Ob Nixilis, Captive KingpinOb Nixilis, Captive Kingpin | Art by Zezhou Chen

Greetings and salutations my dear brewers, from a place where autumn has yet to understand it's supposed to settle in, and welcome to another Trim. I'm Arnaud and I'm thrilled to take you on a journey of fancy pingers, huge Demons and major value.

Last time, we parted way with our usual poll, and before we move on to the results, I'd like to ask you something: Do you want this series to continue, or do you feel that, after two years and a half, it's time to move on to something else?

The reason I'm asking is because over time, the number of votes has fallen significantly. I like to be open about these things, and I'd love to hear from you on this point in the comments below.

Now, time to take a look at this week's candidates. Third place went to Adriana, Captain of the GuardAdriana, Captain of the Guard, with a puny, tiny eight votes (22%). No Boros shenanigans this time. A close second place went to Sek'Kuar, DeathkeeperSek'Kuar, Deathkeeper, with 14 votes (38%). The winner this week, with 15 votes (41%) is therefore Ob Nixilis, Captive KingpinOb Nixilis, Captive Kingpin.

I'm actually very happy that the Demon managed to come ahead, as this has been a pet deck of mine for quite some time now.

Obby already sports some decent stats with some of the best evasion keywords. That's all well and good, but the main interest clearly comes from its main ability. Every time someone gets pinged or loses one life, you get to both pump your commander and generate value out of it.

It may not seem like much, but I've managed to coax up to 10 impulse draws in a single rotation, while threatening players' lives with a massive monster on the field.

Without further ado, let's get to work. I'll grab each and every card from the commander's EDHREC page, both on regularregular and budget sections.

This nets a grand total of 380 cards, more than enough to get cooking. Let's light up the stoves and get to work!

First Trim – The Cardboard Chainsaw Massacre

As is now custom, a quick recap of what this series is about is in order. The brews here are all about budget, slowly trimming down from all available cards down to 100, with a caveat: No card can cost more than $1.10 at the time of writing.

With that out of the way, let's remove all the most expensive spells in this list.

This already trims the list down to a much more comfortable 226 cards worth $2 or less. Before we part way with those as well, let's have a look at the most noteworthy ones between $1.10 and $2:

• Fate UnravelerFate Unraveler: Underworld DreamsUnderworld Dreams on a creature. Lovely. And probably a worthy inclusion
• Marionette ApprenticeMarionette Apprentice: I'm surprised this hasn't reached higher values. Grab yours while they're still affordable
• Persistent ConstrictorPersistent Constrictor: One of the most annoying creatures I've played against in a long, long time
• Soot ImpSoot Imp: Cheap and efficient if slightly situational pinger
• Chandra's IncineratorChandra's Incinerator: Often cast for a single , and a great support to the pings, with a great body to boot
• Shadow of the GoblinShadow of the Goblin: A very recent addition from the Spider-Man set, and splendid synergy with the commander's impulse draw
• Kessig FlamebreatherKessig Flamebreather: One of the very best cards you can play here
• Hissing MiasmaHissing Miasma: Lovely and often underappreciated attack deterrent, especially with your commander out

Let's also take a look at the cards between $1 and $1.10:

• Talisman of IndulgenceTalisman of Indulgence: A great mana rock
• Vexing BaubleVexing Bauble: This on the other hand I find surprising, as it's a card you'd find more at higher power levels
• Wrenn's ResolveWrenn's Resolve: Yet another impulse draw.
• Roiling VortexRoiling Vortex: Excellent pinger, and a great way to prevent lifegain
• Wild Magic SurgeWild Magic Surge: Less efficient than Chaos WarpChaos Warp, but excellent removal nonetheless
• Sokenzan, Crucible of DefianceSokenzan, Crucible of Defiance: Erm... Why???

Already we're down to 202 cards, a much more manageable total. Let's proceed.

Second Trim – Cardward Scissorhands

It feels somewhat refreshing to see that the list is already almost below the 200-cards threshold. Before dabbling with the fun stuff, let's take care of the veggies.

Even if the commander already provides a massive influx of value, you can't count on it staying on the battlefield at all times.

At the moment, this is where they stand:

One could almost argue they've almost been taken care of. Almost. Let's give them a healthy makeover:

It's been a long time since this section was so tiny. More fun stuff to play with in the next section then! 166 cards left, and counting.

Third Trim – Cutting Off the Rough Edges

After getting such a short Second Trim, I feel like I should expand a bit more in this section on the actual strategy Ob Nixilis commands.

This is a very commander-centric build, as most spells will serve a single purpose: to ping, again, and again, and again, to squeeze maximum value from Obby.

Each time at least one of your opponents loses a single life, you reap benefits. You should therefore expect to be there for the long run. In a way, this is not too dissimilar to Aristocrats, in that you'll want to repeatedly and consistently ping the table for one damage at a time.

Don't be fooled though; that damage can accrue quickly. And don't forget that there are other players around the table eager to dish out some damage of their own.

Once life totals have gone down enough, you can end the game by either swinging with a massive Ob Nixilis, or sacrificing it to FlingFling effects for equally large amounts of damage.

There are two main categories that require enough outlets:

• Pings: the cards at the heart of the strategy. I wouldn't feel comfortable playing less than 25, and I'd be more inclined to dismiss one-shot effects. With 72 cards currently in the list, I'm not too worried.
• Protection: Your commander will be like a lightning rod once your opponents realize how big he can become and how much value he can accrue.

Aside from these, there are a few other bits and pieces here and there that can be safely crammed into a Misc. category of their own.

Let's cut:

The savviest among you may have noticed I took care of adding Snow-Covered SwampSnow-Covered Swamps when trimming the land base. This is for a secret gem of mine I'll share in the next section.

In the meantime, the list is down to 110 cards, and there's still quite a bit of work to do.

Final Trim – Heart-Wrenching Choices

So, the final stretch, 10 more cards to cut. Well, actually, a bit more than that.

You see, when playing this fun little thing, I've found a couple outlets that are sorely missing here:

• Withering WispsWithering Wisps: The one and only reason I've added Snow-Covered Swamps in the list. It's a cheaper PestilencePestilence with no downsides.
• Essence HarvestEssence Harvest: A better FlingFling that doesn't require sacrificing a creature.

I would have loved to also add Rite of ConsumptionRite of Consumption, but sadly it's slightly above our price threshold.

Other finishers you could consider if you feel you're lacking ways to end the game include Stalking VengeanceStalking Vengeance, Surestrike TridentSurestrike Trident, and FiendlashFiendlash.

So, 12 cards to cut. As usual, there are no real bad choices left. Let's get to it:

• Big ScoreBig Score and Unexpected WindfallUnexpected Windfall: As much as I love both spells, they directly conflict with the Ob Nixilis costs to cast.
• Storm-Kiln ArtistStorm-Kiln Artist: Not enough instants and sorceries for it to be truly worth playing here.
• Zurzoth, Chaos RiderZurzoth, Chaos Rider: Fun, but I'm not a huge fan of the Devils needing to die for them to ping.
• Kardur, DoomscourgeKardur, Doomscourge: I love the card, but this is another way to lower the curve.
• Ob Nixilis, the Hate-TwistedOb Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted: I'd rather play Underworld DreamsUnderworld Dreams (too pricey). Five mana is a lot for this effect.
• Tibalt, Rakish InstigatorTibalt, Rakish Instigator: I'm still torn on this one, as lifegain decks are a pain to deal with. But protecting Tibalt is going to require lot of effort, and I believe these efforts are better used doing something else.
• Cinder PyromancerCinder Pyromancer: Costs three mana, targets only a single player, and the untap ability is cute but situational.
• Kaya's GhostformKaya's Ghostform: As much as I love this Aura, I'd rather use surprise effects to try and save Ob Nixilis.
• Oblivion StoneOblivion Stone: Too slow for my taste.
• BedevilBedevil and TerminateTerminate: There are several pingers already on the field, and this lowers the curve. And I simply don't want to cut anything else.

Can you believe this last section took me almost as much time as all of the rest combined?

At any rate, I give you:

Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin Commander Deck List

Additional Trim – A Look Into the Past

Before we part ways, let's have a look at a deck from way back. This time, Yenna, Redtooth RegentYenna, Redtooth Regent is back on the rack.

This one is a clear demonstration that getting cards a few weeks after their printing or reprinting is often the cheapest timing to acquire the cards you need.

A year and a half ago, all of these cards were below the $1.10 mark. Yet today...

• Thought VesselThought Vessel: $1.12
• Sram, Senior EdificerSram, Senior Edificer: $1.24
• Darksteel MutationDarksteel Mutation: $1.47
• Umbra MysticUmbra Mystic: $1.47
• Nature's LoreNature's Lore: $1.52
• Angelic DestinyAngelic Destiny: $1.59
• Reliquary TowerReliquary Tower: $1.96
• Daybreak CoronetDaybreak Coronet: $2.05
• Eidolon of BlossomsEidolon of Blossoms: $2.37
• Herald of the PantheonHerald of the Pantheon: $2.50
• RetetherRetether: $3.06 (!)
• Setessan ChampionSetessan Champion: $3.38 (!)
• Sanctum WeaverSanctum Weaver: $4.77 (!!)

And these are the prices noted after using Archidekt's optimization tool.

Let's try and find some suitable replacements :

• Fertile GroundFertile Ground and Utopia SprawlUtopia Sprawl: Decent Auras to make up for the lost ramp.
• Mesa EnchantressMesa Enchantress and Satyr EnchanterSatyr Enchanter: Sadly they don't trigger on ETBs, but still provide good value.
• Pearl-Ear, Imperial AdvisorPearl-Ear, Imperial Advisor: Another ramp outlet of sorts assorted with card draw, what's not to love?
• Timely WardTimely Ward: Flash protects your commander, and you can use it to protect something else thereafter.
• Buried in the GardenBuried in the Garden: Ramp and removal, which can be copied for maximum value.
• OssificationOssification: Cheap and efficient removal.
• Nyxborn BehemothNyxborn Behemoth: Massive beater that can easily gain indestructible. Also allows Yenna to retrigger on a previously copied Aura.
• Lion UmbraLion Umbra: Not quite as good as Daybreak CoronetDaybreak Coronet, but still pretty decent.
• LignifyLignify: A nasty way to punish too commander-centric builds.
• Indomitable MightIndomitable Might: Damage will come through.
• BrushlandBrushland and Sunpetal GroveSunpetal Grove: To up the land count to more reasonable heights.

You can find the updated list here. 

Conclusion

This has been a very fun one to brew, despite the last cards being a pain to cut. But hey, at least it's on theme.

Now I'd love to hear from you. Did you build Obby and how? Anything you feel is sorely missing?

And should the Trim series continue, or have you had enough?

Let me know this and more in the comments below, and I'll see you in two weeks!

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