Archenemy Nicol Bolas Box (Deck 3 of 4: Chandra Nalaar)
This deck is lit! (sorry I couldn't help myself)
Even though I have no self restraint when it comes to puns, this deck should not be restrained! It is quick and if used correctly many small hits can cause the "death by a thousand scratches" effect.
One major mechanic that this deck uses is bloodthirst. This triggers after an opponent has been dealt damage in the same turn. Bloodthirst gives the creature a number of +1/+1 counters. Other cards also play off of that same idea, triggering when an opponent has been dealt damage.
I am going to add the rules of this Archenemy Nicol Bolas box at the end of the post to give a quick summary of how this sub-game works. The decks all have 60 cards and can be used in normal play, not just in this mode.
Let's jump into the fire together! (I'm not promising there won't be more puns)
Chandra, Pyromaster
This kind of planeswalker isn't normally my playstyle, but it is unique to use! Chandra's +1 ability deals damage to your opponent and a creature they control. That creature can't block in that same turn (take note as to how many ways to deal damage there are).
The -7 ability is worth mentioning too. Exiling ten of your own cards can be risky, but the payoff could mean winning the game with one play. This allows you to play three copies of an instant or sorcery exiled and it can do major damage.
Skarrgan Firebird
This card is an example of the bloodthirst mechanic. If you deal damage before you play this card, it enters the battlefield with three +1/+1 counters on it. When playing against this deck you need to be aware and try not to take damage when possible.
Another thing that makes this card cool is that you can pay 3 mana and return it from your graveyard if an opponent has been dealt damage this turn.
Obsidian Fireheart
This 4/4 elemental creature is such a cool card. It is a 4 mana card, and its ability costs 3 mana. But theoretically you could activate this ability as many times as you had the mana for! When you put a "blaze" counter on target land, it deals 1 damage to the controller on their upkeep (even after Obsidian Fireheart leaves the battlefield).
Give 🔥ALL🔥 their lands blaze counters! This is just one example of how you can deal damage each turn with this deck.
Dualcaster Mage
The main reason I like the Dualcaster Mage is that this card has flash. That isn't normally an ability that a red card has, and I like oddball cards. Another attractive things about this card is that you can use it to respond to a nasty card your opponent plays. I like having tricks up my sleeve.
Avatar of Fury
This card has a cool ability, that is why I included it. It has the potential to only cost two mana to cast and it is a 6/6 with flying. Pretty neat.
Chandra's Phoenix
Very useful card for yourself, very annoying to your opponents. If you are able to deal damage each turn or every other turn, you can get it back from your graveyard without having to pay any mana. The fact that it has haste is just salt in the wound.
Quick rules of Archenemy Nicol Bolas game (summarized by myself)
- One player is Nicol Bolas, and up to three others can be the planeswalkers Gideon, Nissa, or Chandra
- The player that has the Nicol Bolas deck starts with 40 life and the planeswalkers start with 20 life
- Nicol Bolas has a separate deck for schemes (I will include the scheme cards in the Nicol Bolas deck review). These scheme cards give bonuses to Nicol Bolas throughout the game. Some of these cards have lasting effects and others are only temporary
- The three planeswalkers are all playing against Nicol Bolas. If Nicol Bolas is defeated, all three planeswalkers win. But if Nicol Bolas defeats all three planeswalkers, then that player wins.
These rules do not need to be followed, but it makes for a different and fun mode to play.
This was deck three of four in the Archenemy Nicol Bolas box series. Here are the links to the prior decks in the series:
- Archenemy Nicol Bolas Box (Deck 1 of 4: Gideon Jura)
- Archenemy Nicol Bolas Box (Deck 2 of 4: Nissa Revane)
Hope you enjoyed this deck breakdown!
There is more deck to write about in this box, I am intending to finish it tomorrow! After that one, I will make a post with all four decks in the post and have complete decklists.
Make sure you follow so you can keep up with each deck and see if this is a good box for you!