Very soon after MH3 came out, it became quite apparent that Nadu, Winged Wisdom was going to be a problem. In Modern, being able to pair Nadu with Shuko proved to be both incredibly strong and a rather unfun play experience. Games could take quite a while, since winning the game this way was not deterministic (not an infinite combo or loop that can be shortcut).
This resulted in Nadu getting banned not just in Modern, but also in Commander. MTG head designer Mark Rosewater later even admitted the card was a design mistake.
Even so, players are still able to utilize the card in Legacy. The deck isn’t anywhere near as oppressive in Legacy as it was in Modern or Commander, but that doesn’t mean it can’t put up elite results.
Not only did it win a Magic Online Legacy Challenge this weekend, but it also may be receiving an upgrade in MTG Foundations Jumpstart! Before we look at the Jumpstart card with Legacy potential in Nadu combo and beyond, though, we first need to take a closer look at how the Bant Nadu deck in Legacy is constructed.
Nadu as a Value Engine
- Mana Value: 1GU
- Rarity: Rare
- Stats: 3/4
- MTG Sets: Modern Horizons 3
- Card Text: Flying. Creatures you control have “Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, reveal the top card of your library. If it’s a land card, put it onto the battlefield. Otherwise, put it into your hand. This ability triggers only twice each turn.”
As you might expect, the main goal is to find and resolve Nadu and pair it with ways to repeatedly target your creatures for free. To help you get Nadu to stick, Delighted Halfling is an excellent tool. Not only does it accelerate you towards a turn two Nadu if you play it turn one, but it also makes it uncounterable. In a format dominated by Daze and Force of Will, this is huge upside.
With regards to digging for Nadu, Green Sun’s Zenith is the perfect card. What makes Green Sun’s Zenith so strong is that, beyond reliably tutoring up Nadu, it can also find you Bristly Bill, Spine Sower or Sylvan Safekeeper once you have Nadu rolled up.
Both Bristly Bill and Sylvan Safekeeper can repeatedly target your creatures for free, triggering Nadu. Sylvan Safekeeper protects Nadu from removal, while Bristly Bill continues to grow your creatures as you put more lands into play with Nadu. This can enable a massive attack.
Notably, Green Sun’s Zenith cannot grab Nomads en-Kor, which is the main engine piece this deck utilizes. You’ll find a full playset of Nomads en-Kor and Nadu in pretty much every Bant Nadu decklist. Nomads en-Kor fills the same role as Shuko in Modern, except it’s a creature itself. So, you can use Nomad’s zero mana ability to target itself and trigger Nadu as well.
Interestingly, you won’t find any copies of Thassa’s Oracle here. This deck isn’t really built like an all-in combo deck. Your fully capable of playing a more controlling role in some matchups with Swords to Plowshares, Force of Will, and cantrips, while using Nadu as a value engine. In most games, using Nomads and Nadu to draw a bunch of cards will be enough to win.
A New Potential Tool
- Mana Value: 1G
- Rarity: Rare
- Stats: 2/2
- MTG Sets: Foundations Jumpstart
- Card Text: Trample. Landfall– Whenever a land you control enters, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. If this is the second time this ability has resolved this turn, double the number of +1/+1 counters on that creature instead.
This brings us to the tool from Foundations Jumpstart that may actually have some legs in Legacy. That card is none other than Scythecat Cub. Scythecat Cub is a really sweet card that has a lot of similarities to Bristly Bill. After all, both cards let you distribute counters among your creatures whenever one of your lands enters the battlefield.
As such, both cards help the combo aspect of Bant Nadu. However, there are some key differences betwen the two that may help Scythecat Cub earn a spot over Bristly Bill.
First, Scythecat Cub’s counter doubling ability does not require any mana input. As such, Scythecat Cub is a scarier card in games where you aren’t able to stick Nadu. Alongside Fetchlands, triggering Landfall twice in a turn is easy. If you start doubling the counters on Scythecat Cub itself, you’re able to threaten a ton of damage very quickly.
This brings us to the next point: Trample matters. Against opposing creature decks, Scythecat Cub has a much easier time connecting. Once again, this makes it a much stronger individual threat.
There’s also a benefit to consider playing multiple copies because the card isn’t legendary. This means that they work incredibly well together. Imagine you have a creature with a few +1/+1 counters on it.
Now, you jam a second copy of Scythecat Cub, then play and crack a Fetchland. You get to put counters on a creature, double that number, then double that number again. Soon enough, you’ll have a lethal, evasive threat.
If you needed any extra upside, Scythecat is immune to Karakas. This helps make it easier to close games when you don’t have access to Sylvan Safekeeper.
Scythecat Cub in Other Shells
- Mana Value: 2C (two generic and a colorless)
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Stats: 2/2
- MTG Sets: Modern Horizons 3
- Card Text: Whenever you cast a colorless spell, create a 0/1 colorless Eldrazi Spawn creature token with “Sacrifice this creature: Add colorless.” Whenever another colorless creature enters the battlefield under your control, Glaring Fleshraker deals 1 damage to each opponent.
As much as Scythecat Cub synergizes with Nadu, Bant Nadu isn’t the only archetype that could run this type of card. Another deck that could easily have some interest is Cradle control. With access to Elvish Reclaimer and Wight of the Reliquary, you’re bound to trigger Landfall plenty of times.
At minimum, Scythecat Cub can function like a big Tarmogoyf-style creature with a higher ceiling. This alone might not be too interesting, but the Trample puts it over the top.
According to Cradle control enthusiast Newton Hang, this card has a lot of appeal, especially versus Eldrazi. One area of difficulty the Cradle control deck can have is attacking past a hoard of Eldrazi Spawn created by Glaring Fleshraker. Scythecat Cub makes this trivial. Simply tutor it up with Green Sun’s Zenith and go to town.
I’m excited to see this card in action. Every now and again, supplemental sets feature some cards with Eternal format potential, and Scythecat Cub fits the bill. It may just be from Foundations Jumpstart, but don’t sleep on it. This creature packs a big punch.