Nemesis (Magic: The Gathering)
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- For other uses, see Nemesis.
| Nemesis | ||
|---|---|---|
| Expansion symbol |  |
|
| Release date | February 14, 2000 | |
| Mechanics | Spellshapers, Rebels & Mercenaries | |
| Keywords | Fading | |
| Cycles | Seals | |
| Size | 143 cards | |
| Expansion code | NMS | |
| Development codename | Euripides | |
| Sets in Masques Block | ||
| Mercadian Masques | Nemesis | Prophecy |
| Magic: The Gathering Chronology |
||
| Battle Royale | Nemesis | Starter 2000 |
Nemesis is the second set in the Mercadian Masques block of cards of Magic: The Gathering, along with the expansions Mercadian Masques and Prophecy. Its expansion symbol is a Halberd.
Contents |
[edit] Storyline
The Phyrexian invasion of Dominaria is nearing; the Dark Lord's plans are almost complete. Only the Planeswalker Urza stands in his way. At the same time, Yawgmoth's Inner Circle decides on the election of the evincar to replace Volrath. The Phyrexian emissary Belbe has to choose between Greven Il-Vec, Ertai, Crovax, and the newly-returned Volrath.
[edit] Set History
Nemesis had a fair share of cards appear in well-placing tournament decks. Many of the cards with Fading were quite powerful; the cards Parallax Wave, Parallax Tide, Blastoderm, Saproling Burst, and Tangle Wire all appeared in decks in various formats.
[edit] Mechanics
- Fading - As a card with fading comes into play, its controller puts a number of fade counters on it (as specified on the card). At the beginning of its controller's upkeep, that player would remove one counter, unless there were no counters to remove, in which case the card sacrificed. Cards with fading (e.g., Blastoderm) would normally be considered over-powered without the addition of the ability, and forced the player to use the cards hastily, thus lending fading naturally to large creature.
In Nemesis, new Rebels & Mercenaries were added to the Mercadian Masques repertoire, such as Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero, which dominated a block constructed Pro Tour before it was banned.
The Seals were a cycle of enchantments that reproduced the effect of instant with that same mana cost, but laid in play ready to trigger. Two of them were later reprinted in Dissension.
[edit] Notable Cards
- Blastoderm - a large green creature that cannot be targeted by other cards. Even though it can only stay around for four turns (due to fading), Blastoderm poses a big problem for opponents.
- Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero - the "glue" for rebel decks. Lin Sivvi can grab any rebel creatures out of a deck and even bring them back from the graveyard. Banned in Block Constructed format for breaking the Rebel archetype. On a flavor note, she became Eladamri's partner in defending Rath and Dominaria from the Phyrexians.
- Ascendant Evincar - Crovax's second card incarnation and the first card to portray another version of the same character.
- Parallax Wave - Saw steady tournament play as both creature removal and creature protection as well as being part of an infinite loop combo with Opalescence until it was later given errata.
- Rootwater Thief - A selective-milling merman created by Mike Long when he won the Duelist Invitational.
- Saproling Burst - A staple in the popular "Fires" deck archetype until it rotated out of Extended with the release of Ravnica Block.
- Tangle Wire - another fading card, Tangle Wire shuts down many decks that use few permanents. The rules changes in 6th Edition concerning tapped artifacts makes Tangle Wire even more potent.
- Daze - The ability to disrupt an opponent for free led "Daze" to be considered one of the best counterspells in the game. It is still used for control purposes in Type 1 decks, often alongside Force of Will.
