Nightmare Thief

by RolledAOne on 31 January 2015

Main Deck (60 cards)

Sideboard (13 cards)

Sorceries (6)

Instants (4)


Submit a list of cards below to bulk import them all into your sideboard. Post one card per line using a format like "4x Birds of Paradise" or "1 Blaze", you can even enter just the card name by itself like "Wrath of God" for single cards.


Deck Description

Overall this is a control deck using Notion Thief to help me draw more than I need.

Your thoughts and suggestions are welcomed.

How to Play

Pretty straight forward game play here. Get Notion Thief out and then start drawing cards and finding answers.
Most games I win by swinging with AEtherling and Creeping Tar Pit however it is also possible to snowball with Whispering Madness and Notion Thief if Reliquary Tower is out. This is why I added in Laboratory Maniac so that I can "self mill" myself if need to.

Sideboard is where I will put cards I am thinking about trying out in this deck.

Deck Tags

  • Control
  • Draw
  • Modern

Deck at a Glance

Social Stats

37
Likes

This deck has been viewed 7,470 times.

Mana Curve

Mana Symbol Occurrence

0301800

Card Legality

  • Not Legal in Standard
  • Legal in Modern
  • Legal in Vintage
  • Legal in Legacy

Deck discussion for Nightmare Thief

Tasigur seems strong to recurr/beat down. Might be worth a test.

1
Posted 31 January 2015 at 05:17

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That's true. Good for a 1 or 2 of in this deck. Early game would be easy with delve and a decent beater for a 4/5.

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Posted 31 January 2015 at 05:19

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deck needs damnation

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Posted 02 February 2015 at 02:14

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I have been looking into getting some type of wrath effect but $30+ on that card isn't going to make me buy it. (Note: Liliana I was able to get at a low price)

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Posted 02 February 2015 at 02:46

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what if your opponent isn't playing any draw spells? notion thief is kinda useless unless you draw some spells that make both players draw.

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Posted 31 January 2015 at 06:11

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That is why I have other ways to either postpone the game so that I can use him or just win by dealing damage. No deck is prefect. I go into games excepting my opponent isn't going to play a single draw spell themselves.

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Posted 31 January 2015 at 15:21

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I agree with PhyrexianPossum.
It is nice though, that you have tried to plan out the game if your opponent doesn't draw cards.
Something like Howling Mine would rock.
Not sure if it is Modern though.

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Posted 31 January 2015 at 16:44

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Master of the Feast works very well with notion thief. Plus you talk about a beater...5/5 flyer that with thief has no draw back for three mana.

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Posted 31 January 2015 at 18:32

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Not saying the card is bad with thief for 3. I think I will be going with Prognostic Sphinx the scry is good and the discard is useful to feed for delve. Master is just easily removed (like most creatures).

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Posted 01 February 2015 at 12:34

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Prog sphinx isn't a bad choice but it is 5 mana. If you can last long enough he's great.

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Posted 06 February 2015 at 03:40

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As this is a control deck I can normally last that long to get him out. I find him very useful and even more so with Tasigur out on the field.

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Posted 06 February 2015 at 07:28

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Master of the Feast would be really nice in this deck. Draw extra cards and a 5/5 for 3.

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Posted 31 January 2015 at 06:30

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I do like him but I am already running less creatures for more control so I would have a hard time finding room.

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Posted 31 January 2015 at 15:22

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Dictate of Kruphix has some nice synergy with Notion Thief. You basically draw an extra 2 cards a turn.

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Posted 31 January 2015 at 08:33

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This is where I am thinking about removing my Vision Skeins for more recurring draw effects like Dictate.

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Posted 31 January 2015 at 15:36

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Could you give me some feedback on this life gain deck I made yesterday? I appreciate any help I can get.
http://www.mtgvault.com/inzendium/decks/so-many-lifelinks/
Thank you if you do take a look

0
Posted 31 January 2015 at 20:35

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what about Dream Fracture with Notion Thief and Jace Beleren with Notion Thief.

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Posted 31 January 2015 at 14:45

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Jace Beleren wouldn't be a bad add at all with both his draw abilities benefiting me. Dream Fracture cost 1 more then Arcane Denial and can get me three cards instead of two. However Dream is at least modern legal if I want to keep it that way.

0
Posted 31 January 2015 at 15:26

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I would prefer Condescend over Syncopate in this deck.

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Posted 31 January 2015 at 15:07

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I will have to swap them out then. The scry 2 will be nice in the beginning.

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Posted 31 January 2015 at 15:27

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Scry 2 with all that potential card draw couldn't hurt at any point in the game.

1
Posted 31 January 2015 at 15:30

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Sometimes it doesn't matter when I am Whispering Madness for 10 or 15 plus cards a turn. I do see your point.

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Posted 31 January 2015 at 15:35

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I really like the use of Rune Snag over Mana Leak mid to late it's a much better draw. I think you could effectively cut 1 Drowned Catacomb for a Reliquary Tower.

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Posted 02 February 2015 at 13:39

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Yea I was playtesting and noticed that my two drops were only 1 Rift. Also that I could use a little more control to stall. Rune Snag would be great and won't have as much of a downside if I have to discard one of them.
I did have tower inoriginally but a buddy of mine suggested to try this deck without it and see how it works with deldethe delve cards. I think I might add it back in over a catacomb like you said if I just don't feel it.

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Posted 02 February 2015 at 14:25

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Currently want to try and fit in Tasigur and Dictate of Kruphix. Any thoughts on what would be recommended?

Also gonna try some play testing with Dark Deal as it is cheaper but I do lose cipher and less card draw overall.

0
Posted 31 January 2015 at 15:39

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Master of the Feasts, is a 5/5 flyer, that lets you draw an extra card every turn, for only 3 mana

0
Posted 31 January 2015 at 20:10

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Erebos is a good draw engine. So is phyrexian arena and greed

0
Posted 31 January 2015 at 20:19

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I lose life on these. Yes they are great but not in this deck where I plan on drawing my opponents's cards.

0
Posted 31 January 2015 at 21:36

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Prosperity!

Consecrated Sphinx, but I think thief negates its ability

0
Posted 01 February 2015 at 04:58

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To bad that it isn't modern legal. Otherwise it be a good mana sink.

0
Posted 01 February 2015 at 12:30

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I'm not giving up.

Jace's Archivist

1
Posted 01 February 2015 at 16:34

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Haha keep trying, I don't mind.
I have tried Jace's Archivist but the problem is that I have to wait a whole turn for him to activate.

0
Posted 01 February 2015 at 18:12

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font of mythos, remand, cryptic command, elixer of imortality, rite of undoing, and main board tasigur for control. This would allow you to delve away lands and things you don't want and then keep reusing the spells you do need. If your yard is too big for you to control what they choose you use your elixer after you've gotten rid of the crap you won't want to draw up and kept in your hand the choice you want them to make.

Cuts maybe Dimir charm, warped physique, ashiok, vision skeins, condesend, aetherling, reliquary tower (I'd rather discard to help delve/trim fat in hand), and muzzium skin (hoping your counters/bounce would be enough protection)

With the delve/tasigur really does like fetch lands do for you by helping to ensure quality card advantage, clearly the point it to exile what wont help so they have no choice but to give you what does.

Its a lot of change, and more $ but just suggestions on more of a control route (at least it would work in my head who knows how it'd actually run lol)

0
Posted 31 January 2015 at 20:46

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I would add in Command if it wasn't $50 card at the moment. Some point I will get a hold of a few.

0
Posted 31 January 2015 at 21:43

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Psychosis Crawler - this may fit in, I have ran it in a few of my draw decks and works well in my play group.

1
Posted 31 January 2015 at 22:02

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I did have that in before I posted this deck but I think Chasm Skulker would be better. I am losing out on the lose 1 life each draw.

0
Posted 31 January 2015 at 22:30

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Was looking for a little more draw I can use in this deck in modern. Compulsive Research seems to fit the bill. I can use it on myself and not worry so much or with Thief out it becomes a draw three, opponent discards 1 or 2 cards.

1
Posted 02 February 2015 at 14:41

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Fact or Fiction could work.

0
Posted 02 February 2015 at 15:37

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However I can't use it on my opponents to gain advantage that way. Also isn't modern legal.

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Posted 02 February 2015 at 17:57

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Didn't they reprint it?
O well, it wouldn't work like you said.
Sorry. Was throwing out ideas :)

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Posted 02 February 2015 at 21:23

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No its fine. It gets me thinking and sometimes that leads me to finding related cards I could use instead. Thanks for the idea.

0
Posted 02 February 2015 at 21:37

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May have talked about this already but why not splash red for refourge the soul? you can scry and on oponents turn you basically just make them discard their hand after the draw lol seems VERY GOOD not to mention if you were to rift in response as well. Also with the card draw if you dropped some lands for serum visions to help fix problems early game/scry issues away later game you might be better off.

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Posted 04 February 2015 at 20:11

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you could just play consecrated sphinx. :D

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Posted 04 February 2015 at 21:22

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I would put compulsive research at 4 target them with notion on the field and you get them to discard 1-2 cards an you draw 3 with no penalty. Not broken at all.

0
Posted 06 February 2015 at 04:57

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I am trying to find cuts, I have a good amount of 3 and 4 drops. This just comes with deck testing more and more to find what is really needed and not.
I have had a person quit cockatrice when I played compulsive on them and they couldn't draw the three cards. Pretty satisfying I would say.

0
Posted 06 February 2015 at 07:26

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Heh exactly. I haven't played this game in a long time but surely there are more cards like that. There was one where target player discarded their hand and drew 7 cards. Don't remember the name or if it was even legal but just saying that it would be nice to have yourself a duel edged sword. Oh and traumatize is an option. If you want to cut your own deck and oil with laboratory maniac faster.

0
Posted 06 February 2015 at 16:30

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You might be thinking of Reforge the Soul. Someone else also mentioned that and I might just splash the red for it because it is a good card. (I use it in a few other red decks for good draw) Otherwise Whispering Madness does work.

1
Posted 06 February 2015 at 23:29

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reforge the soul would be a good 1-or-2 of

0
Posted 06 February 2015 at 23:38

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very cool idea, although your removal and permission spells seem odd to me. I think i would want remand, cryptic command, mana leak, spell peirce,dissolve, etc. just because they are A) faster or B) have an upside. for removal i like go for the throat, doom blade, and slaughter pact. dont like laboratory maniac without some sort of way to combo him

0
Posted 06 February 2015 at 21:41

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Remand is something I want to get for a while, so that is on my to buy list. Cryptic is far too steep for me to buy right now but I am also looking to trade someone for them. I prefer Rune Snag over Mana Leak because after I use it it will feed into my next Rune Snag, also I tend to discard a lot in this deck. I also like Dream over Dissolve because of the draw and it has more synergy with Notion Thief. Spell Pierce might be a card to try out if I find myself playing against much quicker decks (which is bond to happen as I deck test more).

In this deck Murderous Cuts are much more efficient than Doom Blade (can't deal with black creatures) and Go for the Throat (can't deal with artifacts, a lot of affinity and tron is being played). My graveyard gets filled early and by turn 2 or 3 I have around 4-6 cards in my graveyard already.

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Posted 06 February 2015 at 23:41

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valid points. although after you delve for 1 murderous cut it gets harder to do for the next ones. maybe the slaughter pact. i agrre with the price on remand and cryptic, but if you can trade for them id run them

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Posted 07 February 2015 at 00:01

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Normally I am fine with buying cards $10 or below but if possible I like to trade for them instead.

1
Posted 07 February 2015 at 00:12

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For those that want to see a version of this deck with Reforge the Soul I have put it up here http://www.mtgvault.com/rolledaone/decks/reforge-the-thief/

You can comment if you would like but I am just using it so I can work on both of these and see how they run.

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Posted 09 February 2015 at 06:08

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Liliana's Caress could prove quite useful.

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Posted 09 February 2015 at 18:42

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Awesome deck, based on "Notion Thief".
Seems like you put a lot of thought in it.
Especially like the "Laboratory Maniac". Nullifies the risk of deck-out and makes an other win option :)

Do all those delve cards have enough fodder to work nicely?
Guess "Whispering Madness" does that?

Also, how do your survive the early game? Are those black 1 drop hand controls enough to slow your opponent down?

As you only have 6 creatures, what you think of board clear? "Damnation" for example (the black Wrath of God)

0
Posted 19 February 2015 at 22:02

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I made a similar version to this (IRL) with font of mythos and howling mine w/ psychosis crawler and chasm skulker, as well as leveler/laboratory maniac combo.

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Posted 17 March 2015 at 23:27

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I have a similar deck but with leveler, laboratory maniac, chasm skulker, psychosis crawler

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Posted 06 April 2015 at 20:52

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^ He has a similar deck IRL btw.

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Posted 07 April 2015 at 01:09

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I would put Reliquary Tower in your deck so you won't have to discard your hand and making Whispering Madness even more powerful.

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Posted 11 May 2015 at 14:33

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