Nekusar, the Mindrazer MTG Card


Drawing extra cards and dealing damage at instant speed can be a quick path to victory. His tri-colored mana cost and high casting price can be restrictive and require a strategic deck. Nekusar’s unique damage per draw effect remains highly effective in various MTG meta scenarios.
Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Zombie Wizard
Power 2
Toughness 4

Text of card

At the beginning of each player's draw step, that player draws an additional card. Whenever an opponent draws a card, Nekusar, the Mindrazer deals 1 damage to that player.

His enemies wondered if the lich king's brutal death and unnatural rebirth had been his plan all along.


Cards like Nekusar, the Mindrazer

Nekusar the Mindrazer has earned its place as a notorious commander in MTG. It gifts players with an extra draw but punishes them with damage, akin to the symmetrical effects of cards like Fate Unraveler and Underworld Dreams. That said, while Fate Unraveler deals a fixed amount of damage per card drawn, Nekusar’s damage potential is magnified by the number of opponents in the game, scaling its impact in multiplayer scenarios.

In addition to these, Kederekt Parasite requires a red permanent to be potent but follows a parallel route in inducing harm for draws. Whispering Madness encapsulates Nekusar’s spirit by forcing card cycling and dealing damage across the board when paired with it, albeit as a one-time event per cast. However, none mirror Nekusar’s consistent pressure and enabling synergy with draw-denial tactics and wheel effects.

When evaluating these alternatives alongside Nekusar the Mindrazer, the inherent power of enabling a strategy that leverages card draw to whittle down opponents’ life totals while keeping your hand full is unparalleled, making Nekusar a unique enabler for punishment-based decks in MTG.

Fate Unraveler - MTG Card versions
Underworld Dreams - MTG Card versions
Kederekt Parasite - MTG Card versions
Whispering Madness - MTG Card versions
Fate Unraveler - MTG Card versions
Underworld Dreams - MTG Card versions
Kederekt Parasite - MTG Card versions
Whispering Madness - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Nekusar, the Mindrazer by color, type and mana cost

Sol'kanar the Swamp King - MTG Card versions
Ashnod the Uncaring - MTG Card versions
Mishra, Eminent One - MTG Card versions
Inalla, Archmage Ritualist - MTG Card versions
Evelyn, the Covetous - MTG Card versions
Parnesse, the Subtle Brush - MTG Card versions
Sol'Kanar the Tainted - MTG Card versions
Abaddon the Despoiler - MTG Card versions
The Valeyard - MTG Card versions
Admiral Brass, Unsinkable - MTG Card versions
Sol'kanar the Swamp King - MTG Card versions
Ashnod the Uncaring - MTG Card versions
Mishra, Eminent One - MTG Card versions
Inalla, Archmage Ritualist - MTG Card versions
Evelyn, the Covetous - MTG Card versions
Parnesse, the Subtle Brush - MTG Card versions
Sol'Kanar the Tainted - MTG Card versions
Abaddon the Despoiler - MTG Card versions
The Valeyard - MTG Card versions
Admiral Brass, Unsinkable - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nekusar the Mindrazer shines in creating significant card advantage for its controller. With its ability to force each player to draw additional cards during their draw step, Nekusar can quickly fill your hand while depleting your opponents’ life totals. This constant influx of new cards ensures you’re never short on options.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana acceleration, Nekusar facilitates indirect resource acceleration through wheel effects—cards that make players discard their hands and draw new ones. Each new hand drawn means more chances to hit land drops and ramp spells, keeping you ahead in the resource game.

Instant Speed: Nekusar’s ability to deal damage doesn’t rely on sorcery speed interactions, making it effective at instant speed too. This aspect becomes particularly powerful when combined with wheel effects or other card draw spells cast on opponents’ turns, leading to unexpected life loss that can change the tide of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nekusar the Mindrazer forces each player to draw extra cards and then lose life for the cards they’ve drawn, which may backfire if you’re up against opponents who benefit from having an extensive hand size or possess strategies that utilize the graveyard. This requisite can inadvertently give your adversaries more fuel for their own tactics, making Nekusar a risky card to play without careful consideration of the current board state.

Specific Mana Cost: Nekusar requires a precise combination of blue, black, and red mana to cast. This tri-color necessity restricts him mostly to commander decks running these colors and may prove complex to manage in terms of mana base, especially in the early game or if your lands are consistently being targeted or disrupted.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sitting at a casting cost of five mana with three of which are specifically colored, Nekusar does come with a significant investment. Considering this, players often weigh other options that can offer immediate impact or present a less mana-intensive strategy. While Nekusar’s effect is unique and potentially game-ending, it’s important to balance it against other cards you could deploy for the same or less cost and their potential impact on the game.


Reasons to Include Nekusar the Mindrazer in Your Collection

Versatility: Nekusar the Mindrazer is a multifaceted commander capable of slotting into various strategies focused on card draw and wheels. His ability to deal damage to opponents as they draw cards enables diverse deckbuilding options, from control to more aggressive builds.

Combo Potential: This commander thrives on combos, working well with cards like Wheel of Fortune or Teferi’s Puzzle Box to maximise the pain for opponents while refilling your hand. His passive damage effect scales quickly in multi-player formats, making him a target your opponents can’t ignore.

Meta-Relevance: In the constantly evolving Commander meta, Nekusar remains a consistent threat. His ability to disrupt opponents’ plans while accelerating your own makes him a potent force, especially in games that tend to have players amassing large hand sizes.


How to beat

Nekusar the Mindrazer is a formidable commander in MTG that turns card draws into a weapon against opponents. Facing this legendary creature often means strategizing to mitigate the damage from drawing cards. One effective tactic includes utilizing cards such as Spirit of the Labyrinth to limit the number of cards each player can draw, thus reducing the pain from Nekusar’s ability. Another strategy relies on stifle effects, with cards like Trickbind or Stifle itself, which can temporarily halt Nekusar’s damaging ability.

It’s also advantageous to focus on removal spells that can handle this creature instantly, like Swords to Plowshares or Rapid Hybridization, to remove the threat before it takes over the game. Pillow fort strategies can also be effective, as they prevent the damage from affecting you through cards like Propaganda or Ghostly Prison. Be sure to keep the graveyard in check too, as Nekusar decks often exploit wheel effects to reanimate potent threats. By carefully choosing your spells and considering Nekusar’s ability in your gameplay, you can turn the tides and claim victory over this mindrazer.

In essence, beating Nekusar the Mindrazer requires a blend of timing, resource management, and strategic use of interruptive cards. Successfully executing these tactics can neutralize the threat and push the game in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is a journey of continuous learning and adaptation—particularly when facing unique cards like Nekusar the Mindrazer. With its pros and cons, including everything from card advantage to specific mana requirements, it’s clear that ultimate success with Nekusar requires insight and strategy. If you’re looking to harness the power of this formidable commander, enrich your collection, or discover how to weather the storm against it, we’re here to guide you. Dive deeper into the nuances of gameplay, deck building, and strategic play by joining our community. Enhance your MTG experience with us and take your skills to the next level.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nekusar, the Mindrazer MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online Promos, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Nekusar, the Mindrazer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nekusar, the Mindrazer Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2013-11-01 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 523142003NormalBlackMark Winters
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 861922015NormalBlackMark Winters
32013-11-01Commander 2013C13 2012003NormalBlackMark Winters
42014-01-01Judge Gift Cards 2014J14 72003NormalBlackMark Winters
52019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 13012015NormalBorderlessMark Riddick
62020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 5292015NormalBlackMark Winters
72023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 5872015NormalBlackMark Winters
82023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 3492015NormalBlackMark Winters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nekusar, the Mindrazer has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PennyLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Nekusar, the Mindrazer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2020-11-10 If a spell or ability causes you to put cards into your hand without specifically using the word "draw," it doesn't count as drawing cards and it doesn't cause Nekusar's second ability to trigger.