I think it's kind of funny that most people are going for Niv2.
Niv1 has a bad reputation for just combo-killing people, and though it seems rare not everyone plays combo with Niv. I for one just threw a Basilisk Collar on him for a bunch of free removal spells, which blue/red needs. Old Niv seems better at getting in some damage than New Niv, solely because it's easier to draw cards in blue than to spew out a bunch of mana to draw.
Niv 2 seems more open to playing a Draw-go game. What with the whole "EOT lets deal some damage and draw some cards." While i no longer get free removal spells with a Basilisk Collar, He also doesn't have the bad reputation of the old niv. He seems more like a win condition than a draw engine, while old Niv always seemed like more of a draw engine.
As of now, i'd say they're about equal. I haven't played Dracogenius yet, so i can't really give an answer on which one i think is better. I think it just depends on your play style.
Firemind hands down, the new niv mizzet has crappy flavor text, and the art looks weird. The new niv is just... blah. Either get a ton of mana or smack them in the face. The old niv had a ton of possibilities. This one is just..... poop.
I agree. We should all only play g/x decks because they are the most objectively fun and anyone who disagrees does not know the truth about EDH. Everyone should just play their decks because interaction beyond high fiving about how many land are in play is unfun and equivalent to casting Stasis while kicking puppies. I for one will never play with anyone who casts tutors, removal spells, blue cards, things I arbitrarily decide I don't like but will probably cast myself later.
Also because the word "dracogenius" is absolutely ****ing hilarious.
Rakdos has the market cornered on terrible puns, but the Izzet are in the business of smashing words together into ridiculous portmanteaus. Vacuumelt! Wee Dragonauts! Mizzium Transreliquat!
Thing is, even if you refrain from putting those cards in your deck, Firemind is already stereotyped as being a combo general. Unless your playgroup is very knowledgeable about how your deck is built, you will still receive the same amount of hate that you would if you did have Curiosity and pals in the 99.
Whats stopping you from telling your opponents that *gasp* your not running any combos!! The thing is you are still playing U/R so, if you are worried about hate you should probably pick another color combo.
I'm running Riku, and people actually ignore me. Although that's coz I typically have no board presence. (A full hand of spells, and plenty of untapped mana, but no board presence)
With Dracogenius I feel like they took all of the cool flavor and awesomeness of firemind and made them worse. I would be fine if WotC fixed the combotastic parts of niv if they did something besides give him basically the same abilities, but worse.
Cool thread, I'm making my first commander deck and I was looking at the two. I think dracogenius is light years ahead if you remove the curiosity/ophidian eye combo.
That being said Keranos is probably the third card in this group now. He functions as either a 3ping or a 1draw each turn. Not as good as dracogenius perhaps but he is also indestructible. I would make the argument that any deck build around dracogenius can have Keranos substituted in without any issue.
I'm not sure what will work better of the two. Time to playtest I guess
Thread is super old so I am going to lock this one up. If you would like to start a new discussion on a similar principal feel free to start up a new thread for it.
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I have officially moved to MTGNexus. I just wanted to let people know as my response time to salvation decks being bumped is very hit or miss.
Niv1 has a bad reputation for just combo-killing people, and though it seems rare not everyone plays combo with Niv. I for one just threw a Basilisk Collar on him for a bunch of free removal spells, which blue/red needs. Old Niv seems better at getting in some damage than New Niv, solely because it's easier to draw cards in blue than to spew out a bunch of mana to draw.
Niv 2 seems more open to playing a Draw-go game. What with the whole "EOT lets deal some damage and draw some cards." While i no longer get free removal spells with a Basilisk Collar, He also doesn't have the bad reputation of the old niv. He seems more like a win condition than a draw engine, while old Niv always seemed like more of a draw engine.
As of now, i'd say they're about equal. I haven't played Dracogenius yet, so i can't really give an answer on which one i think is better. I think it just depends on your play style.
WBG Karador, Ghost Chieftain
B Toshiro Umezawa
BG Pharika, God of Affliction - Necromancy and Politics
WWW The Church of Heliod
WBR Zurgo, Helmsmasher
RG Wort, the Raidmother
UBR Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge
UG Vorel of the Hull Clade
The Firemind has huge combo potential and can consistently draw cards without using mana.
Dracogenius can swing AND draw a card, and can turn excess mana into card draw and damage - something that draw-go desperately needs.
Overall I like Dracogenius better because he's independent. As a stand-alone general, he is strong.
In the overall scheme of things, with combos allowed, Firemind is better.
Also because the word "dracogenius" is absolutely ****ing hilarious.
Rakdos has the market cornered on terrible puns, but the Izzet are in the business of smashing words together into ridiculous portmanteaus. Vacuumelt! Wee Dragonauts! Mizzium Transreliquat!
R Citizen Cane (Feldon of the Third Path)
Whats stopping you from telling your opponents that *gasp* your not running any combos!! The thing is you are still playing U/R so, if you are worried about hate you should probably pick another color combo.
That being said Keranos is probably the third card in this group now. He functions as either a 3ping or a 1draw each turn. Not as good as dracogenius perhaps but he is also indestructible. I would make the argument that any deck build around dracogenius can have Keranos substituted in without any issue.
I'm not sure what will work better of the two. Time to playtest I guess
Thread is super old so I am going to lock this one up. If you would like to start a new discussion on a similar principal feel free to start up a new thread for it.
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[Modern] Allies