Nemesis: Difference between revisions
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''Nemesis'' has | ''Nemesis'' has three [[matched pair]]s. | ||
*<c>Lightbringer</c> and <c>Lawbringer</c> are both common 2/2 Kor Rebels with a mana cost of {{2}}{{W}} and the ability "{{T}}, Sacrifice this creature: Exile target black (<c>Lightbringer</c>) / red (<c>Lawbringer</c>) creature.". | |||
*<c>Stronghold Biologist</c> and <c>Stronghold Machinist</c> are both 1/1 Human Spellshapers with a mana cost of {{2}}{{U}} and the ability "{{U}}{{UU}}, {{T}}, Discard a card: Counter target creature (<c>Stronghold Biologist</c>) / noncreature (<c>Stronghold Machinist</c>) spell.". The arts of these cards are two parts of a whole and their flavor texts allude to each other. | |||
*<c>Rackling</c> and <c>Viseling</c> are both 2/2 artifact creatures with a mana cost of {{4}} and a triggered ability that deals damage to an opponent if an that opponent has 3 cards or fewer in his or her hand or that opponent has 4 cards or more in his or her hand, respectively. These cards pay homage to <c>The Rack</c> and <c>Black Vise</c> and their flavor texts allude to each other. | |||
===Mirrored pairs=== | ===Mirrored pairs=== | ||
Revision as of 11:37, 30 April 2013
- For other uses, see Nemesis (disambiguation).
| Nemesis | |
|---|---|
| Set Information | |
| Set symbol | |
| Themes and mechanics |
Alternate casting costs, Calling creatures, Flowstone, Laccoliths, Mercenaries and Rebels, Seals, Spellshapers |
| Keywords/ability words | Fading |
| Set size |
143 cards (55 commons, 44 uncommons, 44 rares) |
| Expansion code | NEM |
| Development codename | Euripides |
Nemesis is the second set in the Masques block. It is the 19th Magic expansion and was released on February 14, 2000.
Set details
A card of note is Ascendant Evincar. It was the first card to represent the same legendary permanent as a previous card following a major change in the character's storyline. The card was not named "Crovax, Ascendant Evincar", in order to avoid confusion over whether the "legend rule" came into effect when the Evincar and Crovax The Cursed were both in play. This policy was later dropped with the printing of Ertai, the Corrupted in Planeshift.
It continued Mercadian Masques's themes of spellshapers, rebels and mercenaries, and cards with alternative casting costs. Nemesis is generally considered to be the most powerful set of the Masques block.
Flavor and storyline
Critical reception and tournament impact
Several cards from the set have made marks on the tournament scene, including Blastoderm, Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero, Parallax Wave, Accumulated Knowledge, Daze, Submerge, Tangle Wire and the five seals (for example, Seal of Fire).
Themes and mechanics
Nemesis introduced the only keyword mechanic of the Masques block, Fading. The only cards in the block with Fading appear in the Nemesis expansion. The keyword meant that cards with the ability only remained in play for a few turns, but were typically heavily discounted as a result. Many cards with fading also had activated abilities that traded the card's fade counters for various effects.
Creature types
No new creature types were introduced in this expansion.
The following creature types are used in this expansion but also appear in previous sets: Angel, Beast, Bird, Cleric, Elephant, Elf, Goblin, Golem, Hound, Hydra, Illusion, Insect, Knight, Mercenary, Merfolk, Rebel, Serpent, Ship (later changed to Human), Soldier, Spellshaper, Wall, Wurm.
Cycles
Nemesis features four cycles.[1]
| Cycle name | Description and notes | White card(s) | Blue card(s) | Black card(s) | Red card(s) | Green card(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recruiters[2] | Each of these rare 2/2 Human Rebel or Mercenary creatures has the activated ability "
 ,  : Search your library for a [creature subtype] permanent card and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.", where the creature type is one that is iconic of that color. |
Seahunter | Moggcatcher | Skyshroud Poacher | ||
| Seals | Each of these common enchantments have an activated ability involving its sacrifice for the effect of a well-known instant.
|
Seal of Cleansing | Seal of Removal | Seal of Doom | Seal of Fire | Seal of Strength |
| Spellshapers (common) |
- Free instants: If your opponent controls a certain land and you control a certain land you may play each of these spells without paying their mana cost — Sivvi's Ruse, Submerge, Massacre, Mogg Salvage and Refreshing Rain.
- Common Spellshapers: Each of these 1/1 creatures have a one-mana activated spellshaper ability (pay mana, , discard a card: get an effect) — Netter en-Dal, Trickster Mage, Plague Witch, Bola Warrior, and Harvest Mage.
Vertical cycle
| Cycle name | Description and notes | Common card(s) | Uncommon card(s) | Rare card(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
- Calling creatures: Each of these green spells allows you to search your library for cards with the same name as a creature you control, representing the creature calling its fellows — Skyshroud Sentinel (common), Nesting Wurm (uncommon) and Pack Hunt (rare). These cards were heralded by Howling Wolf in Mercadian Masques.
- Laccoliths: When one of these red beasts become blocked, you may have it deal damage equal to its power to target creature; if you do so, the creature deals no combat damage that turn — Laccolith Whelp (common), Laccolith Warrior (uncommon) and Laccolith Titan (rare).
Mega-mega cycle
- Legendary land: Kor Haven is the fourth card in this mega-mega cycle, which also includes Teferi's Isle, Volrath's Stronghold, Yavimaya Hollow and Keldon Necropolis
- Uncommon angel: Voice of Truth is the final card in this mega-mega cycle, which also includes Voice of Grace and Voice of Law from Urza's Saga, Voice of Duty and Voice of Reason from Urza's Destiny. These are uncommon white angels, each of which had a different protection from color.
Pairs
Matched pairs
Nemesis has three matched pairs.
- Lightbringer and Lawbringer are both common 2/2 Kor Rebels with a mana cost of
and the ability ", Sacrifice this creature: Exile target black (Lightbringer) / red (Lawbringer) creature.". - Stronghold Biologist and Stronghold Machinist are both 1/1 Human Spellshapers with a mana cost of
and the ability "Template:UU, , Discard a card: Counter target creature (Stronghold Biologist) / noncreature (Stronghold Machinist) spell.". The arts of these cards are two parts of a whole and their flavor texts allude to each other. - Rackling and Viseling are both 2/2 artifact creatures with a mana cost of
and a triggered ability that deals damage to an opponent if an that opponent has 3 cards or fewer in his or her hand or that opponent has 4 cards or more in his or her hand, respectively. These cards pay homage to The Rack and Black Vise and their flavor texts allude to each other.
Mirrored pairs
Nemesis has no mirrored pairs.
Reprinted cards
Functional reprints
Nemesis has one functional reprint:
- Spineless Thug is a functional reprint of Craven Knight from Portal and Young Wei Recruits from Portal Three Kingdoms, save for creature type.
Preconstructed decks
Theme decks
The pre-constructed theme decks are: Template:Theme decks
Notes
References
- ↑ Ben Bleiweiss (July 17, 2002). "Set of Five, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Chris Millar (July 12, 2006). "Masques of Kamigawa". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.