Nemesis of Reason is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Whenever this creature attacks, defending player mills ten cards.
Complete guide
Nemesis of Reason is a terrifying Leviathan Horror that puts your opponent on a very short clock by devouring their library. Unlike many mill cards that scale with damage, this creature triggers its devastating effect just by being declared as an attacker. Whether or not it survives combat, the damage to the opponent's deck is already done.
How the Trigger Works
Nemesis of Reason features a triggered ability that begins with the word 'Whenever.' This ability triggers at the moment you declare it as an attacking creature during the 'Declare Attackers' step. Crucially, the milling happens regardless of whether the creature is blocked, destroyed, or removed from combat after the trigger has been placed on the stack.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, you enter the combat phase and move to the declare attackers step. You choose Nemesis of Reason to attack an opponent or a planeswalker they control. The ability is placed on the stack, and the defending player may respond with spells or abilities. Once the ability resolves, the defending player mills ten cards. Only after this resolution do you move to the 'Declare Blockers' step.
Important Rulings
If the defending player has fewer than ten cards remaining in their library when the ability resolves, they simply put their entire library into their graveyard. Note that a player does not lose the game immediately upon having zero cards in their library; they only lose the next time they are required to draw a card and cannot do so.
Strategic Timing
Because the ability triggers on attack, you benefit from Nemesis of Reason even if your opponent has a massive board of blockers. It is often worth attacking even into a trade, as milling ten cards represents roughly one-fourth to one-sixth of a typical deck, potentially removing their key win conditions or combo pieces before they can be drawn.
Interaction examples
Roaming ThroneIf you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Horror' or 'Leviathan' chosen as the creature type, Nemesis of Reason will trigger an additional time when it attacks. This results in the defending player milling twenty cards total—ten for the original trigger and ten for the additional trigger.
Solemn SimulacrumSuppose your opponent has only nine cards left in their library. You attack with Nemesis of Reason. The ability resolves and they mill all nine cards. If they then block Nemesis of Reason with Solemn Simulacrum and the Simulacrum dies, its 'draw a card' ability triggers. Because they have no cards left to draw, they will lose the game immediately when the Simulacrum's ability resolves.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Nemesis of Reason
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If the defending player has fewer than ten cards in their library, that player's entire library is put into their graveyard.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Nemesis of Reason
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