Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Nixilis
Loyalty 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Ob Nixilis promises steady card draw via creature sacrifices, fortifying strategic depth and hand size.
  2. The card’s demon token creation accelerates resources, enhancing board presence economically.
  3. Its emblem offers life and card gain at instant speed, altering gameplay dramatically.

Text of card


+2: Each opponent loses 1 life. You gain life equal to the life lost this way.
-2: Create a 5/5 black Demon creature token with flying. You lose 2 life.
-8: You get an emblem with ", Sacrifice a creature: You gain X life and draw X cards, where X is the sacrificed creature's power." Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath can be your commander.


Card Pros

Card Advantage:Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath provides consistent card advantage with its +2 loyalty ability. By sacrificing another creature, you draw two cards, bolstering your hand and giving you more strategic options every turn. This ability is a reliable engine that feeds into the strategy of decks craving regular card flow.

Resource Acceleration: The card’s -2 loyalty ability acts as a form of resource acceleration. It creates a 5/5 black Demon creature token with flying, which serves not only as a formidable offensive threat but also a substantial defense. This token can contribute to board presence without spending additional cards from your hand, effectively accelerating your in-game resources.

Instant Speed: While Ob Nixilis itself isn’t played at instant speed, it enables instant speed interactions by providing a life buffer with its ultimate ability. At -8 loyalty, you gain an emblem with “1B, Sacrifice a creature: You gain X life and draw X cards, where X is the sacrificed creature’s power.” This transforms all your creatures into potential instant speed card and life-gain engines, which can be a game-changer during your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath demands a steady flow of creatures to sacrifice, which could strain your resource pool, especially in a game where creatures are your primary defense or offense.

Specific Mana Cost: Summoning this planeswalker requires a precise blend of mana, including two black. This specific demand can make him a tough fit in multicolored decks that might not consistently produce the necessary black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an investment of five mana, Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath has a relatively high cost of entry. This can be particularly cumbersome in formats where speed is key, and other cards might offer immediate impact for less mana.


Reasons to Include Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath in Your Collection

Versatility: Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath offers flexibility to your commander or planeswalker-focused decks. This legendary planeswalker can be a powerful engine for card advantage and life manipulation, fitting well into various strategies while also acting as a reliable win condition.

Combo Potential: Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath’s ability to create Demon creature tokens paves the way for synergies with sacrifice mechanics, and its emblem grants crucial lifegain spells that can transform simple actions into powerful, game-ending combos.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment filled with creature-heavy decks, the second ability of Ob Nixilis provides essential removal options. The omnipresent demand for strong planeswalkers in both casual and competitive formats ensures that this card maintains its significance in the current meta.


How to beat

Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath presents a multi-faceted challenge in MTG with his ability to bolster your demonic forces, drain life from opponents, and ultimately summon a powerful emblem. To triumph against this formidable planeswalker, pinpoint removal spells are your allies — consider options like Murder or Hero’s Downfall to dispatch him quickly and efficiently. Board control is also key; maintaining pressure and not allowing the opponent to establish a board presence can prevent Ob Nixilis from exploiting his full potential.

If direct removal isn’t in your hand, redirect your strategy towards undercutting his lifelink advantage. Cards that prevent life gain such as Tainted Remedy can disrupt the synergy and turn the tide in your favor. Moreover, focus on limiting the available creatures for sacrifice, as this cuts off a crucial avenue for your opponent to draw cards and gains life, effectively neutering Ob Nixilis’s first ability. In essence, quick, decisive action and strategic foresight play pivotal roles in nullifying the threat posed by Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the ebb and flow of MTG gameplay takes insight, strategy and, on occasion, a powerful planeswalker like Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath at your side. Analyzing the pros and cons, the Ob Nixilis card emerges as a worthy inclusion in decks that value versatility, combo potential, and resilience against creature-heavy metas. Comparing favorably with similar cards, Ob Nixilis fortifies your gameplay with demonic synergies, card advantage, and disruptive emblems. Discover the synergistic marvels of Ob Nixilis and refine your deck-building strategy by tapping into the deep well of MTG knowledge we’ve curated. Delve into our comprehensive guides to ensure that your next duel showcases not just a single card’s power, but the might of an expertly forged deck!


Cards like Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath

Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath stands out in the realm of black planeswalker cards in MTG. It shares the battlefield with Liliana Vess, who is akin in her ability to tutor for cards. Yet, Ob Nixilis’s ultimate can summon a powerful demon, comparing favorably against Liliana’s forceful mind control. Both command loyalty from powerful creatures and tease the shadows of the library for sinister support.

Sorin Markov is another noteworthy parallel, bearing the ability to control an opponent’s turn, which is a distinct tactic from Ob Nixilis’s strategy of attrition and demonic aid. Sorin’s influence in the game can be immediately disruptive, whereas Ob Nixilis grows his presence over time. Finally, Erebos, God of the Dead, though not a planeswalker, offers a similar style of resource denial and life advantage, lending an edge in longer strategic battles, akin to the incremental advantages provided by Ob Nixilis.

Upon evaluation, Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath secures a firm position among black-aligned planeswalkers and entities in MTG, distinguished by his unique demonic synergies and gradual, yet resilient, influence over the game state.

Liliana Vess - MTG Card versions
Sorin Markov - MTG Card versions
Erebos, God of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Liliana Vess - Lorwyn (LRW)
Sorin Markov - Zendikar (ZEN)
Erebos, God of the Dead - Theros (THS)

Cards similar to Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath by color, type and mana cost

Lolth, Spider Queen - MTG Card versions
Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted - MTG Card versions
Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools - MTG Card versions
Ob Nixilis Reignited - MTG Card versions
Liliana Vess - MTG Card versions
Liliana, Death's Majesty - MTG Card versions
Liliana, the Necromancer - MTG Card versions
Liliana Vess // Liliana Vess - MTG Card versions
Ashiok, Wicked Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Lolth, Spider Queen - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools - Commander Legends (CMR)
Ob Nixilis Reignited - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Liliana Vess - Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. Liliana (GVL)
Liliana, Death's Majesty - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Liliana, the Necromancer - Core Set 2019 (M19)
Liliana Vess // Liliana Vess - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Ashiok, Wicked Manipulator - Wilds of Eldraine Promos (PWOE)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2014 Oversized and Commander 2014, 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 of the Black Oath and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2014-11-07 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Daarken.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12014-11-07Commander 2014 OversizedOC14 272015normalblackDaarken
22014-11-07Commander 2014C14 272015normalblackDaarken
32015-11-18Legendary Cube Prize PackPZ1 452015normalblackDaarken
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 1762015normalblackDaarken
52023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 5172015normalblackDaarken

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