This is my new favorite card. The possibilities are staggering.
davidhuman
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(5 votes)
good solid FUN.
MrJosherz
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Alright so if the first spell you play already has cascade does that card then have cascade two. meaning do the ability twice. That would certainly Rock!
glowsticktm
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I am pretty certain that a card with cascade already would get the effect x2 because the abilities would stack. What I am wondering is does Maelstrom Nexus get cascade if it is the first card played?
Sajji_89
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Unless Wizards says otherwise, I'm going to go with yes it does trigger twice because cascade is a triggered ability that goes on the stack. If the spell alrady has cascade, then two instances of it go on the stack triggered seperately. That's my guess anyway.
Ridiculous potential for abuse.
Zaliohawk
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(3 votes)
It does trigger twice if the card your playing has cascade. For example if you play Enlisted Wurm while Maelstrom Nexus is on the field. I think Maelstrom Nexus's cascade will trigger first allowing you to search for a card six mana or less. Then depending if the revealed card has a cascade then that will trigger next until you find a card with out cascade then the Wurm's cascade will be used and you repeat the process.
I might be wrong and i'll post again when i know for sure. only had the card for a couple days lol.
This is such an amazing thing and can lead into a lot of great combos or game winning moves. depending what the cascade brings you.
Th3_Dark_On3
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Really good card for 5cc.
Apocolypse_Prophet
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(7 votes)
From the Alara Reborn FAQ
* Maelstrom Nexus affects the first spell you play each turn, not just the first spell you play on your own turn.
* If the first spell you play in a turn already has cascade, both cascade abilities will trigger separately. Deal with them one at a time: First one cascade ability will resolve, and you'll play the applicable card if you want. That new spell will resolve. Then the other cascade ability will resolve in the same way. Finally, the original spell will resolve.
* This effect takes into account spells that were played earlier in the turn that Maelstrom Nexus came into play, including any spells still on the stack. If you've already played any spells that turn (including Maelstrom Nexus itself), this ability won't give any of your spells cascade that turn.
* A spell's converted mana cost is determined solely by the mana symbols printed in its upper right corner. If its mana cost includes {X}, take the chosen value of X into account. Ignore any alternative costs, additional costs, cost increases, or cost reductions.
Yes a card with cascade already will trigger twice. Malstrom Nexus can't give itself cascade. It has to be in play to grant the ability. The ability triggers "when you play a spell". By the time it gets in to play it is too late to give itself cascade.
Uril
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(6 votes)
What happens if you play a 1 drop with that out?
look: (When you play your first spell, remove cards from the top of your library from the game until you remove a nonland card that costs less. You may play it without paying its mana cost. Put the removed cards on the bottom in a random order.)
what if nothing that cost's less is revealed? otherwise awesome
Dragon_Nut
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Getting multiples of this out would be BRUTAL, especially on things that already have cascade. Play enlisted wurm, find 5 other cards... Sounds good to me. Must look into getting a playset of these.
Cheza
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(5 votes)
This card is crap... even if this isn't obvious at the first glance.
Cascade ruins the 'typical' way to play, because you can't use cards you don't want to be revealed. Usually this means most decks will focus on a few combo cards.
But since this is a five-colored card that doesn't do anything when it comes into play, it's like a Temporal Aperture.
The_Somnambulist
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Multiple copies of this card CAN be brutal, I just proxied a couple of these in my deck to see how it'd work.....simply amazing, if cascade can stack onto a spell already with cascade, logically you should be able to stack cascade onto a spell even w/o cascade by using multiple triggers of Maelstrom Nexus.....I think this card can accelerate any deck that can use this card.
@ Uril: I found the rulings for Cascade in the Comprehensive Rules, check this out: * If you play a spell with cascade and there are no nonland cards in your library with a converted mana cost that's less that that spell's converted mana cost, you'll remove your entire library from the game. Then you'll randomly rearrange those cards and put them back as your library. Although you're essentially shuffling those cards, you're not technically doing so; abilities that trigger whenever you shuffle your library won't trigger.
So it's what I thought, like other cards where multiple things happen with one spell that parts can be ignored, it seems to be true as well with Cascade. The best part is that you won't lose by deck out either.
Guest1738264902
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I love this cards as it is in my mill deck with sanity grinding and mind funeral just to name a few. the one Question is thou that when you have two or more copies of Maelstrom Nexus in play and you cascade in a card with out cascade does that cards trigger both or more copies Maelstrom Nexus cascade affects or not? I have read the ruling 508.85 and 508.85a and I understand it as it does trigger all copies in play. Please leave comments.
God_of_Destruction
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Highly Potential for abuse in present and in the near future... in a two-headed giant format, this power is great...
PrismFalcon
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
How does this card work with Thrumming Stone? I'm thinking of making a deck using Mirror Gallery, cascade cards, legendarys and ripple. If I can get this to work it would cause a major headache, but could let me play half my deck in a turn. (And probably get the deck banned but It'd be worth it)
michinmuri
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Combo this with some retrace spells and Armillary Sphere. You have something every turn hopefully. Also try Beseech the Queen.
Iiory
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(2 votes)
imagine your 5 color nethalim deck with this
Kenji18
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I guess an obvious combo would be attacking with Maelstrom Archangel with Maelstrom Nexus in play. When the Angel hits, you can cast any spell for free, and when it is the first spell you cast, you get the cascade. While the synergy I just mentioned is certainly not the worst abuse of the Nexus, a little thought could completely break this Johnny card.
MightyMortox
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I'm curious about the same question Uril posed.
What happens if this is in play, and someone plays a card with a cmc of 1, say Lightning Bolt, and does not have any non-land cards in their library with a cmc less than 1...
Foodtime
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
I traded a Darksteel Colossus for this: Totally worth it (I had two). I get it out turn 4, turn 3 if I get lucky. By the time it gets removed, I've already cascaded into some amazing cards.
Donovan_Fabian
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Hmmm, so play this card, then have copy enchantment in your deck to cascade into, and then copy the nexus.
@ the what happens if you cascade a 1 mana spell, nothing happens, your cascade cards go to bottom of the library which is the entire top of your library since the first card, and your back where you started. You could fix this however, and get very early draws, by using equipment cards with a 0 casting cost and only equip cost. There are a few cards like that in mtg, one that comes to mind is spellbook.
U-caster
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I have one of these. One of the more difficult things about it is making sure you get the right card cascaded.
Yendorian
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Fun with cards like Bringer of the Black Dawn (or any bringers, really) and Draco, which you can cast for the reduced cost but will cascade for the value in the upper right hand corner (according to the Alara FAQ). Makes for a fun spin on a casual domain deck.
JaxsonBateman
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
As has been mentioned, multiple instances of cascade trigger separately.
Say that the stack is empty, and you cast an Enlisted Worm with a Maelstrom Nexus out, and it's your first spell of the turn. The stack would look like this, with the lowest number (1) representing the bottom, and the highest number representing the top:
Players pass priority, Esper Charm resolves, pass again, Deny Reality resolves. Then upon passing again Enlisted Worm finally resolves.
ReturnToSender
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Does multiple maesltrom nexus(es) stack? if so, this card is very abusive hehehe...
Toren_Megoa
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Does this card work with storm cards? Can you play an Astral Steel for say, 3 copies, will all copies have cascade? If so, neat tech.
Nikeyeia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I just opened one in foil.
I was like: "Ohh this looks pretty vauleable."
So i went to MOTL and checked the price.
It was like 1,03 bucks.
I was like "..."
Ava_Adore
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like it when they make cards like this, thrumming stone comes to mind, hmmmmmm that would go together and kill everyone, 4 thrumming stones, a ripple cascade deck (I think I remember a friend mentioning that)
how insane would that be all you would really need to do is cast the most expensive card in your deck (someone mentioned a bringer)
Fanaticmogg
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Torean_Megoa: No, because you never cast the copies. Even if it worked that way, Nexus specifies the first spell each turn.
@MightyMortox: They reveal their library and then shuffle it. Nothing else happens.
@Kablooie "Each Spell" would have been broken to high heaven. They would have had to make this cost something like to get away with that. You understand, that means each spell you cascade into ALSO gets cascade. You know these chains people are posting? You would automatically get that, EVERYTIME.
Now, "Each Spell cast from your hand" might have been more appropriate. You also have to understand, as it is now, you can also cascade on your opponent's turn with any instant/flash. It also stacks with spells that already have cascade, giving you two triggers. So I think it is pretty good as it is.
@PhyrexianAdvocate It specifically states in the Comprehensive Rules at 279.25h that "that player chooses one opponent. This opponent then holds the player down while each opponent gets ONE (1) free kick to the balls. No players receive priority during this and this cannot be countered by spells or abilities."
Lord_of_Tresserhorn
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Toren_Megoa & Fanaticmogg: I'm not so sure the answer is no.
If you cast a spell with Storm, that spell by itself, if it was the first one you cast this turn, gets Cascade, of course.
Then Storm states: When you cast this spell, copy it for each spell cast before it this turn. You may choose new targets for the copies.
The copies, to my knowledge, are exact copies of the spell with Storm. Since that spell now has the text: "Do something. Storm Cascade", the copies should copy the Cascade ability, even though Maelstrom Nexus did not grant them Cascade (since, yes, they are not cast).
Take the last stand and the fusion elemental out of the cascade precon Chaos Reigns and put this card and Maelstrom Archangel in. Step that power level up a bit, make it worth playing five colors.
Kablooie
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card really falls short of being awesome. As the typical card that shows of the set's main mechanic, it should have really given the feeling of "cascade". The card would've been better if it was just "Each spell you cast has cascade." It probably still would be too weak and inconsistent to make a splash in competitive magic anyways.
Have you ever played Bituminous Blast and cascaded into Bloodbraid Elf and then into Blightning? Power level issues aside, that sequence really feels like a cascade. Going down just once from a high-casting card does NOT feel like a cascade at all. The word "cascade" should describe multiple little sequential drops.
How cool would it be if you could start with a Maelstrom Nexus and a CMC nine card and work your way all the way down to a 1 drop or zero drop? That would be wicked cool.
Too bad though :/.
Edit: @OmegaSerris - I realize the implications of that tweak. A 5 color enchantment that still does nothing by itself is broken to high heaven? Giving this card an upgrade that might give you one extra spell wouldn't even make this constructed playable, but it would create a more elegant and awesome card.
I made a tribal Horde of Notions EDH deck after Planechase 2012 came out, and put this in for giggles. On my first playtest, this happened:
Play Maelstrom Nexus. Next turn, play Maelstrom Wanderer for 3 cascade triggers. :D First card I flip over is Congregation at Dawn. I choose Enigma Sphinx, some 6 drop elemental, and Bloodbraid Elf. I flip over the Sphinx and the 6-drop with the second cascade, and then the Bloodbraid Elf with the third cascade, and flip into Fierce Empath. Search for fatty to cast next turn.
I wish that could happen in a real game.
Keiya
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
With four copies of this card, since multiple copies stack, Maelstrom Wanderer essentially reads:
Cascade, cascade, cascade, cascade, cascade, cascade (When you cast this spell, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Put the exiled cards on the bottom in a random order. Then do it again. And again. And again. And again. And again.)
Seems like it would be almost impossible to set up, but it would be ridiculously fun and lulzy to do.
Karkain
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Yo dawg, I heard you like Cascade, so we gave you a card that gives your spells Cascade so you can Cascade while you Cascade!
PD2525
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hilarious with Miracle cards. "Hey look, I drew a Temporal Mastery!, I play it for 2, and before it resolves I cascade off its CMC of 7!"
Comments (45)
Ridiculous potential for abuse.
I might be wrong and i'll post again when i know for sure. only had the card for a couple days lol.
This is such an amazing thing and can lead into a lot of great combos or game winning moves. depending what the cascade brings you.
* Maelstrom Nexus affects the first spell you play each turn, not just the first spell you play on your own turn.
* If the first spell you play in a turn already has cascade, both cascade abilities will trigger separately. Deal with them one at a time: First one cascade ability will resolve, and you'll play the applicable card if you want. That new spell will resolve. Then the other cascade ability will resolve in the same way. Finally, the original spell will resolve.
* This effect takes into account spells that were played earlier in the turn that Maelstrom Nexus came into play, including any spells still on the stack. If you've already played any spells that turn (including Maelstrom Nexus itself), this ability won't give any of your spells cascade that turn.
* A spell's converted mana cost is determined solely by the mana symbols printed in its upper right corner. If its mana cost includes {X}, take the chosen value of X into account. Ignore any alternative costs, additional costs, cost increases, or cost reductions.
Yes a card with cascade already will trigger twice. Malstrom Nexus can't give itself cascade. It has to be in play to grant the ability. The ability triggers "when you play a spell". By the time it gets in to play it is too late to give itself cascade.
look:
(When you play your first spell, remove cards from the top of your library from the game until you remove a nonland card that costs less. You may play it without paying its mana cost. Put the removed cards on the bottom in a random order.)
what if nothing that cost's less is revealed?
otherwise awesome
Cascade ruins the 'typical' way to play, because you can't use cards you don't want to be revealed. Usually this means most decks will focus on a few combo cards.
But since this is a five-colored card that doesn't do anything when it comes into play, it's like a Temporal Aperture.
@ Uril: I found the rulings for Cascade in the Comprehensive Rules, check this out:
* If you play a spell with cascade and there are no nonland cards in your library with a converted mana cost that's less that that spell's converted mana cost, you'll remove your entire library from the game. Then you'll randomly rearrange those cards and put them back as your library. Although you're essentially shuffling those cards, you're not technically doing so; abilities that trigger whenever you shuffle your library won't trigger.
So it's what I thought, like other cards where multiple things happen with one spell that parts can be ignored, it seems to be true as well with Cascade. The best part is that you won't lose by deck out either.
While the synergy I just mentioned is certainly not the worst abuse of the Nexus, a little thought could completely break this Johnny card.
What happens if this is in play, and someone plays a card with a cmc of 1, say Lightning Bolt, and does not have any non-land cards in their library with a cmc less than 1...
I get it out turn 4, turn 3 if I get lucky.
By the time it gets removed, I've already cascaded into some amazing cards.
@ the what happens if you cascade a 1 mana spell, nothing happens, your cascade cards go to bottom of the library which is the entire top of your library since the first card, and your back where you started. You could fix this however, and get very early draws, by using equipment cards with a 0 casting cost and only equip cost. There are a few cards like that in mtg, one that comes to mind is spellbook.
Say that the stack is empty, and you cast an Enlisted Worm with a Maelstrom Nexus out, and it's your first spell of the turn. The stack would look like this, with the lowest number (1) representing the bottom, and the highest number representing the top:
1. Enlisted Worm
2. Worm Cascade
3. Maelstrom Cascade
To make it really wonky, lets say Maelstrom cascades into a Bloodbraid, which cascades into a Blightning.
1. Enlisted Worm
2. Worm Cascade
3. Bloodbraid Elf
4. Bloodbraid Elf Cascade => Blightning
Players pass priority, Blightning resolves, pass again, then BBE resolves. Pass again, then we deal with the Worm Cascade.
1. Enlisted Worm
2. Deny Reality
3. Deny Reality Cascade => Esper Charm
Players pass priority, Esper Charm resolves, pass again, Deny Reality resolves. Then upon passing again Enlisted Worm finally resolves.
I was like: "Ohh this looks pretty vauleable."
So i went to MOTL and checked the price.
It was like 1,03 bucks.
I was like "..."
how insane would that be all you would really need to do is cast the most expensive card in your deck (someone mentioned a bringer)
@MightyMortox: They reveal their library and then shuffle it. Nothing else happens.
Next turn, play something with 8 or more cmc like our friend emrakul, the aeons torn.
then somehow get this cascade lineup:
1. Enigma Sphinx
2. Enlisted Wurm
3. Bituminous Blast
4. Bloodbraid Elf
5. Violent Outburst
6. Mass Hysteria
"Each Spell" would have been broken to high heaven. They would have had to make this cost something like
Now, "Each Spell cast from your hand" might have been more appropriate. You also have to understand, as it is now, you can also cascade on your opponent's turn with any instant/flash. It also stacks with spells that already have cascade, giving you two triggers. So I think it is pretty good as it is.
@PhyrexianAdvocate
It specifically states in the Comprehensive Rules at 279.25h that "that player chooses one opponent. This opponent then holds the player down while each opponent gets ONE (1) free kick to the balls. No players receive priority during this and this cannot be countered by spells or abilities."
If you cast a spell with Storm, that spell by itself, if it was the first one you cast this turn, gets Cascade, of course.
Then Storm states: When you cast this spell, copy it for each spell cast before it this turn. You may choose new targets for the copies.
The copies, to my knowledge, are exact copies of the spell with Storm. Since that spell now has the text: "Do something. Storm Cascade", the copies should copy the Cascade ability, even though Maelstrom Nexus did not grant them Cascade (since, yes, they are not cast).
Opalescence
Rite of Replication
holy Draco, play your entire deck!!
Have you ever played Bituminous Blast and cascaded into Bloodbraid Elf and then into Blightning? Power level issues aside, that sequence really feels like a cascade. Going down just once from a high-casting card does NOT feel like a cascade at all. The word "cascade" should describe multiple little sequential drops.
How cool would it be if you could start with a Maelstrom Nexus and a CMC nine card and work your way all the way down to a 1 drop or zero drop? That would be wicked cool.
Too bad though :/.
Edit:
@OmegaSerris - I realize the implications of that tweak. A 5 color enchantment that still does nothing by itself is broken to high heaven? Giving this card an upgrade that might give you one extra spell wouldn't even make this constructed playable, but it would create a more elegant and awesome card.
Play Maelstrom Nexus.
Next turn, play Maelstrom Wanderer for 3 cascade triggers. :D
First card I flip over is Congregation at Dawn.
I choose Enigma Sphinx, some 6 drop elemental, and Bloodbraid Elf.
I flip over the Sphinx and the 6-drop with the second cascade, and then the Bloodbraid Elf with the third cascade, and flip into Fierce Empath.
Search for fatty to cast next turn.
I wish that could happen in a real game.
Cascade, cascade, cascade, cascade, cascade, cascade (When you cast this spell, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Put the exiled cards on the bottom in a random order. Then do it again. And again. And again. And again. And again.)
Seems like it would be almost impossible to set up, but it would be ridiculously fun and lulzy to do.