"Nix" is a blue instant spell printed as a rare for the Magic the Gathering expansion set known as "Future Sight." This is perhaps the only spell let alone instant spell created to deal with cards that have a mana cost of zero or cards that were cast without paying any mana. If that is the case, then Nix could possibly be a handy card on hand. With that said, you would want to have Nix as a sideboard until you know whether or not your opponents have means to cast spells without paying for the mana.

The converted mana cost for Nix is one. You will need one blue mana in order to play Nix. For what Nix can do, paying one mana is pretty reasonable enough for the most part. Keep in mind that Nix is an instant spell and that you can play it at any given time during the game.

What does Nix do in the first place?

When Nix is cast, you counter a target spell if no mana was spent to cast it. At first, this could be looked down upon as there are not that many spells with a zero casting cost. However, there are still methods in order to cast spells without having to pay their respective mana costs. So far, Nix is not legal in the standard format due to Future Sight being phased out long ago. However, you can still use it in most of the other formats such as extended.

In an extended format, Nix could come in handy against the "Maelstrom Archangel." Whenever Maelstrom Archangel deals combat damage to another play, its controller may cast a nonland card from his/her hand without paying the mana cost. Should that happen, you can go ahead and play Nix. Nix will counter that spell since no mana was spent to cast it.

This is also good to use against cards with Suspend. As soon as those Exiled cards have no more time counters, they can be cast without spending mana. In this respect, you can use Nix to counter those spells. It is something that would neutralize the ability of "Jhoira of the Ghitu."

Nix can also be used against cards with the Cascade ability. Cascade causes players to search their libraries for a nonland card that costs less than the card that was just played. Those cards can be cast without paying the mana cost.

You can use Nix against spells such as "Intervention Pact," "Pact of Negation," "Pact of the Titan," "Slaughter Pact," and so forth. You can use Nix against "Mox Diamond," "Mox Jet," "Mox Pearl," "Mox Jet," and so forth.

If you are going up against an opponent that has the means to cast spells without paying any mana, you should combine Nix with "Isochron Scepter" to make a "Nix on a Stick." You Exile Nix from the game and imprint it onto the Isochron Scepter. You pay two mana to tap Ischron Scepter to Nix a spell that used no mana to spend. Overall, Nix is interesting provided it is used as a sideboard. If you are going up against an opponent that has the ability to spend no mana to cast spells, definitely have Nix on hand.

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