EDH Tech: A Few Notions For Notion Thief

Today Zoners I bring you fun interactions with my good friend Notion Thief. I have put to the test 5 combinations in realistic scenarios that Notion Thief makes all the better (or Worse) for you.

Combo 1. Notion Thief + Teferi's Puzzle Box

This particular interaction leverages Hand Advantage in a  brutal way. With both of these in play and during your opponents draw phase they will draw a card, then put all cards from their hand on the bottom of their library while you draw how many they put onto the bottom. The power of the Puzzle Box is increased by eliminating player's hands of answers, removal, lands and bombs.

In game this can be taken care of as soon as your opponent gets a chance to counter, or during their turn remove it with a sorcery. If you put Notion Thief out too soon he might get removed as well. This is where his "Flash" ability comes into play, playing Teferi's Puzzle Box out then saving lands or mana rocks to flash him in can cause some devastating effects that your opponent will watch out for in the future.

Obviously there is a drawback to this combination, either when it comes to your turn and you have no means to pop the Box back into your hand. (Blood Clock/Umbilicus, Master Transmuter, and Esperzoa to name a few) or your Notion Thief gets ironically stolen from you and you suffer the same pain you put your other players through, but the good news is that if you can't remove the Box you will cycle a hefty amount of cards from your hand to the library and draw just as much. I Strongly suggest Reliquary Tower.

Item 2. Notion Thief + Nin, The Pain Artist

This won't do what Nin can do with Stuffy Doll, but think of the benefits here- burning your opponent's creatures, then netting the card draw because of Notion Thief. As long as the said creature has no protection or hexproof creature removal for U/B/R with card draw is a real thing. Not to mention you have no limit besides your mana base on how many you draw seeing as what every you paid "x" for is draw.

Obviously adding 'punisher' cards for drawing or equipment to Nin to add to the effect such as Lifelink to gain life while you draw thats nice but let's keep this simple.



Item 3. Notion Thief + Forced Fruition

Rhystic Study? Please, This unholy union is the bee's knees, just don't get too carried away. First Damia then Jin-Gitaxias, and now this little combo all grant 7 or more cards in your hand but there is more to this than meets the eye.

Control is the name of the game here folks, and the key is the word "Cast" in the rules text of FF. Esper loves control and being responsive to plays. So here's how it works, Your opponent casts a spell, if NT is out you draw 7 and have an opportunity to Counter that spell assuming you draw one, but the other side of the coin is intimidation. If your playgroup knows what your deck does they may either remove FF, NT or just not play a spell unless extremely necessary.

The way i had fun with this combination specifically was with Psychosis Crawler, who for each spell i was netting 7 cards and spreading 7 hits of damage.

Be careful though, this combination is dangerous, if you come across a player that spams spells you can run out of cards soon, at 6cmc for FF to come out thats practically turn 6, and you have been though 12 or 13 cards if your playing multiplayer. 10 spells from then puts you at 82-83 cards due to the enchantments MUST ability. I'd run Elixir of Immortality or have Laboratory Manic.

Item 4. Notion Thief + Consecrated Sphinx

This, Is a dangerous union and it's actually something you have to watch out for.

Why? At first glance this would make for a great use of Notion Thief, hell I even got giddy at the idea of shutting down the Sphinx  players fun. Upon second glance this is your death sentence because once your opponent nets that "... may draw two cards.", they will, but you will and the cycle goes forever until your dead.

The fact that C.Sphinx is so common in EDH makes playing Notion Thief a strategic play v.s. the combo piece that waits to be used. Save a kill spell or steal for this guy unless you want to draw yourself to death. Also a Switcheroo works great too.

Item 5. Notion Thief + "Discard & Draw" or "Windfall" Cards

Each Player discards their hand then draws, wait I'm sorry... I mean I draw my discarded cards, then  for each of my opponents' cards they discarded *evil laugh* *get punched in the face*. Needless to say, this is a good way to make the table angry, (as if Teferi's Box isn't bad enough) just be sure to have a plan when you make the table loose their hand.

Other great choices like Arcane Denial, Burning Inquiry, Jace Beleren, or Oblation make themselves more appealing with Notion Thief to make Removal, Counters, Group Draw less beneficial, and more selfish after all, Dimir prides itself above all others for its knowledge.

Closing up here I'd like to say that all of these worked out amazing for me and my playgroup. Some, Like Teferi's Box, and Windfall made me target number one, while Forced Fruition and Nin made for more casual fun and in light combination made for fun interactions. It all comes down to your playgroup and what they enjoy playing against. Remeber, if your not having fun your not playing EDH right :).

Till next time Zoners, remember your Reliquary Tower and don't deck out unless you mean to!

- Johnny C.