Usually spend the first few turns getting mana rocks or making land drops.
Save counters for cards you know will hurt you.
Hope to steal or copy the more powerful spells of your opponents.
You could always drop Niv and Consecrated then Reverberate Time Reversal.
There usually isnt a clear cut way the game will play out by the end.
This deck doesnt always win but it always gives an interesting experience.
Cards that once were:
Spreading Seas-It was only every used to get [card=thada adel, acquisitor]Thada Adel[card] to have someone to wing at but most people play islands anyway.
Temple Bell-I decided Jace beleran is a better version of this card. I cant really abuse it with Consecrated Sphinx because no one lets it live long enough.
Distant Memories-Often times this would be a "draw 3" spell or Id get a sol ring turn 7. Neither of those are really card advantage.
Isochrons Scepter-As the deck changed I would have less and less spells to stick on this thing and loosing a spell when someone destroys it isnt worth it.
Inkwell Leviathan-I used him as a wall. a lot of times I would draw him and wish it were a useful spell that I could use that turn.
Treasure Mage-It was a tutor for Inkwell leviathan and for caged sun. Slight Wizard sub-theme but usually a dead draw.
Manalith-Not a bad ramp spell but I dont need that many mana rocks.
Hoarding Dragon-He served the same purpose as treasure mage. But less useful.
Cloud Key-I thought having all opf my 1-drop artifacts for free would be good. This card is just not what I thought it would be however.
Pristine Talasmin-So bad. I cant believe I put it in a deck. If I wont run Manalith why the hell would i run this crap. (I can still say I've Tried it)
Molten Psyche-This card was never in my hand when I needed it. It wasnt as useful as I thought it would be since I hardly cast Niv anyways.
Obsidian Fireheart-Probably one of my favorite foils but just wasnt that great in the deck.
Guile-I dont run enough counterspells to make this guy worth it.
Serendib Sorcerer-Good for wizard sub-theme but felt underwhelming. I may give him another go.
Fatestitcher-It fit the wizards sub-theme for a while but it was always at such an awkward casting cost that it never fit my plays the way I wanted it too. He might come back though.
Sphinx of Uthuun-Not a bad card but I never really wanted to cast it. I had too much going on. I really should give this guy another go.
Radiate-Man this card is soo good but soo bad. I should give it another go but not until I get sick of something else in the deck.
Voidmage Husher-Not as useful as I thought. I have a hard time leaving mana for counters open as it is. I don't know if it will be back in again.
Supreme Exemplar-Was good in wizard tribal but the deck changed so I took him out. Might be back someday but not right now.
I am always happy to see a non-combo Niv deck. Props to you man for not giving in. I am surprise that you're not running the wheeleffects, or tolarian winds effects though. It can be a bit hard as to where to draw the line I guess. Mindmoil I find can be a bit over the top at times.
With such a wizard sub-theme as you run, you may want to look into Diviner's Wand as a nice equipment. It can also be scary as a general damage killcon with draw-7 type effects backing it up.
@bobthefunny: I'll be honest ive never heard of the wheel of fate. that might be added when I make an order this week. I think I ran winds of change at one point and I know I've run molten psyche and was disappointed but the deck has changed since then so who knows.
I have a foil mindmoil but I took it out since I didnt want the deck to be too inconsistant. I Keep wanting to put it back in though...
I actually stopped the tribal wizard theme but might pick it up again if I get bored with the current iteration. That being said, the wand looks awesome and Ill definitly have to pick one up.
And the best part is, all of those make Diviner's Wand go insane, and they all fuel you into more of them! (also, while brutally evil, none of them are actually infinite, though mindmoil is just about as bad)
Im not huge on the draw seven spells since I dont try casting Niv very often. He is more of a back up plan if I cant find draw spells and he becomes a target too quickly.
I too am a Niv-Mizzet fanatic. I have 7 EDH decks but this is my fave which is weird because I useually HATE blue. Since it is my fave deck, I have decided to pimp it as much as I can. My deck is similar to yours but also a lot different. Cards with (*) next to them are the ones I am trying to pimp more. Foils where available, FBB if not. Here's my list:
Very Nice! I actually have a question though, How do you like Chancellor of the Spires? I have considered puting him in the deck since he can recur some bomby spells but I dont want to get him and be disaapointed.
What do you usually find yourself recurring with him?
@zilant: I actually just added him and haven't played the deck with him in in yet. I will play it tonight. I am hoping I can replay WoF or Time Reversal with it. My groups has seen this deck work a few times too many so they hate on P. Crawler and Niv as soon as they see them hit. That's why I have so much protection (Greaves, Boots, Stealthsuit). I can win without those creatures, it's just a WHOLE lot harder.
@ DJtroll: Have you played with it? I keep wondering if I should replace one of my fatties with him. Im also considering having a go with djinn of wishes or Sphinx of Uthuun. Any experience with them?
I know what you mean about Niv, which is why I rarely cast him. He usually just ends up landing if I cant draw any of my draw spells.
Probably going to change some stuff around. I think I might get some better counterspells to replace cancel. Something like rewind, time stop, or dissipate.
@ Zilant: I actually ended up taking out the Chancellor because he's too expensive. I would use him to replay my Wheel of Fortune, Time Reversal, or Winds of Change but if that didn't kill everyone, I was left dead in the water. I have updated my deck a little and added more pimp. * denotes still needs pimping. Here's the newly revised deck:
There may or may not be a foil Shackles for sale on Cardshark. Just looking out.
It's not that I can't find them, I just can't afford them at this time. I would LOVE to trade for them if possible (esp the more expensive ones: V. Shackles, Misdirection, M. of Ith...). Thanks though.
I really want to put FoF sphinx back in here and give him another shot. Telemin Performance is very iffy a lot of the time. Great fun when it hits good stuff but I hate getting Tidehollow Strix.
I think Dissipation Field is terrible in EDH because of all the ETB effects flying around. It might even encourage people to attack you. I've always like Evacuation for "removal" in heavy blue decks.
Lastly, I think you should include more mana rocks, 3 doesn't seem like enough and you might get left behind during the mid-game. Also maybe a little more straight up card-drawing? I've always like Brainstorm, especially in Niv.
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My apologies, children, for I am afraid I cannot save you all.
I applaud the non-infinite route, but you could just remove Ulamog, and neither Curiosity nor Ophidian Eye would be able to go infinite, but a 1 shot could be pretty painful also I guess.
Thanks, I'm trying to break the stigma that Niv is only a combo General.
I keep Ulamog in there becasue Red and Blue have very little Enchantment removal and this is one of the few ways I can blow up things like Aceticism or Vicious Shadows.
So I pulled a foil Snap Caster Mage today at draft.
I would have never got Snap Caster just to pu thim in the deck but I figure since I got him by chance I'll try him out in Niv.
Anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do with him?
Or has he been pretty underwhelming for you guys?
I finally foiled out my entire deck. Many changes has happened to it since last time I posted it and is is a lean mean killing machine! Here's the current list:
So I pulled a foil Snap Caster Mage today at draft.
I would have never got Snap Caster just to pu thim in the deck but I figure since I got him by chance I'll try him out in Niv.
Anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do with him?
Or has he been pretty underwhelming for you guys?
Whatever your best spell is currently, Snappy is an extra copy of it. Extra wheel? done. Need a counterspell? done.
The Decklist
1 Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind
Lands 37
16 Islands
14 Mountains
1 Seat of Synod
1 Tolaria West
1 Cascade Bluffs*
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Steam Vents
1 Great Furnace
1 Sulfur Falls
Mana Rocks 3
1 Sol Ring
1 Darksteel Ingot
1 Izzet Signet
Counterspells 8
1 Counterspell*
1 Double Negative
1 Hinder
1 Muddle the Mixture (tutor)
1 Cryptic Command
1 Forbid
1 Last Word
1 Rewind
Tutors 3
1 Drift of Phantasms
1 Trinket Mage
1 Dizzy Spell
1 Tezzeret the Seeker (tutor)
1 Jace Beleren
1 Jace the Mind Sculptor
Copy/Steal Effects 9
1 Knowledge Exploitation*
1 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1 Bribery
1 Djinn Illumiatus
1 Acquire*
1 Thada Adel, Acquisitor
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Reverberate
1 Rite of Replication
Wizards 9
1 Dragon Mage
1 Lighthouse Chronologist
1 Azami, Lady of Scrolls
1 Graceful Adept
1 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
1 Magus of the Future
1 Snapcaster Mage
1 Supreme Inquisitor
1 Jace's Archivist
Draw/Filter Effects 5
1 Memory Jar
1 Elixer of Immortality
1 Time Reversal
1 Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
1 Mindmoil
1 Artisan of Kozilek
1 Izzet Chronarch
Bounce Effects 4
1 Capsize
1 Washout
1 Boomerang
1 Kederekt Leviathan
1 Tidespout Tyrant
Spot Removal 7
1 Shattering Spree
1 Pongify*
1 Vicious Shadows
1 Banefire
1 Spin Into Myth
1 Brittle Effigy
1 Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Board Wipes 2
1 Nevinyrral's Disk
1 Chain Reaction
Misc. Creatures 3
1 Consecrated Sphinx*
1 Inferno Titan
1 Sphinx of Uthuun
Misc. Artifacts/Enchantments 4
1 Leyline of Anticipation
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Basilisk Collar
1 Lightning Greaves*
What this deck does:
Usually spend the first few turns getting mana rocks or making land drops.
Save counters for cards you know will hurt you.
Hope to steal or copy the more powerful spells of your opponents.
You could always drop Niv and Consecrated then Reverberate Time Reversal.
There usually isnt a clear cut way the game will play out by the end.
This deck doesnt always win but it always gives an interesting experience.
Cards that once were:
Spreading Seas-It was only every used to get [card=thada adel, acquisitor]Thada Adel[card] to have someone to wing at but most people play islands anyway.
Temple Bell-I decided Jace beleran is a better version of this card. I cant really abuse it with Consecrated Sphinx because no one lets it live long enough.
Distant Memories-Often times this would be a "draw 3" spell or Id get a sol ring turn 7. Neither of those are really card advantage.
Isochrons Scepter-As the deck changed I would have less and less spells to stick on this thing and loosing a spell when someone destroys it isnt worth it.
Inkwell Leviathan-I used him as a wall. a lot of times I would draw him and wish it were a useful spell that I could use that turn.
Swiftfoot Boots-This was just a really bad Lightning Geaves.
Treasure Mage-It was a tutor for Inkwell leviathan and for caged sun. Slight Wizard sub-theme but usually a dead draw.
Manalith-Not a bad ramp spell but I dont need that many mana rocks.
Hoarding Dragon-He served the same purpose as treasure mage. But less useful.
Cloud Key-I thought having all opf my 1-drop artifacts for free would be good. This card is just not what I thought it would be however.
Pristine Talasmin-So bad. I cant believe I put it in a deck. If I wont run Manalith why the hell would i run this crap. (I can still say I've Tried it)
Molten Psyche-This card was never in my hand when I needed it. It wasnt as useful as I thought it would be since I hardly cast Niv anyways.
Obsidian Fireheart-Probably one of my favorite foils but just wasnt that great in the deck.
Guile-I dont run enough counterspells to make this guy worth it.
Valakut the Molten Pinnicle-This guy was cool while I had it but I decided to go with more mana fixing and less actual Mountains.
Cards I'm on the Fence with:
Fatestitcher-It fit the wizards sub-theme for a while but it was always at such an awkward casting cost that it never fit my plays the way I wanted it too. He might come back though.
Sphinx of Uthuun-Not a bad card but I never really wanted to cast it. I had too much going on. I really should give this guy another go.
Radiate-Man this card is soo good but soo bad. I should give it another go but not until I get sick of something else in the deck.
Voidmage Husher-Not as useful as I thought. I have a hard time leaving mana for counters open as it is. I don't know if it will be back in again.
Supreme Exemplar-Was good in wizard tribal but the deck changed so I took him out. Might be back someday but not right now.
Changelog:
10/06/2011
- Mountain
- Valaku the Molten pinnicle
+Great Furnace
+ Sulfur Falls
11/20/2011
-Telemin Performance
+Sphinx of Uthuun
RBUThraximundarUBRRUNiv-Mizzet, the FiremindUR
BWGhost Council of OrzhovaWBWUBRGChild of AlaraGRBUW
WBRKaalia of the VastRBWGBSapling of ColfenorGB
With such a wizard sub-theme as you run, you may want to look into Diviner's Wand as a nice equipment. It can also be scary as a general damage killcon with draw-7 type effects backing it up.
Retired EDH - Tibor and Lumia | [PR]Nemata |Ramirez dePietro | [C]Edric | Riku | Jenara | Lazav | Heliod | Daxos | Roon | Kozilek
I have a foil mindmoil but I took it out since I didnt want the deck to be too inconsistant. I Keep wanting to put it back in though...
I actually stopped the tribal wizard theme but might pick it up again if I get bored with the current iteration. That being said, the wand looks awesome and Ill definitly have to pick one up.
RBUThraximundarUBRRUNiv-Mizzet, the FiremindUR
BWGhost Council of OrzhovaWBWUBRGChild of AlaraGRBUW
WBRKaalia of the VastRBWGBSapling of ColfenorGB
A player at my playgroup runs a Niv deck that has: wheel of fortune, wheel of fate, mindmoil (and I hate it), both Jar effects, tolarian winds, whirlpool rider, whirlpool drake, whirlpool warrior, and molten psyche. With Psychosis Crawler as a backup.
I'm sure you can detect his theme. I haven't mentioned it to him yet, but soratami seer and credit voucher both fit into that playstyle well.
Add Past in Flames for a second round of all the fun stuff.
Add communal draw effects like temple bell, mikokoro, center of the sea, font of mythos, howling mine, and/or sky scribing to help get to the pieces faster and boost the molten psyche damage.
Cerebral Vortex can also hit hard after a draw 7 effect.
And the best part is, all of those make Diviner's Wand go insane, and they all fuel you into more of them! (also, while brutally evil, none of them are actually infinite, though mindmoil is just about as bad)
EDIT: add Temporal Cascade to the list of draw 7's. (also Sway of the Stars, diminishing returns, time reversal, time spiral*, timetwister*)
*(if you're rich)
Retired EDH - Tibor and Lumia | [PR]Nemata |Ramirez dePietro | [C]Edric | Riku | Jenara | Lazav | Heliod | Daxos | Roon | Kozilek
RBUThraximundarUBRRUNiv-Mizzet, the FiremindUR
BWGhost Council of OrzhovaWBWUBRGChild of AlaraGRBUW
WBRKaalia of the VastRBWGBSapling of ColfenorGB
Ive decided Valakut isnt worth the effor in this deck.
RBUThraximundarUBRRUNiv-Mizzet, the FiremindUR
BWGhost Council of OrzhovaWBWUBRGChild of AlaraGRBUW
WBRKaalia of the VastRBWGBSapling of ColfenorGB
I collect pre-release Stone-Tongue Basilisk
Very Nice! I actually have a question though, How do you like Chancellor of the Spires? I have considered puting him in the deck since he can recur some bomby spells but I dont want to get him and be disaapointed.
What do you usually find yourself recurring with him?
RBUThraximundarUBRRUNiv-Mizzet, the FiremindUR
BWGhost Council of OrzhovaWBWUBRGChild of AlaraGRBUW
WBRKaalia of the VastRBWGBSapling of ColfenorGB
I collect pre-release Stone-Tongue Basilisk
I know what you mean about Niv, which is why I rarely cast him. He usually just ends up landing if I cant draw any of my draw spells.
RBUThraximundarUBRRUNiv-Mizzet, the FiremindUR
BWGhost Council of OrzhovaWBWUBRGChild of AlaraGRBUW
WBRKaalia of the VastRBWGBSapling of ColfenorGB
Probably going to change some stuff around. I think I might get some better counterspells to replace cancel. Something like rewind, time stop, or dissipate.
I also am thinking about taking out Steel Hellkite.
RBUThraximundarUBRRUNiv-Mizzet, the FiremindUR
BWGhost Council of OrzhovaWBWUBRGChild of AlaraGRBUW
WBRKaalia of the VastRBWGBSapling of ColfenorGB
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Psychosis Crawler
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Spellskite
1 Clone
1 Consecrated Sphinx
1 Fog Bank
1 Gilded Drake
1 Jace's Archivist
1 Magus of the Jar
1 Mulldrifter
1 Thieving Magpie
1 Whirlpool Drake
1 Kami of the Crescent Moon
NONCREATURES
1 Windfall
1 Feldon's Cane
1 Font of Mythos
1 Howling Mine
1 Ivory Tower
1 Nevinyrral's Disk
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Sol Ring
1 Temple Bell
1 Vedalken Shackles
1 Venser's Journal
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Neurok Stealthsuit
1 Swiftfoot Boots
1 Mana Flare
1 Rhystic Study
1 Trade Routes
1 Treachery
1 Beacon of Destruction
1 Boomerang
1 Ideas Unbound
1 Comet Storm
1 Cryptic Command
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Force of Will
1 Fire//Ice
1 Misdirection
1 Quicken
1 Reverberate
1 Snap
1 Snapback
1 Starstorm
1 Twincast
1 Urza's Rage
1 Withdraw
1 Words of Wisdom
1 Ancestral Vision
1 Banefire
1 Blatant Thievery
1 Devil's Play
1 Incendiary Command
1 Insurrection
1 Invoke the Firemind
1 Mind Spring
1 Molten Psyche
1 Recurring Insight
1 Time Reversal
1 Time Spiral
1 Wash Out
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 Winds of Change
9 Island
8 Mountain
1 Command Tower
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Maze of Ith
1 Mystifying Maze
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Strip Mine
1 Sulfur Falls
1 Thawing Glaciers
1 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
1 Steam Vents
1 Volcanic Island
1 Academy Ruins
1 Mikokoro, Center of the Sea
1 Glacial Chasm
I collect pre-release Stone-Tongue Basilisk
There may or may not be a foil Shackles for sale on Cardshark. Just looking out.
EDH:
:symb::symb::symb: The Horde! :symb::symb::symb:
Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter
Dralnu- Dimir Snap!
:symwu::symur::symrw: Zedruu the Greathearted :symrw::symur::symwu:
:symwu::symub::symwb: Zur the Enchanter :symwb::symub::symwu:
Kumano, Master Yamabushi
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
It's not that I can't find them, I just can't afford them at this time. I would LOVE to trade for them if possible (esp the more expensive ones: V. Shackles, Misdirection, M. of Ith...). Thanks though.
I collect pre-release Stone-Tongue Basilisk
RBUThraximundarUBRRUNiv-Mizzet, the FiremindUR
BWGhost Council of OrzhovaWBWUBRGChild of AlaraGRBUW
WBRKaalia of the VastRBWGBSapling of ColfenorGB
Spell Crumple > Cancel.
Koth of the Hammer doesn't seem that useful here.
Reiterate seems better than Reverberate, despite costing a little more.
I think Dissipation Field is terrible in EDH because of all the ETB effects flying around. It might even encourage people to attack you. I've always like Evacuation for "removal" in heavy blue decks.
Lastly, I think you should include more mana rocks, 3 doesn't seem like enough and you might get left behind during the mid-game. Also maybe a little more straight up card-drawing? I've always like Brainstorm, especially in Niv.
Koth doesn't really have a purpose but I don't really know what I want to add instead of him.
The only reason I don't have Reiterate in here is becasue I haven't found a foil one.
Dissipation Field is a way for me to get Niv in my hand if someone tries to Wrath.
The mana rocks is definitely a possibility. I just have to find some foil ones.
I was thinking of cutting Artisan of Kozilek becasue my targets arent all that great. Plus at 9 Mana it's a huge investment...
RBUThraximundarUBRRUNiv-Mizzet, the FiremindUR
BWGhost Council of OrzhovaWBWUBRGChild of AlaraGRBUW
WBRKaalia of the VastRBWGBSapling of ColfenorGB
RBUThraximundarUBRRUNiv-Mizzet, the FiremindUR
BWGhost Council of OrzhovaWBWUBRGChild of AlaraGRBUW
WBRKaalia of the VastRBWGBSapling of ColfenorGB
EDH Decks:
B Toshiro Umezawa B
W Mikaeus, the Lunarch W
G Azusa, Lost but Seeking G
UB Grimgrin, Corpse-Born BU
BGU The Mimeoplasm UGB
GUW Rubinia Soulsinger WUG
GRB Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper BRG
I keep Ulamog in there becasue Red and Blue have very little Enchantment removal and this is one of the few ways I can blow up things like Aceticism or Vicious Shadows.
RBUThraximundarUBRRUNiv-Mizzet, the FiremindUR
BWGhost Council of OrzhovaWBWUBRGChild of AlaraGRBUW
WBRKaalia of the VastRBWGBSapling of ColfenorGB
I would have never got Snap Caster just to pu thim in the deck but I figure since I got him by chance I'll try him out in Niv.
Anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do with him?
Or has he been pretty underwhelming for you guys?
RBUThraximundarUBRRUNiv-Mizzet, the FiremindUR
BWGhost Council of OrzhovaWBWUBRGChild of AlaraGRBUW
WBRKaalia of the VastRBWGBSapling of ColfenorGB
I collect pre-release Stone-Tongue Basilisk
Whatever your best spell is currently, Snappy is an extra copy of it. Extra wheel? done. Need a counterspell? done.
Wish I had one.
Retired EDH - Tibor and Lumia | [PR]Nemata |Ramirez dePietro | [C]Edric | Riku | Jenara | Lazav | Heliod | Daxos | Roon | Kozilek