So this is suspected to be a big thing in Legacy. His fishy-ness makes him assumed to be played in Fish and as a three mana "finisher" that takes quite a bit to be killed he may replace Geist of St. Traft in certain decks, too.
As a Fish player myself, I'm not super sold. And without a doubt not like $30 a pre-sale pop. Ticking my vial up to three is a lot, Reerjays I feel should be the only top of my curve. And I need to keep mana up for my counterspells.
I sure hope the price will go down, though. I love the effect.
DaLucaray
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(7 votes)
the price for this thing right now is hovering at around 40$. Y'know, about the same as the 100-card precon he comes in. Seriously, people.
On another note, this creature is based on the belief that knowing a person's true name gives power over the person, especially a wizard. Therefore, wizards would go by a different name while keeping their birth name a secret. I am reminded of the Earthsea books, and perhaps Rumpelstiltskin story.
N03y3D33R
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Anybody else up to another one on one versus? No? Bummer...
Which does what? True-Name Nemesis has protection from anything controlled by the chosen player, that includes planeswalkers.
JimmyNoobPlayer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Protection from everything controlled by that player? That's just insane. I can't think of a situation in which protection from your opponent is not better than protection from a color in a one-on-one duel. Not only are colorless things unable to interact with it, every possible beneficial spell you own can be used, even in a mirror match.
How different is legacy going to be after this? This is one of those cards that is okay is Commander since it's a multiplayer type format, but in legacy there's practically nothing that can stop it. It's a non stop blocker can only be killed by board wipes and can only be countered.
You can however get past it with unblockables and protection from blue.
This is an example of those cards that seemed like a good idea at the time but will probably change the format in some way.
Trygon_Predator
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love the art. More merfolk need to look like bizarre alien creatures from the deep, instead of humans with fins and a tail stapled on.
Taudisban
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In terms of Legacy, I have to ask how many times people have lost to Geist. Outside of combat, this is basically just a hexproof creature. Annoying, given its type, but not format breaking.
In terms of EDH, people undervalue this. I hear a lot of "oh, I have 40 life, 3 dam isn't anything" and that is WRONG. Here is the thing: No one is going to help you. You won't get named if you're not a threat and being a threat means you don't have 40 life. You might luck out and find that the caster stops attacking you after you've been defanged but the most likely situation is that your True-Name represents a very short clock.
lorendorky
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(3 votes)
nope
Myrs
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(6 votes)
Sad its only gonna be legal in Legacy and back. And commander, obviously. A truly intimidating card, for sure.
Preordering for $30-40 usd can you believe?
SAUS3
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(6 votes)
Kind of a stupid card. Merfolks are good in legacy? We're printing a product that is aimed at commander players? Lets make an overpowered merfolk for the merfolk decks in legacy and stick it in the commander boxes! Wooh!
Mode
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Designed for Commander, where it is a decent and fair card.
That thing is just plain unfair in regular one on one formats, however. There, it basically reads:
Hexproof. True-Name Nemsis can't be blocked. Prevent all damage that would be dealt to ~ by sources you don't control.
3/1
They would have never printed a card with that wording, but that's just what this card does there. Your opponent either counters that abomination, or he's going to have a big problem.
Aside from the fact that this is 3 damage to the face each turn that he can't get rid of, it also doubles as a nigh invincible blocker that rips apart an attacker.
Equipment and auras on that guy are just ridiculous as well. Put him in a tribal deck, and this guy will get out of hand even more. (Among others, there are multiple merfolk lords to choose from, Master of the Pearl Trident and Lord of Atlantis alone make eight boosting two-drops, and Merrow Reejerey might untap him after attacking.)
Wizards likely panned this to also double-act as bomb in Legacy, however I think this is very bad design.
I rate cards by powerlevel, so that's a solid 5/5 from me for its absolutely relentless power in two player formats.
Mistdancer
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Yes this card is very good, but:
In commander this card is not overkill, its good vs 1 player, but someone throws a WoG or another kind of WoG effect during each of 4 cycles of players, or earlier, to blow up the field. (happens all the time).
For legacy this is a new threat that surely will see play. But its not as overated as the previous messages imply. Remember: Choosing a player with the abilty comes on the stack! This means that when the nemisses enters play (and isnt counterd), it can still be: abrupt decayed, lighting bolted, stifle-ed, plowed, sliped, pyroblasted or any other instant removal can be used you can think of, before the "player proof" abilty gets active. Even then prevention shields can be made to prevent dammage dealth to you by the nemesis (legency decks dont use prevention, but in commander this is a valid point)
In legacy this is a card to get rid of through countering or intant removal, but when put into play only (currently used) cards as p.deed and terminus are able to get rid of it. because of that, i think it will be played in multiple legacy decks and the card will be worth ~30$ eventually, after a period as a new lagacy tool with a top of ~50$.
I will try to get a playset, just beause i like the card and trying out some 'un-usual' legacy decks no one expects to be facing in events.
Greetings to all!
DarthParallax
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(4 votes)
Discard Spells, Counter Spells, and Toxic Deluge all get it.
Nevinyrral's Disk isn't allowed in Legacy. I admit I'm scratching my head to think of *many* answers, but I'm sure Toxic Deluge is at least *one* answer that's gotta be Legacy Playable. Infest? does that break in to Legacy?
Red and Green have terrible matchups in general against this card- I can't think of a spell answer in either of them, besides "be the combo deck that wins the game first". Having extremely good odds to beat 2/5 of the Color Wheel, on a 3-cost 3-power Blue Creature, is obviously really good. Plenty of Black or Blue cards out there that I think this card isn't going to be the same kind of game-closer that Progenitus has been, and Progenitus isn't as good as Emrakul or Griselbrand.
Legacy PLAYABLE undoubtedly, Legacy UNBEATABLE? hardly. Scavenging Ooze was so boss because it was Green, one of the best Combo colors in Legacy, and fought Graveyards, which is very niche space but it's HIGHLY sought niche space. That's the kind of niche every deck is looking to fill. Blue and Black have many and obvious ways to handle this, and I think Runed Halo or Hatebears strategies that make things overcosted will prove effective as well.
It's a good card, but it's going to lose some of it's value. Especially if it gets a Judge Promo Reprint, which you know, they just might. Also, Jace vs. Vraska? Golgari are *particularly* well-known for -X/-X stuff, ever since Pernicious Deed. It would be *plausible* to see this reprinted as quickly as THAT. Maybe.
The thing is, it's a 3-drop, which is great, but Merfolk DOES have such a low curve that it really wants to question whether it has room or not for a playset when it's got Reejerey to think of, too. If it were a two-drop, I think it would be close to as fair as it is as 3-drop, PLUS I wouldn't remotely question the $40 tag because you just throw that in no questions asked. At 3 mana, it's feasible that not every Fish player will even use him.
It makes Merfolk good, definitely. But it doesn't automatically make Merfolk "The Best Deck in Legacy", and for that I'm thinking it's closer to $25-30, than it is to "$30 is the bargain bin rate"
Arachibutyrophobia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
this is gonna have to be reprinted
Okuu-chan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I don't like the "OMG LEGACY STAPLE"-ness of this card, but I do love the flavor. True Naming in MtG!
MANABURNWASGOOD
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ dalucaray, ironically, those decks are SUPPOSED to retail for 29.99.
AnnoyingFogGuy
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(6 votes)
Wizards figured that including "True-Name Nemesis can't be countered" would have created another wacky "Voice of Resurgenceprice skyrocket."
And I had hoped to be able to afford the deck, too...
bfellow
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Mistdancer: Read the card. It can't be abrupt decayed. bolted, stifled, plowed, etc. It has PROTECTION FROM your opponent unless you stupidly name yourself in a Legacy match.
Xinsden
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I understand that this card isn't as deadly in a 4 player battle royale, but I feeltheres a solution to making it ridiculous... Cast stolen identity on it or bring out a progenitor mimic and create a copy of True-Name Nemesis... I have yet I do this, but I feel that creating copies of this card will produce satisfactory results...Hehehe
Kariuko
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Just thought I should join the "why pay 40$ for this alone when you can have this plus baleful strix, guttersnipe, thraximundar, cruel ultimatum, mirari, sol ring, and a ton of other cards for 29.99$" campaign.
I think some people are just unable to get off their computers, see the deck selling for 59.99 online and go "suckers, only thin-wallet nemesis matters, am I gonna get this cheap". For the rest of us with the gift of locomotion, buying this for 40$ makes you an idiot.
The whole thing too but this in particular. I hate magic.
Fadingstar
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
Absolutely love this guy. He almost seems like an UN-card since you can give him Protection from Dave.
Though I think there should be a ruling that if you don't know the players name, you can't give this creature protection from "the girl sitting in that chair over there".
Is "choose" the same as "Target"? Thus if you had a witchbane orbs or laylines in play your opponent would have to target himself or another player?
Madarakita
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Oh screw it. The next time the Mind Sieze deck is in stock at my local card store I'm just gonna grab two more so I can have a playset of this little guy.
Pipikako
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Why i can't rate this card with 6/5 ?
DoorDie
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(10 votes)
This is the first non-white card granting either variable or absolute protection (outside of Greater Morphling).
For one more U, we've upgraded Invisible Stalker by tripling its power, immunizing it to all creatures an opponent controls, and stapling one of the most popular creature types onto it.
Despite the power I rate this card average because of the flavor paradigm shift, abuse of the protection mechanic (Progenitus-like), and shameless pandering to Legacy.
DoragonShinzui
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(6 votes)
Countered by leaving the game and having someone else take over for you.
Gheridarigaaz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Okay... what irks me about this guy is a bit more than the protection... it's how the protection is triggered
"as it comes into play choose a player"
It's not a regular etb effect, it's akin to clone... it enters with the player chosen, so you can't respond to the opponent choosing you as the opponent. It makes me love and hate it all the more for it's depravity. It doesn't even use the "when this creature enters..." clause so i don't think you can stifle it either...
On another note, i think i need to stock up on phantasmal images if i REALLY wanted to abuse this card...
How i feel about the card is confusing... i now understand how Myron Reducto must feel about Inch High
feedbacker
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(6 votes)
Not a fan of this card, like a even cheaper Invisible Stalker. Boo Wizards! Less like this
Where is the fun in playing against this card? I wouldn't play against anyone rocking a deck with four of these
BloodCrank
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Welcome to Invisible Stalker 2.0
elhajjaj
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(2 votes)
People seem worried about how this guy is going to affect Legacy. That ain't hard: if the effect is too detrimental it will see the Banned List. Until then, I'll drop 4 of these guys in my Fishfolk deck and drive them around the pond. I'll bet they're a scream while they last!
BorosGreengrocer
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Like Fadingstar says, it should definitely be a rule that if you don't know the player's real full name, you can't get the effect. Making the card near-useless online, and causing everyone in legacy tournaments to sign up under pseudonyms.
Lomir_Wintersturm
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I suppose, that the effect of this card in Legacy will be immense! Too immense in my opinion. I hope that it will be banned in Legacy soon, because it destroys a really wonderful deck: UGR Threshold. Last week I played against a UWR Delver Deck with this *** overpowered card and had no chance. It's a pity, that there are two cards now, which often just kill RUG Delver. Rest in Peace and now True-Name Nemesis. UW Miracle can play Rest in Peace main. And True-Name Nemesis will be seen in each non-green Delver Deck as a four-off soon. So RUG Delver is getting weaker and weaker and will soon be history again. True-Name Nemesis is too great in Legacy and that's why it sucks.
Glad I always splash black; makes having an answer for this easy while the rest of legacy is crapping their pants over a 3/1. That said, I don't like cards like these in casual circles; they reduce interaction which is kinda the point of a game IMO.
Etched Champion gets this effect in a way that I can respect; not completely one-sided, contingent on a specific deck building/board state, and a less offensive body and a couple of weaknesses (colorless damage for example.)
GalahadPC
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
There is exactly one thing I like about this card: the two colors that would have the hardest time dealing with this happen to be blue's enemy colors, which makes me grudgingly respect seeing such a powerful protection effect on a blue creature. How this blue creature managed to get so aggressively costed is something that still escapes me.
In any case, I never want to see this played in a duel. Losing to it would be frustrating, and winning with it would be shameful.
JarieSuicune
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
That moment when you see the new Commander 2013 deck on E-bay for only 20 dollars... and then notice that ALL of them have the best cards removed because the seller is a money-grubbing jerk. I don't mind the deck being $50-ish (well, no, I DO mind paying more than twice it's price), but modifying it is just pathetic.
Nincompoop
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(4 votes)
How much more can Wizards dumb down the game?
thekingslayer_
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(6 votes)
This card had to have been designed by an eleven year old. It is so boring, yet so powerful. It dilutes the game by removing interactivity during combat (which is where I thought Maro and Co. were trying to drive the game towards.) I'm honestly considering not playing Magic anymore, because playing with/against this guy makes for the most awful games of Magic.
"We wanted to print a creature so that players could just kind of play the game by themselves- improving the Magic experience on an individual level. We hope this will open the market to a new niche of people- the ones without friends"
phyrexianghoul
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
am i slow or can you not board wipe it wrath of god or Mutilate? you have to love Mutilate!
Alvorada
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
OMG, this guy works very well in Mimeoplasm EDH decks; turn Mimeoplasm into this guy, and one player is going down guaranteed!
EternalMagic
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(4 votes)
What a sneaky way to promote the Modern format at the expense of Legacy. Modern, boring as it may be, does not have to deal with this mindblowingly dumb card.
Stiflenought
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(4 votes)
A card designed for bad players. I miss the times when you had to protect your own creatures, if you wanted to win. I'm glad i mostly play TES and Manaless Ichorid, losing to "His Dumbness TNN" would be frustrating.
Forget Withengar, this is the card that actually killed Traft.
myFinalFantasy
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(10 votes)
Dear WotC Team, It's the powerful and rare spells that got me excited and dragged me into Magic back at school. Yet what kept me hooked up in the long run was the strategic depth and outplaying your opponent by seeing more angles during a game and better planning. It was *interacting* with my opponent to see what happens.
True-Name Nemesis is the exact opposite of these qualities. It is an almost indestructible pawn that can move forward entirely unimpeded. It doesn't outright win and can be dealt with somehow - but still embodies a stale, stagnant and numb approach to the game. I will give it to you that it has great flavour in Commander, but while fine due the intrinsic qualities of a multiplayer game, this mechanic has horrific consequences in 1v1.
I won't quit Magic because of True-Name Nemesis. Not because I thought the card was still fine - but because I still believe, you will not release such numb cards into environments where they poision the play experience for both sides. Julian Knab
PS: Owen Turtenwald vs Sam Black at GP DC just two weeks ago. Game2. This is not what we want Magic games to look like. This is not what you want. This is not what both of us want.
Barook
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(8 votes)
A terrible card that should have never seen the light of day.
Not only is it in the wrong color (White has SIX TIMES as many cards in the category "non-color protection") - it's an extremely uninteractive card.
Magic is a game that lives from interaction. Cards like True-Name Nemesis are toxic for the game and lower the fun factor of the formats they're part of.
Lejay123
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(4 votes)
I know there is a theory in the gaming world that says the game has to be unfair to hook more players staying, but besides the fact that specialist can be wrong (look at EU's austerity) Wizards is applying it much too religiously. There has been really overpowered designs in delver of secrets, deathrite shaman and show and tell tools lately. With Nemesis I was as shocked as I was in front of mental misstep and I think wizards is simply putting at risk its long term business. I play for the strategic depth behing magic, not short games with almost no choices and maximum variance. Making me consider selling my collection seemed imposible to me 2 years ago, now if nemesis is here to stay, I'll quit after GP Paris.
MrMonday
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Why is this rated less than 4? It's stupidly powerful.
And by stupidly powerful, I mean you can be stupid and this would still be powerful. It's even more powerful if you're smart on how you use it. *cough*Trepanation Blade*cough*
Arquebusier89
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think the card can be modified a little bit to make it fairer. While I applaud the design of the card, I do feel bad playing it too. One way to modify this card is to make it a legendary creature instead of ordinary creature. I think this will make the card fair. Btw, this card comes in the form of singleton in Commander 2013, so logically i think is fine to make it legendary such a way that you can control exactly one at a time, in any format.
thatmarkguy
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(5 votes)
@MrMonday "Why is this rated less than 4? It's stupidly powerful."
Because not everybody is using the rating scale as a measure of card power. Many are using the scale as a measure of "how much they like the design". And a lot of people think this is an awful design, precisely because it is so powerful (and clumsy, in that it basically required a rule rewrite to exist).
The_USAgent
★★☆☆☆ (2.4/5.0)(4 votes)
Come on Banhammer!!! BUT the card is a 5/5! It's a mini Progenitus that can carry a Jitte and pitches to Force of Will.
Edit: After playing against it quite a bit... Like almost everyday. (All the players I play with are packing 4!) I still give it a 5 out of 5 for power alone but for flavor and mechanics wise, I give it a 0 out of 5! Since when did Blue get the best creatures? This and Delver. Absolute protection, if I had to pick a color, it's a white ability. This card is just stupid and poorly designed. The most unfun and boring card since Show and Tell. This is a joke card, if it was in Unglued or Unhinged, I would understand. "Protection from target player" is an ability my play group and I would joke about. "Um, this card has protection from target.... Umm, Player! Protection from target YOU! That's the ticket!"
In commander; this is a fair card in multiplayer, one on one EDH this isn't that bad with 30 life and as a One-of but this card is backbreaking in Legacy!! This card blanks all targeted removal in the format; Bolt, Swords & Decay does nothing. Edicts usually don't work thanks to FoW and Daze. Legacy is now either you play with him or go over him aka Combo. Now since TNN deals with creature combat, you can just cram more counter magic in your deck! This is a creature that punishes creature based decks.
HankHill
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
You could choose to target your opponent...OR you could choose yourself and then, sac abilities wont work on it...right?...RIGHT???
TexasDice
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Making it a Merfolk added insult to injury.
dustmop
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Looks like this is part of a cycle: the first commander product had Sewer Nemesis.
MightySqueeth
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
This, Thassa and Master of Waves all in a few months of eachother? Please stop pushing fish! Blue already has a massive chunk of the colour pie it shouldn't get the best tribe as well! Master and this shouldn't have even been blue really and this surely didn't need to be a merfolk did it? *ends rant* I like the text "protection from the chosen player" it feels pretty epic. The card isn't even that bad in legacy I just got annoyed by how much they've pushed the fish deck in the last year.
Marsupia
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(7 votes)
It amuses me to see all the complaints for this card. Obviously many of you have felt the wrath of the nemesis. I agree that this card is powerful, but in no way is it overpowered. Yes it can be extremely difficult to get rid of, but playing 4 of these in any deck is not necessarily going to win you the game. It is a great addition to many decks, but this card does not make a deck… it makes them better perhaps. This card brings more flavor and diversity to the game, and revalidates spells that 'effect all' or those that force players to ‘sacrifice’ creatures/permanents.
adrian.malacoda
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@HankHill: No... sac effects (like Diabolic Edict) target the player, not the creature. With edict effects, the targeted player gets to choose what is sacrificed, but it gets past hexproof, shroud, protection, indestructible, regeneration, etc.
There are two cards that stop edict effects: Sigarda and Tajuru Preserver. You can also give yourself (not the creature) shroud or hexproof with a card like Witchbane Orb to prevent players from using edicts against you.
Although I understand the pros/cons of this creature...
..just tune a deck to adjust to it. *shrug*
However, I ABSOLUTELY agree it shouldn't have been BLUE... Otherwise I see 0 problem with it. Surely it may not be an immaculate card, design-wise, but it forces players to consider OTHER answers aside from swords n bolts...
Exofori
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(5 votes)
This rating just proves the stupidity of some people on gatherer. Just because you think it's overpowered doesn't mean you should downvote it.
mononegator
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
ah, this is why the price for Liliana SKYROCKETED.
ranchsicle
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(12 votes)
Great card for people who are tired of playing Magic.
EGarrett01
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(8 votes)
Pick your comment...
A) If ever a card embodied "Come At Me Bro"...
B) Visible Stalker.
C) Should've been 1WW with a name like "Sworn Enemy."
D) The Littlest Progenitus.
Carepolice
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Incredibly un-interactive. This card will plague legacy for years if it isn't banned, I play to win tournaments and I'm now forced to use this rubbish. Thanks Wizards!
i can imagine a resurgence of pox decks, i can see pox players dusting off they're old pox decks when decks running true-name nemesis becomes rampant..
Ferny
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I was wondering why they gave Goblin Piledriver protection from blue....
SkyknightXi
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Commence operation: Drown in Sorrow. (Damage, he shrugs off. Untargeted toughness reduction, he doesn't shrug off. Now, is there room for that card in Legacy?)
lostlast2
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Welcome to the no-brain legacy era...
Drewskithelegend
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's ironic that this card was printed in commander, as it is pretty much the only format where nobody is going to play him (well multiplayer at least) It just seems careless of WOTC to print a card like this and to not give it an Achilles heel. How about making it a 1/1 for 3, giving it phasing or mandatory suspend,cumulative upkeep, forcing the controller to skip untap step etc. Fish are already really really good, and blue is already the color that is dominant in magic. This is game-warping and should be removed from most eternal formats as soon as possible.
Don't get me wrong, he can be killed. You'll likely need a Supreme Verdict to do it though.
@Exofori, It's not a good card because it doesn't allow for interactivity. A powerful card is not always a good card. Cards need to have drawbacks to them otherwise the game would just be stupid and out of control. Some of my favorite cards are those that are powerful but balanced, simply because it is difficult to make as well as to use properly a card that satisfies both of those conditions.
Continue
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
My first rating of this card was 5/5. I thought that this card was exactly what my Merfolk deck needed. Then, after playing with (and against) it, I revised my rating to 0.5/5, simply because of how frustrating and uninteractive it was. After some consideration, I've decided to change my rating to a much more reasonable 4.5/5. Yes, this card is extremely difficult to answer in Legacy; only board wipes like Toxic Deluge will take it out. However, it's not meant only for Legacy. In its intended format — which is to say, Commander — it's an efficient but easily-dealt-with creature that is a great political tool. Don't make my mistake and rate simply based on the card's merits in eternal formats. It's meant for more than that, and should be rated accordingly.
Fireballmage
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(4 votes)
The most hilarious part about True-Name Nemesis is how it's completely game-breaking in any 1v1 game based on creatures. It doesn't need to be a highly tuned deck with legacy level spells either, this thing can be plopped in a casual game with a friend who just got into Magic with his barely modified intro deck and they'll still be incredibly frustrated and unable to kill it. It's like WotC took every single complaint about Invisible Stalker, Sigarda, etc. and made it into the least fun creature ever.
I thought Magic was supposed to be fun.
deep_shadow
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Just for fun, here's Mono Green's answer to this:
Llanowar Scout creature - elf scout
flash, deathtouch When Llanowar Scout comes into play, attacking creatures lose all abilities until end of combat.
"Fortunately, we did not give away our position." -Ironclaw war journal, final entry
I put my one in my legacy merfolk. It is stupidly powerful. 3 attack power, unblockable, cannot be damaged or targeted. Usually I have a lord of Atlantis down already so its a 4/2. Its not fun. At all. It is un-interactive, very aggressive and works in a powerful tribal. I hope we never see more cards like this one. This is not fun for anyone.
I'm not gonna lie. This card is strong. But it also sucks the fun out of the game imo. 'Hah, I have this thing and there's almost nothing you can do about it!' Like other's have said, strong, yet uninteractive and boring.
1.5/5
Anzu-chan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Definitely insane for duel, but not so good in multiplayer.
@Mistdancer : No. According to the comprehensive rule 603.6e, True-Name Nemesis' ability is a static ability, so it doesn't use the stack. Because of this, you can't answer it with Abrupt Decay or Swords to Plowshares.
@Totema : With Rishadan Port, nuke the opponent's weenies every turn.
Everyone in the world is like "Legacy Merfolk!" and I am just sittin here with my casual Prowl deck
EDIT: I actually wouldn't be surprised if this was reprinted once Conspiracy is released, since it is supposed to be a multiplayer draft set, it seems like it would make perfect sense.
jonrds
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Didnt read the reminder text at first and figured this would be the equivalent of hexproof. Couldnt figure out why everyone said it was so good/broken.
Then I realized it gets protection from their creatures too. Alright, its good. It's a bit better than invisible stalker because of the global damage thing and blocking, but it also costs {U} more.
Then I realized it has 3 power. This card is dumb.
Arcesious
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Step 1. Play true name nemesis.
Step 2. 'I declare True name Nemesis has protection from myself'.
Step 3. Confuse your opponents as they try to figure out why you did that, when there really is no reason.
deworde2510
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Clearly designed for a multiplayer format, but with an eye to shaking up the Eternal Formats. Scares a lot of Legacy players, but I'd be interested to see how fearsome it actually is in Legacy, as opposed to pseudo-fearsome.
"Oh no, what answers exist in Magic for an untargetable unblockable with 3 power?" "Oh wait. Any wrath or evincar effect."
Oh, and if you're playing this in 1v1 "casual", the problem is not with the card. Do you also run a couple of YawgWills and a SkullClamp "just to make this playable"? Complaining that you can use this to ruin new players' experiences is like saying "they'd left their food on the table, I had to spit in it".
observant1
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Horrible design, the least fun card I have ever encountered. I hope they learn from this joke of a card and don't make a glaring mistake like this again.
SevesDariku
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
@arcesious
Step 4: Cast Blasphemous Act, and chuckle while your true-name nemesis shrugs off the damage, and all your opponent's creatures die. Swing for 3 unblocked.
Step 5: Sigh audibly when your opponent uses anything he wants to kill off your nemesis.
Lifegainwithbite
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Well everyone said they'd never print another Geist... then this thing came out. Card is horrible. If you play it in casual (not edh/cube, just regular 1v1 casual), you suck as a human being.
Yummynbeefy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is a 3 mana, 3 powered Progenetis that you can even pump if you wanna go deep, how are you guys not understanding this
OnyxSturm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Can still be Mercilessly Evicted.
Though this can be said for a lot of things.
Thankfully due to this card's price I don't think I should see anyone I know using it anytime soon.
Heinekant
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I run 4 of these little bastards in my Legacy Merfolk deck. Jund is a tough MU, and after watching you're board get wrecked by punishing fire, slamming this 3/1 wrecking ball is a great feeling. The next best feeling is plopping out a Merfolk Lord from an Aether Vial in response to Golgari Charm or Engineered Plague. I wish I had a playset of Stoneforge Mystics and some Tundras just so I could put a Jitte on this little bastard and make him even more disgusting.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Its only a 3/1 in commander, but I guess is pretty nasty with equipment or aura. Basically invisible stalker for more but 2 extra power.
The more I see this card played in Legacy, the more I feel like it was created to promote Modern by causing players to get sick of seeing a card so much that they go play a format it cannot be played in.
Just making the choose a player ability a triggered ability would make it bearable. If it was legendary then I would rate this card at least 4/5 because it would cause players to be more hesitant to run a playset.
chenjesummrhnmhrm
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
"This card is not playable in any formats." First time I've ever seen that on a card.
Comments (98)
As a Fish player myself, I'm not super sold. And without a doubt not like $30 a pre-sale pop. Ticking my vial up to three is a lot, Reerjays I feel should be the only top of my curve. And I need to keep mana up for my counterspells.
I sure hope the price will go down, though. I love the effect.
On another note, this creature is based on the belief that knowing a person's true name gives power over the person, especially a wizard. Therefore, wizards would go by a different name while keeping their birth name a secret. I am reminded of the Earthsea books, and perhaps Rumpelstiltskin story.
Which does what? True-Name Nemesis has protection from anything controlled by the chosen player, that includes planeswalkers.
You can however get past it with unblockables and protection from blue.
This is an example of those cards that seemed like a good idea at the time but will probably change the format in some way.
In terms of EDH, people undervalue this. I hear a lot of "oh, I have 40 life, 3 dam isn't anything" and that is WRONG. Here is the thing: No one is going to help you. You won't get named if you're not a threat and being a threat means you don't have 40 life. You might luck out and find that the caster stops attacking you after you've been defanged but the most likely situation is that your True-Name represents a very short clock.
A truly intimidating card, for sure.
Preordering for $30-40 usd can you believe?
That thing is just plain unfair in regular one on one formats, however. There, it basically reads:
Hexproof.
True-Name Nemsis can't be blocked.
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to ~ by sources you don't control.
3/1
They would have never printed a card with that wording, but that's just what this card does there.
Your opponent either counters that abomination, or he's going to have a big problem.
Aside from the fact that this is 3 damage to the face each turn that he can't get rid of, it also doubles as a nigh invincible blocker that rips apart an attacker.
Equipment and auras on that guy are just ridiculous as well.
Put him in a tribal deck, and this guy will get out of hand even more.
(Among others, there are multiple merfolk lords to choose from, Master of the Pearl Trident and Lord of Atlantis alone make eight boosting two-drops, and Merrow Reejerey might untap him after attacking.)
Wizards likely panned this to also double-act as bomb in Legacy, however I think this is very bad design.
I rate cards by powerlevel, so that's a solid 5/5 from me for its absolutely relentless power in two player formats.
In commander this card is not overkill, its good vs 1 player, but someone throws a WoG or another kind of WoG effect during each of 4 cycles of players, or earlier, to blow up the field. (happens all the time).
For legacy this is a new threat that surely will see play. But its not as overated as the previous messages imply.
Remember: Choosing a player with the abilty comes on the stack!
This means that when the nemisses enters play (and isnt counterd), it can still be: abrupt decayed, lighting bolted, stifle-ed, plowed, sliped, pyroblasted or any other instant removal can be used you can think of, before the "player proof" abilty gets active.
Even then prevention shields can be made to prevent dammage dealth to you by the nemesis (legency decks dont use prevention, but in commander this is a valid point)
In legacy this is a card to get rid of through countering or intant removal, but when put into play only (currently used) cards as p.deed and terminus are able to get rid of it. because of that, i think it will be played in multiple legacy decks and the card will be worth ~30$ eventually, after a period as a new lagacy tool with a top of ~50$.
I will try to get a playset, just beause i like the card and trying out some 'un-usual' legacy decks no one expects to be facing in events.
Greetings to all!
Nevinyrral's Disk isn't allowed in Legacy. I admit I'm scratching my head to think of *many* answers, but I'm sure Toxic Deluge is at least *one* answer that's gotta be Legacy Playable. Infest? does that break in to Legacy?
Red and Green have terrible matchups in general against this card- I can't think of a spell answer in either of them, besides "be the combo deck that wins the game first". Having extremely good odds to beat 2/5 of the Color Wheel, on a 3-cost 3-power Blue Creature, is obviously really good. Plenty of Black or Blue cards out there that I think this card isn't going to be the same kind of game-closer that Progenitus has been, and Progenitus isn't as good as Emrakul or Griselbrand.
Legacy PLAYABLE undoubtedly, Legacy UNBEATABLE? hardly. Scavenging Ooze was so boss because it was Green, one of the best Combo colors in Legacy, and fought Graveyards, which is very niche space but it's HIGHLY sought niche space. That's the kind of niche every deck is looking to fill. Blue and Black have many and obvious ways to handle this, and I think Runed Halo or Hatebears strategies that make things overcosted will prove effective as well.
It's a good card, but it's going to lose some of it's value. Especially if it gets a Judge Promo Reprint, which you know, they just might. Also, Jace vs. Vraska? Golgari are *particularly* well-known for -X/-X stuff, ever since Pernicious Deed. It would be *plausible* to see this reprinted as quickly as THAT. Maybe.
The thing is, it's a 3-drop, which is great, but Merfolk DOES have such a low curve that it really wants to question whether it has room or not for a playset when it's got Reejerey to think of, too. If it were a two-drop, I think it would be close to as fair as it is as 3-drop, PLUS I wouldn't remotely question the $40 tag because you just throw that in no questions asked. At 3 mana, it's feasible that not every Fish player will even use him.
It makes Merfolk good, definitely. But it doesn't automatically make Merfolk "The Best Deck in Legacy", and for that I'm thinking it's closer to $25-30, than it is to "$30 is the bargain bin rate"
And I had hoped to be able to afford the deck, too...
I think some people are just unable to get off their computers, see the deck selling for 59.99 online and go "suckers, only thin-wallet nemesis matters, am I gonna get this cheap". For the rest of us with the gift of locomotion, buying this for 40$ makes you an idiot.
The whole thing too but this in particular. I hate magic.
Though I think there should be a ruling that if you don't know the players name, you can't give this creature protection from "the girl sitting in that chair over there".
Is "choose" the same as "Target"? Thus if you had a witchbane orbs or laylines in play your opponent would have to target himself or another player?
For one more U, we've upgraded Invisible Stalker by tripling its power, immunizing it to all creatures an opponent controls, and stapling one of the most popular creature types onto it.
Despite the power I rate this card average because of the flavor paradigm shift, abuse of the protection mechanic (Progenitus-like), and shameless pandering to Legacy.
"as it comes into play choose a player"
It's not a regular etb effect, it's akin to clone... it enters with the player chosen, so you can't respond to the opponent choosing you as the opponent. It makes me love and hate it all the more for it's depravity. It doesn't even use the "when this creature enters..." clause so i don't think you can stifle it either...
On another note, i think i need to stock up on phantasmal images if i REALLY wanted to abuse this card...
How i feel about the card is confusing... i now understand how Myron Reducto must feel about Inch High
Where is the fun in playing against this card? I wouldn't play against anyone rocking a deck with four of these
Also, this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIZJCjvSMBk
it's super effective!
Glad I always splash black; makes having an answer for this easy while the rest of legacy is crapping their pants over a 3/1. That said, I don't like cards like these in casual circles; they reduce interaction which is kinda the point of a game IMO.
Etched Champion gets this effect in a way that I can respect; not completely one-sided, contingent on a specific deck building/board state, and a less offensive body and a couple of weaknesses (colorless damage for example.)
In any case, I never want to see this played in a duel. Losing to it would be frustrating, and winning with it would be shameful.
I don't mind the deck being $50-ish (well, no, I DO mind paying more than twice it's price), but modifying it is just pathetic.
"We wanted to print a creature so that players could just kind of play the game by themselves- improving the Magic experience on an individual level. We hope this will open the market to a new niche of people- the ones without friends"
It's the powerful and rare spells that got me excited and dragged me into Magic back at school. Yet what kept me hooked up in the long run was the strategic depth and outplaying your opponent by seeing more angles during a game and better planning. It was *interacting* with my opponent to see what happens.
True-Name Nemesis is the exact opposite of these qualities. It is an almost indestructible pawn that can move forward entirely unimpeded. It doesn't outright win and can be dealt with somehow - but still embodies a stale, stagnant and numb approach to the game. I will give it to you that it has great flavour in Commander, but while fine due the intrinsic qualities of a multiplayer game, this mechanic has horrific consequences in 1v1.
I won't quit Magic because of True-Name Nemesis. Not because I thought the card was still fine - but because I still believe, you will not release such numb cards into environments where they poision the play experience for both sides.
Julian Knab
PS: Owen Turtenwald vs Sam Black at GP DC just two weeks ago. Game2. This is not what we want Magic games to look like. This is not what you want. This is not what both of us want.
Not only is it in the wrong color (White has SIX TIMES as many cards in the category "non-color protection") - it's an extremely uninteractive card.
Magic is a game that lives from interaction. Cards like True-Name Nemesis are toxic for the game and lower the fun factor of the formats they're part of.
And by stupidly powerful, I mean you can be stupid and this would still be powerful. It's even more powerful if you're smart on how you use it. *cough*Trepanation Blade*cough*
Because not everybody is using the rating scale as a measure of card power. Many are using the scale as a measure of "how much they like the design". And a lot of people think this is an awful design, precisely because it is so powerful (and clumsy, in that it basically required a rule rewrite to exist).
BUT the card is a 5/5!
It's a mini Progenitus that can carry a Jitte and pitches to Force of Will.
Edit: After playing against it quite a bit... Like almost everyday. (All the players I play with are packing 4!)
I still give it a 5 out of 5 for power alone but for flavor and mechanics wise, I give it a 0 out of 5!
Since when did Blue get the best creatures? This and Delver.
Absolute protection, if I had to pick a color, it's a white ability.
This card is just stupid and poorly designed.
The most unfun and boring card since Show and Tell.
This is a joke card, if it was in Unglued or Unhinged, I would understand. "Protection from target player" is an ability my play group and I would joke about.
"Um, this card has protection from target.... Umm, Player! Protection from target YOU! That's the ticket!"
In commander; this is a fair card in multiplayer, one on one EDH this isn't that bad with 30 life and as a One-of but this card is backbreaking in Legacy!! This card blanks all targeted removal in the format; Bolt, Swords & Decay does nothing. Edicts usually don't work thanks to FoW and Daze. Legacy is now either you play with him or go over him aka Combo. Now since TNN deals with creature combat, you can just cram more counter magic in your deck! This is a creature that punishes creature based decks.
*ends rant*
I like the text "protection from the chosen player" it feels pretty epic. The card isn't even that bad in legacy I just got annoyed by how much they've pushed the fish deck in the last year.
There are two cards that stop edict effects: Sigarda and Tajuru Preserver. You can also give yourself (not the creature) shroud or hexproof with a card like Witchbane Orb to prevent players from using edicts against you.
Holy crap I found a use for Sorrow's Path.
..just tune a deck to adjust to it. *shrug*
However, I ABSOLUTELY agree it shouldn't have been BLUE... Otherwise I see 0 problem with it. Surely it may not be an immaculate card, design-wise, but it forces players to consider OTHER answers aside from swords n bolts...
A) If ever a card embodied "Come At Me Bro"...
B) Visible Stalker.
C) Should've been 1WW with a name like "Sworn Enemy."
D) The Littlest Progenitus.
i can imagine a resurgence of pox decks, i can see pox players dusting off they're old pox decks when decks running true-name nemesis becomes rampant..
Don't get me wrong, he can be killed. You'll likely need a Supreme Verdict to do it though.
@Exofori, It's not a good card because it doesn't allow for interactivity. A powerful card is not always a good card. Cards need to have drawbacks to them otherwise the game would just be stupid and out of control. Some of my favorite cards are those that are powerful but balanced, simply because it is difficult to make as well as to use properly a card that satisfies both of those conditions.
I thought Magic was supposed to be fun.
Llanowar Scout
creature - elf scout
flash, deathtouch
When Llanowar Scout comes into play, attacking creatures lose all abilities until end of combat.
"Fortunately, we did not give away our position."
-Ironclaw war journal, final entry
1/1
Illus. Anson Maddocks
Huh? Expensive, for a useless card.
lol
1.5/5
@Mistdancer : No. According to the comprehensive rule 603.6e, True-Name Nemesis' ability is a static ability, so it doesn't use the stack. Because of this, you can't answer it with Abrupt Decay or Swords to Plowshares.
@Totema : With Rishadan Port, nuke the opponent's weenies every turn.
OMG NEW TOP TIER DECK
EDIT: I actually wouldn't be surprised if this was reprinted once Conspiracy is released, since it is supposed to be a multiplayer draft set, it seems like it would make perfect sense.
Then I realized it gets protection from their creatures too. Alright, its good. It's a bit better than invisible stalker because of the global damage thing and blocking, but it also costs {U} more.
Then I realized it has 3 power. This card is dumb.
Step 2. 'I declare True name Nemesis has protection from myself'.
Step 3. Confuse your opponents as they try to figure out why you did that, when there really is no reason.
"Oh no, what answers exist in Magic for an untargetable unblockable with 3 power?" "Oh wait. Any wrath or evincar effect."
Oh, and if you're playing this in 1v1 "casual", the problem is not with the card. Do you also run a couple of YawgWills and a SkullClamp "just to make this playable"? Complaining that you can use this to ruin new players' experiences is like saying "they'd left their food on the table, I had to spit in it".
Step 4: Cast Blasphemous Act, and chuckle while your true-name nemesis shrugs off the damage, and all your opponent's creatures die. Swing for 3 unblocked.
Step 5: Sigh audibly when your opponent uses anything he wants to kill off your nemesis.
Though this can be said for a lot of things.
Thankfully due to this card's price I don't think I should see anyone I know using it anytime soon.
Cyclonic Rift, Wrath of God, Merciless Eviction, Black Sun's Zenith, Moat, Diabolic Edict, some examples of how to answer this guy.
Just making the choose a player ability a triggered ability would make it bearable. If it was legendary then I would rate this card at least 4/5 because it would cause players to be more hesitant to run a playset.