Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin MTG Card


Ob Nixilis offers drawing power for a consistent flow of game options and card advantage. The card allows instant speed responses, enhancing strategic flexibility during gameplay. Discarding for activation and specific mana costs may limit Ob Nixilis’s versatility.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Demon
Abilities Flying,Trample
Power 4
Toughness 3

Text of card

Flying, trample Whenever one or more opponents each lose exactly 1 life, put a +1/+1 counter on Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin. Exile the top card of your library. Until your next end step, you may play that card.


Cards like Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Ob Nixilis, the Captive Kingpin, presents itself as a distinctive player in the pantheon of powerful planeswalkers. When stacking this formidable card against similar options, one might draw parallels with Liliana of the Veil. Both cards provide a means to disrupt opponent strategies through forced sacrifices and discard effects. However, Ob Nixilis diverges with its ability to provide a steady stream of card advantage and incremental life loss to the opponent, setting a relentless tempo that can pressure an adversary.

A comparative look at Sorin Markov reveals another interesting point of discussion. While Sorin offers a direct and heavy-handed approach to controlling the opponent’s life total, Ob Nixilis tends to play a longer and more strategic game. The card’s innate ability to gain control over the match’s pace could prove to be more advantageous in matches that extend beyond the early game scenarios.

The examination of these cards spotlights Ob Nixilis, the Captive Kingpin, as a unique addition to any deck strategy seeking to leverage the slow burn of attrition warfare in Magic: The Gathering. This card’s blend of offensive and defensive capabilities can indeed sculpt the battlefield to its wielder’s advantage, demonstrating its potential in the complex arena of MTG.

Liliana of the Veil - MTG Card versions
Sorin Markov - MTG Card versions
Liliana of the Veil - MTG Card versions
Sorin Markov - MTG Card versions

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Prosper, Tome-Bound - MTG Card versions
Orcus, Prince of Undeath - MTG Card versions
Blim, Comedic Genius - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Firewheeler - MTG Card versions
Rakdos, Lord of Riots - MTG Card versions
Immersturm Predator - MTG Card versions
Murderous Redcap - MTG Card versions
Hellhole Rats - MTG Card versions
Wort, Boggart Auntie - MTG Card versions
Sootwalkers - MTG Card versions
Ashenmoor Liege - MTG Card versions
Viashino Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Singe-Mind Ogre - MTG Card versions
Olivia Voldaren - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
BRGBRG StandardTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 29, 2024
Rakdos SacrificeRakdos Sacrifice StandardRakdos SacrificeCommunity Turnier 4/2023
Rakdos AnvilRakdos Anvil PioneerRakdos Artifact SacrificeSat. 9:30 AM U.S. Regional Championship - Dreamhack Atlanta 2023
Rakdos AggroRakdos Aggro Legacy2023 NA Legacy Champs

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin provides a robust platform for gaining card advantage by offering abilities that enable players to draw additional cards, ensuring a steady stream of options is available during the game.

Resource Acceleration: This card significantly impacts your resource management, allowing for an acceleration in your mana availability which is crucial for executing high-cost spells earlier than usual, paving the way for a commanding presence on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: The abilities included with Ob Nixilis can be activated at instant speed, giving players the flexibility to respond to an opponent’s actions during their turn or to surprise an adversary with unanticipated moves, making it a pivotal tool for on-the-fly strategy adaptation.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ob Nixilis, the Captive Kingpin demands the player to discard a card as part of its ability activation. This can pose a strategic setback, especially when hand size is crucial and the options for card advantage are limited.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s requirement for black mana can restrict its flexibility, making it less desirable for multi-color decks that might struggle to consistently produce the necessary mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that’s on the higher end of the spectrum, you might find that deploying Ob Nixilis limits your ability to cast other spells in the same turn, potentially reducing your overall tempo and board presence in a game where early advantages can be decisive.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ob Nixilis, the Captive Kingpin, enhances a wide array of black-based strategies with its ability to disrupt opponents and offer card advantage. Its flexibility in multiple deck archetypes makes it an asset in diversifying your play experience.

Combo Potential: With its inherent synergies, Ob Nixilis, the Captive Kingpin, can serve as a cornerstone for powerful combos. Whether it’s manipulating life totals or exploiting sacrifice mechanics, this card can amplify the effectiveness of your strategy.

Meta-Relevance: Ob Nixilis, the Captive Kingpin, maintains relevance in a constantly shifting meta by challenging prevalent creature-heavy tactics, enabling it to be a formidable inclusion in your arsenal, ready to tackle various competitive environments.


How to beat

Ob Nixilis, the Captive Kingpin, looms as a formidable presence in Magic: The Gathering. The card’s abilities grant significant card advantage and pose a challenge for opponents. Tackling this daunting adversary requires strategic planning and precise execution. Cards like Sudden Death, which can take out creatures before their abilities trigger, become pivotal. Additionally, exile effects, like those from Path to Exile, are crucial in permanently removing Ob Nixilis from the battlefield.

Ensnaring this kingpin can be a delicate operation. Players must consider using countermeasures such as Negate when Ob Nixilis’s triggered abilities are on the stack. Spell disruption holds the key, with options like Dovin’s Veto providing uncounterable solutions. Finally, pressuring your opponent and maintaining board control with aggressive strategies can prevent the stabilization that Ob Nixilis’s controller needs to maximize their advantage.

Being prepared for the challenge posed by Ob Nixilis requires a well-tuned deck and a keen sense of the ideal moment to strike. By leveraging removal, counterspells, and a proactive gameplay stance, players can conquer the Captive Kingpin and maintain dominance in their MTG matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering your MTG deck requires not only understanding your cards’ strengths but also strategizing around their challenges. Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin may demand careful resource management and present a higher mana investment, but its capabilities can significantly tip the scales in your favor. This card shines with its card advantage and instant-speed maneuvers, crucial for disrupting your opponent’s strategy. Whether you’re honing a mono-black deck or experimenting with new combos, consider how this card’s versatility and meta-relevance can be integrated into your play style. For insights into maximizing Ob Nixilis’s potential and refining your deck-building skills, join the BurnMana community to enhance your MTG expertise.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine: The Aftermath and March of the Machine: The Aftermath, 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 Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-05-12 and 2023-05-12. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-05-12March of the Machine: The AftermathMAT 1412015NormalBlackZezhou Chen
22023-05-12March of the Machine: The AftermathMAT 2202015NormalBlackKrharts
32023-05-12March of the Machine: The AftermathMAT 412015NormalBlackZezhou Chen
42023-05-12March of the Machine: The AftermathMAT 912015NormalBlackKrharts
52023-05-12March of the Machine: The AftermathMAT 1762015NormalBlackZezhou Chen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-05-12 If you don't play the card, it will remain exiled.
2023-05-12 Ob Nixilis's last ability looks at all combat damage dealt to an opponent in total to determine whether it triggers. For example, if three 1/1 creatures deal combat damage to an opponent, that player loses 3 life. Ob Nixilis's ability won't trigger.
2023-05-12 Ob Nixilis's last ability will trigger if an opponent is dealt exactly 1 damage, pays exactly 1 life, or loses exactly 1 life some other way.
2023-05-12 Playing the card exiled with Ob Nixilis follows the normal rules for playing that card. You must pay its costs, and you must follow all applicable timing rules. For example, if the card is a creature card, you can cast that card by paying its mana cost only during your main phase while the stack is empty.
2023-05-12 Unless an effect allows you to play additional lands that turn, you can play a land card exiled with Ob Nixilis only if you haven't played a land yet that turn.
2023-05-12 You may play the card exiled with Ob Nixilis even if Ob Nixilis leaves the battlefield or you lose control of it.