n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Nekusar + Harmonic Prodigy"},{"attributes":{"table":"2"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Harmonic Prodigy on battlefield"},{"attributes":{"table":"2"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Nekusar is a Wizard. Prodigy doubles triggered abilities of Wizards. Every card drawn deals 2 damage instead of 1. One wheel kills."},{"attributes":{"table":"2"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Phyresis/Grafted Exoskeleton + any wheel"},{"attributes":{"table":"3"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Infect piece on Nekusar"},{"attributes":{"table":"3"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"10 poison counters = death. With 4+ opponents drawing 7, each opponent gets 7 poison. One Echo of Eons wins on the spot."},{"attributes":{"table":"3"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Tainted Strike + wheel"},{"attributes":{"table":"4"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Tainted Strike in hand"},{"attributes":{"table":"4"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Cast Tainted Strike targeting Nekusar in response to wheel. Converts all draw damage to poison counters for one turn. Instant ambush win."},{"attributes":{"table":"4"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Nekusar + Ghyrson Starn"},{"attributes":{"table":"5"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Both on battlefield"},{"attributes":{"table":"5"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Ghyrson makes any source dealing exactly 1 damage deal 2 more. Nekusar's draw trigger deals 1. With Ghyrson, it deals 3. Triple damage from every draw."},{"attributes":{"table":"5"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Curiosity + Nekusar"},{"attributes":{"table":"6"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Curiosity enchanting Nekusar"},{"attributes":{"table":"6"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Nekusar deals damage when opponents draw. Curiosity draws you a card when Nekusar deals damage. Loop: opponents draw → Nekusar deals damage → you draw → opponents draw."},{"attributes":{"table":"6"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Helm of the Ghastlord + Nekusar"},{"attributes":{"table":"7"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Helm on Nekusar"},{"attributes":{"table":"7"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Nekusar gets +2/+2. When opponents draw, they discard. When they discard, you draw. Wheel becomes: opponents draw 7, discard 7, you draw 7 extra. Cascading advantage."},{"attributes":{"table":"7"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Tergrid + any wheel"},{"attributes":{"table":"8"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Tergrid on battlefield"},{"attributes":{"table":"8"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Wheels force opponents to discard their hands. Tergrid lets you put every permanent discarded onto your battlefield. After one wheel, you may steal 3-5 lands and key permanents per opponent."},{"attributes":{"table":"8"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Peer into the Abyss + pain web"},{"attributes":{"table":"9"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"3+ draw punishers in play"},{"attributes":{"table":"9"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Target one opponent. They draw half their library. Each card drawn triggers Nekusar, Fate Unraveler, Phyrexian Tyranny, etc. With 4 pain pieces, one opponent takes 120+ damage from one spell."},{"attributes":{"table":"9"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Molten Psyche metalcraft"},{"attributes":{"table":"10"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"3+ artifacts in play"},{"attributes":{"table":"10"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Draw 7 for all, opponents take 7 damage from metalcraft ON TOP of all draw punisher triggers. With Nekusar and metalcraft, each opponent takes 14+ from one wheel."},{"attributes":{"table":"10"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Whispering Madness cipher"},{"attributes":{"table":"11"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Cipher on Nekusar"},{"attributes":{"table":"11"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Nekusar deals damage by being Nekusar. Every time Nekusar deals combat damage, cast Whispering Madness for free. Repeated wheels every combat step."},{"attributes":{"table":"11"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred"},"insert":"Piloting Tips & Threat Assessment"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Build the pain web before casting wheels. One Windfall with zero pain pieces in play deals 7 damage. One Windfall with four pain pieces and Nekusar deals 35. Patience is rewarded enormously."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Track opponent life totals constantly. Nekusar punishes draws during opponents' turns too — Teferi's Puzzle Box and Anvil of Bogardan deal passive damage every upkeep without you doing anything."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Harmonic Prodigy is your highest-priority target for opponents to remove. Protect it before any wheel turn. It doubles every Nekusar trigger for the rest of the game."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Tainted Strike is best held as a surprise. Cast it targeting Nekusar in response to a wheel trigger resolving. Opponents cannot respond to change Nekusar's damage type mid-stack."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Ghyrson Starn makes Nekusar's 1-damage trigger deal 3. He also makes Orcish Bowmasters, Kederekt Parasite, and Underworld Dreams all deal 3 per trigger. With Harmonic Prodigy doubling, you reach 6 damage per draw from Nekusar alone."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Peer into the Abyss targets one opponent who draws half their library. Aim it at the player with the highest life total or the most threatening board. With three pain pieces in play, half a 60-card library deals 90 damage from Nekusar triggers alone."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Tergrid is best used after a wheel when opponents have full hands. The more permanents they hold, the more you steal."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Keep Deflecting Swat and Misdirection for redirecting targeted removal at Nekusar back at an opponent's permanent or creature. Free cost with Nekusar on board."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Spiteful Visions hurts you too. Only cast it when you have a dominant board position or are planning a wheel turn immediately. Alternatively, use wheels to empty your hand before Visions triggers your own draw step."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The infect package is a Bracket 4 declaration. Table the conversation before the game starts if you're uncertain about your pod's expectations. Grafted Exoskeleton in particular will draw instant threat assessment from every experienced player."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred"},"insert":"Weaknesses & How to Address Them"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#1a0505","color":"white","bold":true},"insert":"Weakness"},{"attributes":{"table":"1"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#1a0505","color":"white","bold":true},"insert":"Source"},{"attributes":{"table":"1"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#1a0505","color":"white","bold":true},"insert":"Response"},{"attributes":{"table":"1"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" \n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Abundance / Leyline of Sanctity"},{"attributes":{"table":"2"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Prevents opponents drawing, blocks targeting"},{"attributes":{"table":"2"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Remove with Cyclonic Rift or Fire Covenant. Black has no enchantment removal — prioritise bounce."},{"attributes":{"table":"2"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Gravepurge / Graveyard hate"},{"attributes":{"table":"3"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Hates out Echo of Eons from graveyard"},{"attributes":{"table":"3"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Less critical than it seems — most wheels don't need the graveyard. Adapt by casting from hand."},{"attributes":{"table":"3"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Stax pieces (Thalia, tax effects)"},{"attributes":{"table":"4"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Slows your wheel casting"},{"attributes":{"table":"4"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Chrome Mox and Mox Diamond enable free mana. Counter stax pieces with Force of Negation or An Offer You Can't Refuse."},{"attributes":{"table":"4"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Life gain decks"},{"attributes":{"table":"5"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Opponents pad life totals above kill threshold"},{"attributes":{"table":"5"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"The infect package bypasses life totals entirely. Grafted Exoskeleton makes Nekusar lethal at 10 poison regardless of life total."},{"attributes":{"table":"5"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"darkred","bold":true},"insert":"Removing Nekusar repeatedly"},{"attributes":{"table":"6"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Commander tax accumulates"},{"attributes":{"table":"6"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#111111"},"insert":"Nekusar costs 6 mana total at 2 tax. The pain web functions without him — Underworld Dreams, Fate Unraveler, and Scrawling Crawler all replicate his effect. Don't always recast him immediately."},{"attributes":{"table":"6"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"}]}