Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted — ruling 1

If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Ob Nixilis's last ability tries to resolve, the ability doesn't resolve. No player draws two cards. If the target is legal but not destroyed (most likely because it has indestructible), its controller does draw two cards.

Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted — ruling 2

If Ob Nixilis leaves the battlefield before his last ability resolves, most likely because he only had 2 loyalty when you activated the ability, his first ability won't exist to trigger when the creature's controller draws two cards.

Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted 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 an opponent draws a card, Ob Nixilis deals 1 damage to that player. −2: Destroy target creature. Its controller draws two cards.

Complete guide

Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted is a menacing presence on the battlefield, punishing opponents for the simple act of drawing cards. This legendary planeswalker turns your opponent's resources against them, offering both removal and consistent incremental damage. Use his power wisely to grind your enemies down while clearing their board of threats.

The Mechanics of Hatred

Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted features a static ability that triggers whenever an opponent draws a card, dealing 1 damage to them. His activated loyalty ability allows you to destroy a creature at the cost of giving its controller two cards. While giving cards away sounds dangerous, the static ability ensures they take 2 damage in the process, making it a lethal trade-off.

Step-by-Step Resolution

When you activate the -2 ability, you first choose a target creature. Upon resolution, the creature is destroyed. If it was a legal target, its controller then draws two cards. Crucially, if the creature has indestructible, it isn't destroyed, but the controller still draws the cards. However, if the creature becomes an illegal target before resolution (for example, by gaining hexproof), the entire ability fails and no cards are drawn.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake involves timing. If Ob Nixilis starts at 2 loyalty and you use his -2 ability, he is put into the graveyard as a state-based action before the ability resolves. Because he is no longer on the battlefield when the opponent draws those two cards, his static ability will not trigger, and the opponent will take no damage from that specific draw.

When to Deploy

Play Ob Nixilis when you can benefit from the damage clock or need to remove a high-threat creature that you can't handle otherwise. He is particularly effective against decks that draw many cards naturally, as he doubles as a win condition and a removal piece.

Interaction examples

Dealing with Colorless Threats

Ugin, the Ineffable

Your opponent controls Ugin, the Ineffable and a 2/2 Spirit token. You cannot use Ob Nixilis to destroy Ugin because his -2 ability targets creatures, not planeswalkers. However, you can destroy the Spirit token. The token's controller will draw two cards from Ob Nixilis, taking 2 damage, and also receive the face-down card exiled by Ugin's +1 ability, dealing a total of 3 damage.

Strategic Sacrifice

Liliana, Dreadhorde General

You have Liliana, Dreadhorde General on the battlefield and your opponent has a creature. If you use Ob Nixilis's -2 to destroy your own creature, Liliana's static ability triggers, allowing you to draw a card. Then, as the controller of the destroyed creature, you draw two more cards. Since you are the one drawing, Ob Nixilis's static ability does not trigger, and you take no damage.

Handling Indestructible Creatures

If you target a creature with indestructible using Ob Nixilis's -2 ability, the creature stays on the battlefield. Because the target was still legal, the second part of the ability still occurs: the creature's controller draws two cards and subsequently takes 2 damage from the static ability.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1May 3, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Ob Nixilis's last ability tries to resolve, the ability doesn't resolve. No player draws two cards. If the target is legal but not destroyed (most likely because it has indestructible), its controller does draw two cards.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2May 3, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
If Ob Nixilis leaves the battlefield before his last ability resolves, most likely because he only had 2 loyalty when you activated the ability, his first ability won't exist to trigger when the creature's controller draws two cards.
No other card is named in this ruling.