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By: The D.K., Daniel Kenmar
Jun 23 2010 1:44am
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You Found the Nihil Stone!
by Daniel Kenmar (The D.K.)

 

"A long, long time ago, in a plane that was far away, Zendikar was under an attack. So Jace Beleren and Sorin thought that they could put an end to the cataclysmic war and win it back. The plane's response, it didn't thrill 'em. The land rose up and tried to kill 'em. They escaped from that gas, met Chandra kicking Sarkhan's *ahem*. They managed to break up the scene, then set out to maybe see if some answer lied down beneath. That's where they found this stone.

Well, my, my, this stone that looks like an eye may be the thing that could save them but heck, they at least gotta try. So they turned and stared at the land far and wide, saying this'll be the day that you die. This'll be the day that you die."

I literally thought that entire thing up in like 5 minutes. I figured I needed an interesting and unique intro for this article. A hybrid parody of a parody and the song it parodies seemed good. So, what's this completely fan-fictional story/song/parody have to do with anything? The stone. The Nihil Stone.

 

Quest for the Nihil Stone

 

As is my ways, I was searching around the net for a cheap rare to make a deck around. While browsing on MTGOTraders.com, I came across this card. I thought to myself: "Discard finally has a decent win condition!" Apparently, no one else thought so. The card was going for 10 cents each. I was sold. So I grabbed up a playset of them and opened up Notepad. I started doing Gatherer searches on cards that would help it.

In case you're a bit new to MTG, discard has been around since the game's inception. However, while it can be effective, the deck has a few fundamental flaws:

  • Discard decks typically can't deal with what manages to make it to the board. Adding in other colors to cover this will often lessen the effectiveness of the discard element, weaking the entire deck.
  • If a discard deck manages to successfully deplete the opponent's hand with no win condition available, the game goes into topdeck mode. Chances are, their topdecks will be better than yours.
  • Cards whose only function is to cause discards are rendered useless once the opponent has reached 0 cards in hand, since they will just play the card anyways (unless unable to).

Well, that last one is now finally covered by Quest for the Nihil Stone. The Nihil Stone leaves the opponent with a tough choice once it is in play and has its counters: Play each card I draw and be on a 4 turn clock; or hold the card so I won't take the damage, but lose any hope of developing my board for a couple of turns. This reveals the only two flaws of QftNS: Opponents can hold 1 card in hand, then play the rest and avert the 5 life loss; and QftNS is a dead draw late game since chances are it'll never receive its counters.

I had considered a few options for the deck. B/R seemed doable, with the amount of removal and burn red would offer to deal with threats on the board, while black and Blightning handled the hand. B/U was also viable, with counters nipping anything that managed to survive the discard. I decided, however, to go mono-black. I figured, with cards like Duress and Inquisition of Kozilek, I could handle early threats in their hands on the first turns, then use massive discards like Mind Shatter and Bloodhusk Ritualist to administer the coup de grace with the Quest on the board.

Of course, I also wanted to cover my primary win condition's flaws as well. The "hold a card" strategy can be foiled by repeatable permanent sources of discard, such as Scepter of Fugue and Hypnotic Specter. These cards would basically force your opponent to play their card in the hopes that they could topdeck something in those 4 turns to turn it around. And the dead win condition flaw is covered by including a few alternate win conditions in the deck, like Guul Draz Specter and Liliana Vess.

Here's the final deck with card choice explanations afterwards:

 

You Found the Nihil Stone!
Discard with a win condition.
Creatures
4 Bloodhusk Ritualist
3 Guul Draz Specter
3 Hypnotic Specter
1 Platinum Angel
11 cards

Other Spells
4 Scepter of Fugue
3 Megrim
4 Quest for the Nihil Stone
1 Liliana Vess
3 Consume Spirit
3 Duress
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Mind Shatter
25 cards
 
Lands
24 Swamp
24 cards

 
Mind Shatter

 

Bloodhusk RitualistGuul Draz SpecterHypnotic SpecterPlatinum Angel

 

Bloodhusk Ritualist: The Ritualist gives the deck another creature while playing as a pseudo-Mind Shatter. At worst, it's a 2/2 body for 3 mana, and when your opponent's field and hand are empty, this is a basically a win condition, right?

Guul Draz Specter: Guul Draz Specter plays the role of secondary win condition as well as a permanent discard enforcer. Since it becomes a 5/5 when their hand is empty, Guul Draz is basically QftNS's 4-8 against flierless decks.

Hypnotic Specter: Hyppie is a classic. He's permanent discard enforcing and a 2/2 flier for 3. Plus, his discard is random, the second best type.

Platinum Angel: This card is simply "alternate win condition". Liliana will search this gal up if things are getting really hairy.

 

Scepter of FugueMegrimQuest for the Nihil StoneLiliana Vess

 

Scepter of Fugue: Scepter of Fugue plays two roles: permanent discard outlet and card that ensures that my Quest will go off each turn once they're out. It's cheap and repeatable. Not such a bad dime rare in this deck.

Megrim: There's always one card I have in a deck that I regret later. Believe it or not, Megrim is it this time. Combined with Mind Shatter, Megrim is amazing. But, it just sits there late game while my 1CMC enchantment does all the hard work. I would consider taking these out and filling them as you see fit.

Quest for the Nihil Stone: The only card that has ever inspired me to parody a parody by Weird Al.

Liliana Vess: Obviously, this is the most expensive card in here, but as a singleton copy, she's affordable and effective. I seemed to use her tutor more often than her discard.

 

Consume SpiritDuressInquisition of KozilekMind Shatter

 

Consume Spirit: I put this in to fill two roles: Removal and finisher. I had considered Tendrils of Corruption, but Consume Spirit can hit the player, which makes it much more open ended. Very few games was I ever unhappy to see this.

Duress: Duress is admittedly not nearly as powerful as Inquisition of Kozilek is on the first few turns, but it is still a nice turn 1 or 2 play. And it is hardly ever irrelevant. One of my favorite plays was Swamp, QftNS, pass, Swamp, Inquisition, Duress, pass, they concede.

Inquisition of Kozilek: This card is beastly early game. An entire game can be won by hitting this first turn and discarding the only creature they can play until turn 7.

Mind Shatter: Mind Shatter was the card that made the most people concede. When they see a QftNS on my side with no counters, then watch as I pay X = their hand size, they just leave. This card is awesome. The random is probably just as good as the X in the cost.

 

Now I'll do some quick overviews of 15 of the playtest games I played. I'll only give detailed descriptions on the most interesting games.

 

Game 1 vs. Byteme8199 (Pyromancer Ascension)

I manage to get double Quests out, followed by a Hypnotic Specter on turn 3, which gets Lightning Bolted. I hit him with Mind Shatter for 2, turning both Quests online. He dies in the following turns with double Pyromancer Ascensions on his side.

1-0

 

Game 2 vs. Age_Of_Kings (R/B Discard)

I hit him with Duress first turn to see that we're both playing discard. My Scepter of Fugue and the Quest I topdecked on turn 3 ride me to a sure victory on the heels of two Mind Shatters.

2-0

 

Game 3 vs. blackatana (White Weenie)

I get some early discard with Duress and Inquisition after dropping a Quest on turn 1. He Oblivion Rings my Quest after I drop a Scepter of Fugue. I get out Hypnotic Specter and another Quest (which goes online in one turn), and he just can't keep up with the loss of life.

3-0

 

Game 4 vs. abigshark (R/B Eldrazi Spawn)

I faced variants of this deck a lot with this deck. I don't pull a Quest early game, so I'm in a bit of a tight spot. I do get Scepter of Fugue and a few early discards, and a pair of Consume Spirits to deal with his actual creatures. Guul Draz hits play as his hand is empty, but I'm falling behind from his Emrakul's Hatcher equipped with Basilisk Collar, and can't seem to hit a 5th Swamp. He drops another Hatcher, and I finally hit another Swamp, taking down the equipped Hatcher. I take out the other Hatcher next turn and keep trucking with Guul Draz Specter's massive 5 power. He gets a Hissing Iguanar, making those Spawn look a lot more frightening. I play Liliana and tutor up another Consume Spirit, hitting the Iguanar the following turn. He sacs his Spawn in response, but I'm left standing at 5 life with a 5/5 on my field and an empty hand and field on the other side. I'm met with a Terminate and the game continues. I look to put him away with Bloodhusk Ritualist and Hypnotic Specter, but he drops a few spells to make some more tokens. Essence Feed lets him live 3 more turns, but he never draws anything to stop my Specter.

4-0

 

Game 5 vs. FatMoose103 (R/G Eldrazi Spawn)

I miss my third land drop a few times, allowing him to set up freely. I hit a Hyppie and Bloodhusk, but he keeps getting dudes like Emrakul's Hatcher and Ondu Giant. I manage to stabilize with Consume Spirit and Guul Draz Specter, but then he hits Pelakka Wurm, which is just too much for me.

4-1

 

Game 6 vs. KhaZaR (Bramblesnap)

I hit a lot of one-mana discards in the first few turns, but he gets Bramblesnap, followed by some Spawn generators. I get a Quest and get it online, but I can't keep up with his Bramblesnap aggro, and it ends before I know it. Had I topdecked either a Mind Shatter or Bloodhusk, I would've won, but no go.

4-2

 

Game 7 vs. Janitors (Mono-White Kor)

My early game Quest, Scepter, and Duress set things up for a good game. His first drop doesn't come until turn 5 with a Kor Spiritdancer, but by that time, my Quest is online and he's in topdeck mode. He drops a few more cheap Kor, but my Quest and Guul Draz Vampire make short work of this game.

5-2

 

Game 8 vs. goobatog (Bramblesnap w/ Heavy Pump)

Turn one Quest and turn two Scepter is always a great opener. Turn three Scepter #2 makes things even better. And then a turn four Quest #2! Had he been RDW, I may have been dead by now, but I'm doing pretty well for myself now. He gets a few big shots in with Might of Oaks and Groundswell on his Bramblesnap, but I Consume Spirit it while he's tapped out and down to 2 in hand. By next turn, I'm making him discard to zero and it's all over.

6-2

 

Game 9 vs. Frazmitaz (Some sort of B/G)

Double Quest opener after a mull with Bloodhusk Ritualist. Sorry, make that triple by turn 5. We exchange "draw-go's" for a few turns before I play Mind Shatter for 5 while he has 5 in hand. Needless to say, he concedes instantly. All I see from him are Swamps, Forests, a (Verdant Catacomb), and a Bloodthrone Vampire.

7-2

 

Game 10 vs. mirroredspork (W/G Cascade?)

He drops Plains after Plains, so I hit him early with Scepter of Fugue. I miss my fifth land for Liliana but draw into a Quest. He finally drops a spell on turn 5, Captured Sunlight. He cascades into Safe Passage. Ouch. I keep hitting him with discard from spells and Scepter along with Megrim. Once I drop a second Quest, he concedes with three cards in hand and so little to do apparently.

8-2

 

Game 11 vs. Silvanor (R/G Eldrazi)

Double Quests and a Megrim along with Scepter before he finally drops his first spell, Skittering Invasion. I Mind Shatter him down to 2, putting my Quests online. He plays Invasion number two, so I follow suit with a second Mind Shatter, dropping him to zero cards. He draws a Forest, forcing him to concede.

9-2

 

Game 12 vs. longnight858 (B/R Allies)

I drop early Quest and Megrim. He drops Nimana Sell-Sword and I respond with Guul Draz Vampire. He Staggershocks it. I drop another Megrim and he plays Bojuka Brigand. I make him discard his entire hand with Bloodhusk Ritualist, but he Lightning Bolts me in response. Unfortunately, I just can't deal lethal before his Allies overwhelm me after he drops (Gala Bed Thief), forcing me to discard my only other hope, Hyppie. Had I drawn Consume Spirit, I would've won, but alas.

9-3

 

Game 13 vs. Darkmonk6593 (Mono-Green Eldrazi Spawn)

Early game Scepter and Megrim from me, Nest Invader and Awakening Zone on his side. I drop Quest and Guul Draz Specter and the race is on. He drops Drumhunter and Borderland Ranger and starts swinging, dropping me to 6 before it's all said and done. But I drop a Ritualist, forcing him to discard all 3 cards in his hand, dropping him from 10 to 4 with an online Quest on the board. Concession quickly follows.

10-3

 

Game 14 vs. doragon (Five Color Deck)

We both end up stuck at 3, me with a Bloodhusk to his empty field. I finally hit 4 and drop Guul Draz while he's tapped out from a Treasure Hunt. My Guul Draz is ready to start cracking skulls once he's down to 1 card in hand and me with plenty of ways to make him discard it. He drops a Stoic Angel, but we both know it won't last long. He concedes.

11-3

 

Game 15 vs. UnderworldDaddy (W/U Levelers)

He drops a turn two Time of Heroes and I respond with a turn two Quest. He misses land number three and I get double Quest on turn four. He plays Caravan Escort then finally hits land three and plays Venerated Teacher. I have out Guul Draz the turn before, then play Mind Shatter, emptying his hand to a 5/5 flier and two enchantments that will sap 5 life each next turn. He draws a land and actually sticks around to have the Quests deal that last 10 points during his upkeep.

12-3

 

I played another fifteen games afterwards and ended up going 22-8 overall, which is pretty good to me. Discard is definitely a viable archetype in Standard now. Maybe not PTQ-viable, but it can definitely hold its own in the casual room for $15. If I were to put in any money rares, well, I'd take out Megrim and possibly the Bloodhusk Ritualists for Consume the Meek and Consuming Vapors. These cards would definitely help with the low removal and Consume the Meek is really the only mass removal that's viable in mono-black right now. You may choose to replace Platinum Angel and Liliana as well, but I had games where both came very much in handy.

That's it for this article. Next time, prepare to have your world warped beyond all recognition!

6 Comments

I don't know what's worse: by Westane at Wed, 06/23/2010 - 15:29
Westane's picture
5

I don't know what's worse: The fact that I caught on to the opening paragraph so fast, or the fact that I heard Weird Al's voice BEFORE Don Mclean's... Oh well XD

Anyway, good article, and the discard archetype's looking to improve in M11 with that new 1B Megrim. Looking forward to comparing notes on Warp World XD

Thanks Jeff. I may be by The D.K. at Wed, 06/23/2010 - 15:43
The D.K.'s picture

Thanks Jeff. I may be revisiting the archetype post M11 and/or Scars, since it's so cheap to invest into right now.

Just a forewarning, my Warp World isn't your average Warp World. It's going more for the fun/Timmy factor than the win/Spike factor. Let's just say my "Triggered Abilities" window size caused quite a few players to concede immediately upon sight.

Then we're on the same page by Westane at Wed, 06/23/2010 - 15:50
Westane's picture

Then we're on the same page :)

Nice. Can't wait then. :D by The D.K. at Wed, 06/23/2010 - 16:05
The D.K.'s picture

Nice. Can't wait then. :D

Aren't giant trigger windows by ShardFenix at Wed, 06/23/2010 - 16:32
ShardFenix's picture

Aren't giant trigger windows the only proper way to play Warp World?

Side Board by Lythand at Wed, 06/23/2010 - 18:25
Lythand's picture

Some suggested side cards. As mentioned Consume the Meek. Shrivel, and Vendetta might work well. Also M11 will be getting Corrupt back. I would prbably run that over Consume Spirit.

Also as mentioned, splashing red might just be that much better alowing for a more diverse side board, and opens you up for more board control with spells like Earthquake, Volcanic Fallout, and Chain Reaction. The latter being more mana intensive in which case removing a few of the swamps and adding Mistvein Borderpost would be helpful as a cheap option.