[Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)

Sorry... Phone auto correct ftl... Hahaha

But he just seems good against... Well everything. He ramPs and eats knights lands, he can exile a snapcasters spells, or eat a storm decks spells maybe shutting down cabal ritual threshold, he eats creatures and gains life. He is like noble hierarchy with ooze flexibility... Definitely a GSZ target if not more. I think the rock likes it more than us, but I still think he is awesome.

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Originally Posted by Claymore

The Shaman is slow and doesn't grow in size like the Ooze does. There's been many games where the Ooze becomes the fatty on the field, serving a dual purpose to shrink graveyards and slowly develop into a large blocker, where Shaman has no chance at combat. Also, the fact that Ooze can immediately eat things and gain you life is very relevant.

The low cost (GSZ turn 2, active turn 3) and mana accelerating while shrinking KotR is very intriguing, however. I'll be interested to see how the Shaman works out here.

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Bear in mind that while he can't engage in meaningful combat, he can go all Grim Lavamancer-wannabe while eating your opponents' graveyards instead of your own. That seems relevant. And most decks run some number of spells, anyway, so you can take advantage of that ability. Having our own Grim vs RUG seems amusing.

@Megadeus -- he's actually hilarious vs storm, I didn't even think of that. Not only does he keep their yard small (threshold for Cabal Rit and hindering PiF), but he shocks them every time he does it (keeping their life lower for AdN).

@ Rest in Peace:

I just looked up ther Oracle wording for Veteran Explorer. It reads: "When Veteran Explorer dies, each player may search his or her library for up to two basic land cards and put them onto the battlefield. Then each player who searched his or her library this way shuffles it."

So, as I understand, "Rest in Peace" at least wouldn`t shut down the Explorer.

Dies is basically when it hits grave. With rest in peace it never gets a chance to hit grave therefore it never triggers.

"Dies" is shorthand for "is put into a graveyard from the battlefield," but with Rest in Peace is a replacement effect "if it would be put into a GY, exile it instead." So it shuts off Explorer just like Leyline does - Explorer never touches the GY with it out.

It will, as dies basically means goes to the graveyard from the battlefield, but it never hits the graveyard.

Now that we have all told him he is wrong... Haha

But the shaman is sort of a back up ramp engine as well. Most legacy decks play a number of fetches. He is a nice back up ramp for us I think. The life gain is nice as well. Of course he won't survive long enough most of the time for that ability to matte too much in those match ups. I think he is a definite one of. Just so veratile against almost every deck he can do a job.

Really? Dooh!

I'm not sure what this shaman brings to the deck that it's lacking. It does bring fragile, temporary ramp as a one drop, but is that something that's needed?

I can't see any time where you'd rather play (or GSZ for) this than explorer. The creature does nothing if you therapy it, whereas explorer gets you two lands. It is just as vulnerable to stp as explorer but without any etb or sac effects. In short: It doesn't do anything right away in a deck full of cards that do things right away.


It can't exile the turn it etb like scavenging ooze. It can't exile multiple cards per turn, like ooze. It can't buff itself, like ooze. It can't gain 4 or 5 life in one turn like finks or thragtusk.

More importantly, what do you take out?

tl:dr card is slow and offers nothing new.

If you don't have a sac outlet he can be an Alternate ramp source. He can eat creatures to gain some life. He is awesome vs RUG I would think. Keeping them off of threshold all while ramping past their taxing counters, or gaining life against their beats. Maybe I overreacted a bit, but the fact that he is a ramp source as well as a decent hate source all while being a one drop GSZ target makes him awesome.

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Originally Posted by Star|Scream

I'm not sure what this shaman brings to the deck that it's lacking. It does bring fragile, temporary ramp as a one drop, but is that something that's needed?

I can't see any time where you'd rather play (or GSZ for) this than explorer. The creature does nothing if you therapy it, whereas explorer gets you two lands. It is just as vulnerable to stp as explorer but without any etb or sac effects. In short: It doesn't do anything right away in a deck full of cards that do things right away.


It can't exile the turn it etb like scavenging ooze. It can't exile multiple cards per turn, like ooze. It can't buff itself, like ooze. It can't gain 4 or 5 life in one turn like finks or thragtusk.

More importantly, what do you take out?

tl:dr card is slow and offers nothing new.

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I'll be up front with you and admit that I have no plans of putting the Shaman in any of my versions at this time. That said, for those who desire to, I do think he's a viable option.

What it brings is flexibility.

It's one creature (Zenithable as a 2-drop) that does all of these things:

-) Ramps
-) Keeps KotR small
-) Pisses off Loam (if anyone plays that anymore)
-) Keeps Threshold down (RUG as well as Cabal Ritual)
-) Negates Snapcaster
-) Pings for 2
-) Gains two life
-) Pisses off Reanimator and Dredge by exiling their critters
-) Situationally, can keep Goyf small (can't exile planeswalkers, artifacts, enchantments)

That's a veritable swiss army knife, right there. And yeah, not all of those are going to be important at any given time (most of them won't be, in fact). But having access to all of them whenever you run into that case where you need them is a very nice thing.

While grabbing an Explorer is going to be more relevant against something like Thresh (or most decks), Shaman is a likely 2nd Zenith vs RUG, and is the primary Zenith vs High Tide, without a doubt.

So yeah. If you have a space for him, I think he'll end up being a good option. I don't personally have the room to put him in, though -- he's not a clear upgrade over anything else in my decks.

If you don't have a sac outlet and you are not playing against a deck with stp, then it's perfectly fine to play explorer and use him as a creature deterrent. If your explorer gets killed, yay! If you do this with the shaman and your shaman gets killed, boo!

If you don't have a sac outlet and you ARE playing against a deck with stp, then neither of these creatures are a good idea to play.

If you DO have a sac outlet, Explorer is better to play.

Later in the game, ooze is better to play.

So again, when do you play this card over explorer or ooze? And what do you cut for it?

@Arianrhod

I know it does all those things, but it only does them once a turn. You can't respond to other activations like you can with an ooze. I guess turn two exile reanimate/dredge target is really good, BUT you can't GSZ turn 1 for it, so it has to be in your opener for that. To get the best shot at it being in your opener, you need a lot more than 1 in your deck. In that case I think extirpate would be better until you can get an ooze online.

@Arianrhod

Thank you for the feedback! How does the GBw version deal with Emrakul? I was thinking Humility? But won't that kinda hurt your gameplan as well? Sorry if this question has already been answered. :smile:

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Originally Posted by sherko7

@Arianrhod

Thank you for the feedback! How does the GBw version deal with Emrakul? I was thinking Humility? But won't that kinda hurt your gameplan as well? Sorry if this question has already been answered. :smile:

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Nope, that's fine.

Rector versions specifically have Humility as their trump in the Emrakul matchup. They also have access to Sigarda, which can cushion the impact a Snuck Emrkaul has, as well as Baneslayer which laughs in the face of Griselbrand. Sideboard, Rector has Extirpates and Cranial Extraction/Memoricide, which all versions have access to. Extirpate allows you to cut down on the number of ways they can win, while Cranial Extraction effects remove their creatures or enablers. Basically, think of it in terms of Hooks and Needles:

Cabal Therapy always names Show and Tell first, as it's their fastest way to kill you. Because of the nature of Sneak/Show in particular, they'll often have a combo piece in hand, whether it's Show or not. You then FB Therapy on whatever, taking their combo piece in hand (assuming you bricked on Show), then Extirpate it. Extirpate is a Needle. It annoys them, but it doesn't kill them.

Then, Cranial happens, aimed at whatever category your Extirpate hit. Ie, if you Extirpated his Emrakuls, you Cranial naming Griselbrand and then he has no dudes in his deck to win with. If you Extirpated his Show and Tells, then you name Sneak Attack. It's a Hook (as in right hook) -- it wins the game.

Humility is your Rector bullet, and tbh is probably how I've won most games vs Sneak. Yes, it does hurt you too. But it hurts them SO much more. It completely shuts Sneak/Show down -- their only out is to bounce it (at which point, you Cranial naming their bounce spell....usually Wipe Away. Try to confirm with an Extirpate on any random card, though). Even if you don't have the Humility in hand when they Show, you can Show a Rector and then go to town...even on the Emrakul punch. I've won a lot of games post-Emrakul swing, believe it or not.

That all make sense? If you have any questions, just ask =)

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Originally Posted by Arianrhod

Nope, that's fine.

Rector versions specifically have Humility as their trump in the Emrakul matchup. They also have access to Sigarda, which can cushion the impact a Snuck Emrkaul has, as well as Baneslayer which laughs in the face of Griselbrand. Sideboard, Rector has Extirpates and Cranial Extraction/Memoricide, which all versions have access to. Extirpate allows you to cut down on the number of ways they can win, while Cranial Extraction effects remove their creatures or enablers. Basically, think of it in terms of Hooks and Needles:

Cabal Therapy always names Show and Tell first, as it's their fastest way to kill you. Because of the nature of Sneak/Show in particular, they'll often have a combo piece in hand, whether it's Show or not. You then FB Therapy on whatever, taking their combo piece in hand (assuming you bricked on Show), then Extirpate it. Extirpate is a Needle. It annoys them, but it doesn't kill them.

Then, Cranial happens, aimed at whatever category your Extirpate hit. Ie, if you Extirpated his Emrakuls, you Cranial naming Griselbrand and then he has no dudes in his deck to win with. If you Extirpated his Show and Tells, then you name Sneak Attack. It's a Hook (as in right hook) -- it wins the game.

Humility is your Rector bullet, and tbh is probably how I've won most games vs Sneak. Yes, it does hurt you too. But it hurts them SO much more. It completely shuts Sneak/Show down -- their only out is to bounce it (at which point, you Cranial naming their bounce spell....usually Wipe Away. Try to confirm with an Extirpate on any random card, though). Even if you don't have the Humility in hand when they Show, you can Show a Rector and then go to town...even on the Emrakul punch. I've won a lot of games post-Emrakul swing, believe it or not.

That all make sense? If you have any questions, just ask =)

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It sure did, thank you! I have 2 lists at the moment I am testing out in MWS:

GBw version:

// Lands
1 [US] Phyrexian Tower
1 [B] Savannah
1 [B] Scrubland
1 [LG] Karakas
1 [FUT] Dryad Arbor
4 [ZEN] Verdant Catacombs
1 [B] Plains (2)
2 [ON] Windswept Heath
3 [B] Bayou
3 [B] Swamp (1)
4 [B] Forest (1)

// Creatures
4 [WL] Veteran Explorer
2 [FD] Eternal Witness
1 [ARB] Qasali Pridemage
1 [UD] Academy Rector
1 [M13] Thragtusk
1 [MBS] Thrun, the Last Troll
1 [M11] Grave Titan
1 [CMD] Scavenging Ooze
1 [ARC] Sakura-Tribe Elder
1 [AVR] Sigarda, Host of Herons

// Spells
4 [B] Swords to Plowshares
3 [MBS] Green Sun's Zenith
4 [JU] Cabal Therapy
2 [ARB] Maelstrom Pulse
1 [PS] Diabolic Intent
2 [CHK] Sensei's Divining Top
2 [ISD] Liliana of the Veil
1 [EX] Recurring Nightmare
3 [AP] Pernicious Deed
1 [NPH] Karn Liberated
1 [9E] Phyrexian Arena

// Sideboard
SB: 2 [M12] Timely Reinforcements
SB: 3 [LRW] Thoughtseize
SB: 2 [TSP] Krosan Grip
SB: 2 [PLC] Extirpate
SB: 1 [UL] Engineered Plague
SB: 1 [NPH] Surgical Extraction
SB: 1 [TE] Humility
SB: 3 [SOM] Memoricide


One small problem I encounter often is the lack of threats I top deck. This is why I added Karn (I don't know if that's a good idea though, I think it would be better to just add a Titan?) Stifle also seems to be quite an obstacle sometimes (nothing Cabal Therapy can't handle). I also like GSZ'ing for Sakura Tribe Elder on those occasions you do not need to draw a bullet.

My second list is a GB version I haven't tested much. My plan is to just run a GB version first as the parts are easy to get and then wait until I complete the white splash parts:

// Lands
4 [B] Forest (2)
4 [B] Swamp (1)
4 [B] Bayou
4 [ZEN] Misty Rainforest
4 [ZEN] Verdant Catacombs
1 [FUT] Dryad Arbor
1 [US] Phyrexian Tower

// Creatures
1 [MBS] Thrun, the Last Troll
1 [UL] Deranged Hermit
2 [FD] Eternal Witness
2 [M12] Grave Titan
1 [CMD] Scavenging Ooze
4 [WL] Veteran Explorer
1 [EVE] Wickerbough Elder
1 [M13] Thragtusk

// Spells
4 [JU] Cabal Therapy
4 [MBS] Green Sun's Zenith
3 [FE] Hymn to Tourach (2)
3 [ARB] Maelstrom Pulse
1 [ISD] Liliana of the Veil
2 [CHK] Sensei's Divining Top
1 [NPH] Dismember
3 [AP] Pernicious Deed
1 [MBS] Go for the Throat
2 [AP] Phyrexian Arena
1 [PS] Diabolic Intent

// Sideboard
SB: 1 [ISD] Liliana of the Veil
SB: 2 [PLC] Extirpate
SB: 1 [PLC] Damnation
SB: 3 [SOM] Memoricide
SB: 1 [NPH] Surgical Extraction
SB: 4 [GP] Leyline of the Void
SB: 3 [TSP] Krosan Grip

Any thoughts? Most especially for the BG version. I really love Phyrexian Arena here, and one thing I like about the BG version is the fact that I have space for it. I hate going into top deck mode, especially if I don't draw an SDT. :smile:

Thanks for the feedback everyone :smile:

Is this somewhere close to Nic Fit?

4 Misty Rainforest
3 Verdant Catacombs
3 Tropical Island
1 Underground Sea
3 Bayou
4 Forest
1 Swamp
2 Island
1 Phyrexian Tower

4 Veteran Explorer
4 Baleful Strix
2 Scavenging Ooze
2 Coiling Oracle
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Consacrated Sphinx
1 Progenitus

4 Brainstorm
4 Cabal Therapy
3 Pernicious Deed
3 Force of Will
3 Natural Order
2 Sensei's Divining Top
2 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Doom Blade (will become Abrupt Decay as soon as RtR is on)
1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor

SB: 3 Counterbalance
SB: 1 Sensei's Divining Top
SB: 3 Surgical Extraction
SB: 2 Engineered Explosives
SB: 2 Thrun, the Last Troll
SB: 2 Flusterstorm
SB: 2 Darkblast

Has Natural Order been played in Nic Fit? I mean, it's obviously better than Grave Titan and Derranted Hermit.

You only have 8 creatures to sac to Natural order in the entire deck.

And if you somehow lose your prog or it's stuck in your hand you have 3 dead cards in your deck. Also an opposing liiana vs grave titan means you still have 2 creatures (3 if you didn't have to sac one to get grave titan) whereas not so much with prog.

no one has tested restoration angel in nic-fit?
i'm testing 3 copy of this and i'm very happy.
this is the list that i'm testing

1 acidic slime
2 eternal witness
1 grave titan
2 kitchen finks
1 sigarda
4 explorer
3 restoration angel

3 deed
1 recurring nightmare
2 top
3 plòwshares
4 therapy
4 zenith
1 pulse
1 vindicate
2 farseek
1 garruk, primal hunter

2 bayou
1 savannah
1 scrubland
6 fetch
4 forest
2 plains
3 swamp
1 tower
1 stronghold

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Originally Posted by Star|Scream

You only have 8 creatures to sac to Natural order in the entire deck.

And if you somehow lose your prog or it's stuck in your hand you have 3 dead cards in your deck. Also an opposing liiana vs grave titan means you still have 2 creatures (3 if you didn't have to sac one to get grave titan) whereas not so much with prog.

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True. It could be sideboard material.

I mean, Progenitus wins in 2 turns, where sometimes Grave Titan and Derranged Hermit are just useless in a stalled board.