Nemesis of Reason MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Leviathan Horror
Abilities Mill
Power 3
Toughness 7

Key Takeaways

  1. Nemesis of Reason mills opponents, depleting their library and offering a unique card advantage.
  2. Its ability to fill graveyards quickly synergizes well with reanimator or graveyard-based strategies.
  3. Swift removal and graveyard manipulation are effective counters to Nemesis of Reason’s threats.

Text of card

Whenever Nemesis of Reason attacks, defending player puts the top ten cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.

Words describing it fail. Pages relating it shrivel. Tales recounting it end.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Nemesis of Reason leverages milling as a strategic approach to depletion of an opponent’s library, effectively transforming their cards into a resource you can diminish. Each attack not only pressures life totals but also erodes the options available to your adversary, potentially removing their resources before they can utilize them. This offers a unique angle on gaining card advantage by reducing the pool of resources an opponent can draw from.

Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t directly ramp your mana, the Nemesis of Reason can rapidly accelerate your board state when paired with reanimator strategies or graveyard synergies. Several cards in MTG thrive on the number of creatures or cards in the graveyard, and this behemoth can fill those zones fast, powering up your plays and leading to a formidable resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: While the Nemesis of Reason is not an instant speed spell, its ability might as well have been for how it disrupts the opponent’s game plan. It puts continuous pressure on your opponent to have an answer quickly, as each attack phase could spell disaster for their library, pushing them to make rapid and sometimes suboptimal decisions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the case of Nemesis of Reason, the card itself doesn’t require you to discard, but it forces your opponent to place a substantial amount of their library into their graveyard. This mechanic, while useful, can be less impactful in formats where opponents may benefit from having cards in their graveyard, giving them an inadvertent advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Nemesis of Reason demands a specific mix of mana: three colorless, one blue, and one black. This cost confines the card to blue-black decks, which might not always align with players’ strategies that favor flexible mana bases or multi-color decks beyond these hues.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of five, it can be argued that Nemesis of Reason is costly for its 3/7 stats. Considering the speed of many competitive formats, deploying a five-mana creature without immediate board impact can leave you vulnerable or set you behind other players who are utilizing more efficient creatures or control elements at that stage of the game.


Reasons to Include Nemesis of Reason in Your Collection

Versatility: Nemesis of Reason offers a dynamic edge to any mill strategy, fitting seamlessly into decks that aim to deplete an opponent’s library. Its ability to mill substantial chunks per attack makes it a feared presence on the board across various formats.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in synergy with others that reward players for the number of cards in an opponent’s graveyard, turning its milling effect into a massive leverage point for numerous win conditions.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where graveyard-based strategies are prevalent, Nemesis of Reason not only disrupts opponents’ plans but also provides a substantial threat that can rapidly end games, making it a useful card against a variety of deck archetypes.


How to beat

Nemesis of Reason’s presence in Magic: The Gathering matches often heralds an impending threat for library-based strategies due to its milling potential. This formidable creature excels at depleting your library, causing you to lose the game if it goes unchecked. To counteract Nemesis of Reason, it’s essential to deploy removal spells that can swiftly eliminate this creature. Instant-speed removal such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push can disrupt your opponent’s plans before significant damage is dealt to your library.

Another strategy involves utilizing graveyard manipulation. Cards that shuffle your graveyard back into your library, like Elixir of Immortality, can mitigate the impact of Nemesis of Reason’s ability. Additionally, it’s wise to keep counterspells on hand like Negate or Dovin’s Veto to prevent Nemesis of Reason from hitting the battlefield in the first place.

In essence, staying proactive is the key. By maintaining control over the board and keeping answers ready, you can prevent the Nemesis of Reason from becoming an insurmountable challenge and preserve your deck from being whittled down to nothing.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embark on the strategic journey of MTG with an intriguing twist – the Nemesis of Reason. This mill cornerstone offers a unique avenue for those looking to challenge traditional playstyles. Whether it’s broadening your arsenal for competitive play or simply enjoying the satisfaction of dwindling your opponent’s library, the Nemesis of Reason is a card that promises to shake up the battlefield. Elevating a mill deck requires not just powerful cards but a deep understanding of the nuances within the game. Dive deeper into strategies, uncover synergistic gems, and refine your expertise. Discover how this card can become a keystone in your collection and disrupt the meta. Ready for a game changer? Dive into our comprehensive insights and fortify your deck with purpose.


Cards like Nemesis of Reason

The Nemesis of Reason asserts its unique position in the realm of powerful mill cards within MTG. Similar to its predecessor, Glimpse the Unthinkable, this card can rapidly deplete an opponent’s library, but it does so with every attack, not just as a one-time event. Although Glimpse the Unthinkable impacts the library significantly with a single cast, the Nemesis of Reason can continually apply pressure each turn it remains on the battlefield.

Another card that echoes this mill strategy is Traumatize, which, similar to the Nemesis of Reason, creates a significant impact in one fell swoop by halving an opponent’s library. However, this sorcery lacks the recurring effect that the creature-based Nemesis provides. Lastly, the powerhouse that is Jace, Memory Adept further reveals the diversity in mill tactics, offering both a repetitive and single-use option to eliminate an opponent’s cards. Yet, unlike these sorceries and planeswalkers, the Nemesis of Reason brings a persistent and menacing board presence.

By comparing these alternatives, it’s evident that the Nemesis of Reason offers an intriguing blend of offensive capabilities and strategic depth, establishing its reputation as a formidable mill agent in MTG decks centered around this archetype.

Glimpse the Unthinkable - MTG Card versions
Traumatize - MTG Card versions
Jace, Memory Adept - MTG Card versions
Glimpse the Unthinkable - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Traumatize - Odyssey (ODY)
Jace, Memory Adept - Magic 2012 (M12)

Cards similar to Nemesis of Reason by color, type and mana cost

Nebuchadnezzar - MTG Card versions
Skeleton Ship - MTG Card versions
Nymris, Oona's Trickster - MTG Card versions
Kotose, the Silent Spider - MTG Card versions
Narfi, Betrayer King - MTG Card versions
Eloise, Nephalia Sleuth - MTG Card versions
Consuming Aberration - MTG Card versions
Tattered Drake - MTG Card versions
Dementia Sliver - MTG Card versions
Dralnu, Lich Lord - MTG Card versions
Ghastlord of Fugue - MTG Card versions
Gravelgill Axeshark - MTG Card versions
Grimgrin, Corpse-Born - MTG Card versions
Havengul Lich - MTG Card versions
Horror of the Dim - MTG Card versions
Haunter of Nightveil - MTG Card versions
Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker - MTG Card versions
Necromaster Dragon - MTG Card versions
Possessed Skaab - MTG Card versions
Taigam, Sidisi's Hand - MTG Card versions
Nebuchadnezzar - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Skeleton Ship - Ice Age (ICE)
Nymris, Oona's Trickster - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Kotose, the Silent Spider - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Promos (PNEO)
Narfi, Betrayer King - Kaldheim (KHM)
Eloise, Nephalia Sleuth - Midnight Hunt Commander (MIC)
Consuming Aberration - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
Tattered Drake - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Dementia Sliver - Time Spiral (TSP)
Dralnu, Lich Lord - Time Spiral (TSP)
Ghastlord of Fugue - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Gravelgill Axeshark - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Grimgrin, Corpse-Born - Multiverse Legends (MUL)
Havengul Lich - Shadows of the Past (SIS)
Horror of the Dim - Gatecrash (GTC)
Haunter of Nightveil - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Necromaster Dragon - Dragons of Tarkir Promos (PDTK)
Possessed Skaab - Magic Origins (ORI)
Taigam, Sidisi's Hand - Commander 2017 (C17)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nemesis of Reason MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn and Mystery Booster, 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 Nemesis of Reason and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nemesis of Reason Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2009-04-30 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-04-30Alara RebornARB 282003normalblackMark Tedin
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 14592003normalblackMark Tedin
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 13022015normalblackRyan Alexander Lee
42020-09-26The ListPLST ARB-282003normalblackMark Tedin
52022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 8502015normalblackMark Tedin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nemesis of Reason has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2009-05-01 If the defending player has fewer than ten cards in their library, that player's entire library is put into their graveyard.

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