Nikya of the Old Ways Commander Deck Tech 

hahaha "Molder Slug : Fortunately for it, Mirrodin is a plane without salt" On the contrary ! artifacts lands, skullclamp, affinity and disciple of the vault harvested one of the biggest among of salt! (among players, but still!)

I saw a lot of commander reviews for this card and pretty much everyone said (a big smorc creatures-only deck wont work, u need noncreature spells, etc.etc.) I don't think people realize the effects. "You cant cast noncreature spells" and "double your mana"(essentially). This DOESN'T MEAN you can ONLY SPEND your mana on CREATURES. you can use your mana on activated abilities of permanents that are already in play. Land abilities, artifact abilities, you name it. People just look at the card and say (double your mana but only for creatures? Trash.) I'm so excited for this deck, looking forward to it alot

Dude, Hatchery Spider can puts a green permanent on the battlefield - that means Zendikar Ressurgent, Garruk, or Domri being put onto the battlefield while Nikya is on the battlefield.

Audio is a little a head of the video me thinks, talking about cards gets really misaligned at the end, also wrong name in title and description XD Y and I are swappeded

I was feeling fairly meh about all the legendaries in Ravnica Allegiance, but your enthusiasm, DJ, has me hella stoked to build a Nikya Anti-Civ deck now. Thanks for your posi energy.

What about Prowling Serpopard? With that many creatures, being able to cast them without the fear of a counter is really good!

Very interesting deck tech! I think a great addition to this deck would be Yeva, Nature's Herald. She gives your green creatures flash which helps a lot avoiding sorcery board wipes and stuff.

Love it! Thanks, DJ for the help. You great ideas for the deck

I like how this deck is like the sasaya deck you created last time but more consistent. Gotta love them big manas.

I'm not a regular viewer but thank you for this deck tech. I have been looking for a exciting new Gruul commander for 2 or 3 years now. I was initially disappointed with Nykia but your video really inspired me to make this deck and it might be the one I have been looking for. Gruul creature based control and big smack down. Thanks again.

Nikya is one of the two legendaries in RNA that I'm most excited about. Her "downside" really isn't. A lot of people espouse the theory that you want as many effects on creatures as possible anyway. And you can use that "downside" as camouflage. She won't always be on the battlefield, and with sacs and Temur Sabertooth (as mentioned by another) you could engineer her removal, float a ton of mana, and pull off something big that no one expects. I think she wants Ramunap Excavator, Wayward Swordtooth, Mina and Denn, and maybe Ghirapur Orrery and a slightly elevated land count and/or lots of fetches. Landfall seems like a good subtheme. :D The last non-creature card I would recommend is Sunbird's Invocation. Nikya will allow a higher than average curve, which means cycling through you deck fast. But even a strict creatures-only build will be so much fun. I love it! 🤣

Missed your voice DJ!!! Always love your deck techs!!! Planning on a fun build for this deck, you gave me great ideas!!!

BLESS!!!! Been meaning to build this as soon as she was announced!

"Bloop bloop bloop bloop; make a copy."

I’m SO excited to build her!! Thanx for this tech

I have a Surrak deck based on using only creatures as spells. She was an auto include. You gave me more thoughts too, thanks!!

Your audio sync is delayed. Lagging for about 3 to 5 seconds.

I’ve been waiting my whole life to hear dj say let’s smash

I've gotten to the point where I thumbs up these b4 even watching. Always great decks, with great synergies.

Looks fun! I was thinking about putting this in a Surrak, Dragonclaw deck, but you may have changed my mind!

Thanks for this deck tech, DJ

I love this awesome gruul smash up. If you were to do another gruul deck tech I would love if you did rosheen meanderer (aka X marks the spot).

I love all the hydras being mentioned. They arent in enough decks and theyre my favorite type 😍

Thank you i pulled a promo Nykia at my prerelease and i was looking for a deck list for her

I've designed a +1/+1 counters Animar and an Oops All Creatures Animar this winter. The number of overlapping cards is reassuring. Also, the Green Divination is Citanul Woodreaders ;)

Planar bridge getting whatever u want onto the battle field and nyx bloom ancient tripping all permanents being tapped for mana would be great additions to this deck and also archetype of endurance giving all of ur creatures hexproof and taking it away from your opponents locus of mana would also be amazing with seedborn muse tap everything on everyones end step and just build a butt load of mana to use before ur next turn comes around

Silklash Spider is also a great mana sink, even though its ability only affects creatures with flying. Can really mess with some decks that rely on a bunch of fliers to do damage, and can be great answers to big flying threats with huge power since you'll have so much mana.

Shefet Monitor seems like it could be a good include in this deck, as it cycles for 3G to also tutor out an untapped basic or desert. So with Nidya, it kind of cycles for just 2, and you can use it to tutor out a utility desert like Scavenger Grounds or Endless Sands (which could also temporarily get rid of Nikya if you need to cast noncreature spells). And it's also a 6/5 like Krosan Tusker.

Speaking of Zhur-Taa Druid, there was a janky combo in RTR-Theros standard where you'd put a triton tactics under an Elite Arcanist, tap the Druid for mana to activate the Arcanist and ping them, untap both with the tactics, and repeat until they're dead.

Hell yeah DJ I saw this card and had the same reaction. This should be fun. Ever heard of Moonveil Dragon?

Hellkite Charger would be great mana sink for this deck. And Flamewave Invoker would be really deadly in this deck, especially if Seedborn Muse is in play too

My Karador is legit all creatures. It has become my favorite deck and I'm pretty proud of it.

would you want to play a Vorinclex in the deck for the double mana and stoping opponent from untapping lands

Love this! Puts new flavor on gruul.

Please do teysa karlov

so going to make this deck.

Is there any "exile till end of turn" red or green creatures to cheat te commander

Here are some card suggestions. Magus of the Candelabra lets you double your mana with your commander. Experimental Frenzy since you empty your hand fast and have lots of mana, allowing you to play multiple spells a turn. The creatures that lets you play extra lands per turn helps when you already played your land for turn and have a land on top. Temur Sabertooth for easy protection for your creatures.

Very cool deck!!!

What about omnath locus of mana to help hold up some green? Probably wouldnt hurt to add locus of rage as well to put up some blockers.

I built the budget Ruric Thar deck and started upgrading it. I wanted to lean into all creatures like this deck and creature control, but it felt like I was playing 60 vindicates and not doing much to finish then off. I just want 5 more Ruric Thars ... Maybe I should give this a go while I'm waiting...

Curiously I have a mina and denn deck here. Ramping is fun xD

Nice deck. I studied your budget Ruric Thar deck and built a not so budget version. I might try this guy at the helm with a few tweaks.

Don’t forget Kiki and zealous combo. And Kamahl is an excellent mana dump and board wipe enemies Lands when they wrath for the lols

Moonveil Dragon for SUPER firebreathing! and maybe this is finally a home for Whisperwood Elemental.

In a heavy creature based deck, it might be a good idea to have some recursion, in addition to Genesis. Perhaps you could try Eternal Witne- *gunshots*

Feldon of the 3rd path synergizes awesomely with magus of the wheel

What about apocalypse hydra? If you pay 7 or more mana it enters with double the number of plus 1 counters on it. You can then sink mana into it again to remove plus 1 counters to deal damage.

Lurking predators be crazy lol

So one method of ramp you didn't mention is land untappers. Krosan Restorer does work in my Nikya deck. Threshold is easy to hit, and oncenyoy do, it effectively ranps you 6 Mana a turn

another great video my friend

You say downside I say just gotta be creative with your building and smart with creature etb/activated abilities/die triggers

Love vexing shusher in the deck

Oh ya... We Smashing!

all you need is any bounce or blink effect! 1)tap all your mana (for double) 2)cast non-creature spells (in the same main phase :-/ ) 3)replay your commander this still works with creature ETB effects

Hydras in general would be good

I am curious why you opted against Myojin of the Life's Web and Patron of the Orochi?

I'm playing THIS deck TODAY - any changes I have to do? (Deck was last updated 2019) thx

An interesting card that could be really good in this deck is Kumano, Master Yamabushi. No one plays him and he might surprise a few players.

im currently thinking about a new commander deck, and i have these options: sydri, nykia, xenagos or liliana, heretical healer - i really want to spend some money, so i cant build all of them what do you think? what should i build? i like nykia and xenagos, but cant decide which one to choose (gruul is my favourite guild and R/G my favourite color combination overall)

has anyone made a more budget version of this deck

You should do a deck tech for Haunt of the Hightower (buy a box promo).

Dude, DJ, here is something fun to add for Nikya here...Helm of the host? each combat, make more mana doublers? and hell add Aggravated Assault...basically now you have infinite Nikyas and infinite combats Also, Do Teysa Next if you don't mind

Whats a gruul deck without Thromok, but Yisan, the Wanderer Bard, and dragon broodmother would be awesome to include to.

Hey how do I unlock your Lifelinker background?

You have to do teysa next please!

Even tho it is an enchantment I really di think lurking predators has a home in this deck easy but I'd like to hear what you think since you're the one who made the deck

I like the idea of using bazar trader to make a instant and sorcery deck take control of my commander lol

Temur Sabertooth can bounce Nikya back to your hand whenever you need to cast a noncreature spell

Omnath, locus of mana seems pretty good here

The audio desync is real

Silverback Elder would be great in this

Why have you passed on the opportunity to preview the deck you made for game knights? Still looking forward to seeing it in action and i hope you included an elenda the dusk rose.

What do people think of zhur taa achient as a card?

Kamahl Fist of Krosa needs to be in this deck

Which set is avatar of growth from?

Dude this deck screams play Ulasht n Thromos in the same deck lol

Hey, I'm new to commander and I've been looking at a few creatures to build my first deck upon, could you do a video on Marath, Will of the Wild? I feel it's an underrated commander

Yo DJ, Nikya isn't in your decklist bruh. Is there a reason for Thuric being the commander I'm too noob to understand?

RESOOOOLVE ❤

Double your mana in the command zone?

Little off topic but need to settle an argument: Building a Boros deck (white/red)...is blind obedience legal even if it has an orzoh mana cost activation?

Temur sabertooth, cloudstone curio

Was looking at this commander and was like "etb/kicker nykia would be awsome"

If DJ gets the Shaman of Forgotten Way to trigger off successfully Jimmy is probably going to tilt because he tried to go with that tactic once and it backfired on him

Thantis please!

you have the wrong commander in the deck list, Rhuric Thar is the commander there. I haven't counted the other cards, there might be 98, in which case its alright.

Bazaar Trader + Homeward Path is a beautiful combo for this deck. Lock down those nasty control players.

Moltensteel Dragon? Helkite Dragon? Maybe?

pls make judith edh!!!

Why Is the commender night's deck video down? Whatever, money down on u! Go DJ!

Could just add some werewolves as they love you only casting single spells per turn and Nikya ramps to them

Nek Minit control player drops Humility...

98 permanents, primal surge tap out for max value-> bounce/destroy nykia-> cast primal surge-> flip deck on the field-> win by kiki/zealous or some other degenerate combo.

Is this the list on #gameknights?

My first thought was Bazaar Trader for messing with opponents in a spell based deck.

Combat trick wise, would suggest the Bloodrush creatures from Gatecrash. Rubblehulk can one shot somebody with your commander sometimes. gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?text=+%5Bbloodrush%5D

Sweet vid, but what about the old Vorinclex and craterhoof? Always gotta bring the ol' craterhoof ;)

I miss some protection but that it just me and dont forgot to add vhorinclex just to be mean and the father of mean card urubrask why is he mean well he taps all their creature on the turn they good summon and then basically it gives your creature haste which mean your opponent its lock down from attacking and then well smash then after you use shaman of the forgotten ways and kil the shit out of them

I think I’m just going to put Primal Surge in and no other noncreature spells...