Drainage by user1772185

Format: Commander

Commander: Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel

Bracket: 4

DeckCheck Threat Index: 44

Deck overview

This Orzhov deck combines aristocrat life-drain engines with punishing stax and mass land destruction under Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel. In the opening turns, the deck develops mana with artifacts, plays early disruptive pieces like Drannith Magistrate and Leonin Arbiter, and lays down redundant drain permanents such as Blood Artist and Cruel Celebrant. By Turn 5, Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel enters the battlefield, turning any life gain into massive card draw to assemble game-ending engines. The primary win condition leverages explosive card draw and life loss loops through Sheoldred, the Apocalypse, Bolas's Citadel, or Peer into the Abyss, converting card advantage into lethal drain via Ashnod's Altar and Zombie Infestation. Alternatively, the deck can establish hard lockouts using Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite alongside Maha, Its Feathers Night, or wipe opposing mana bases with Armageddon while protecting its own board with Avacyn, Angel of Hope or Teferi's Protection.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Al Bhed Salvagers
  • 1 Anointed Procession
  • 1 Approach of the Second Sun
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archaeomancer's Map
  • 1 Armageddon
  • 1 Arnyn, Deathbloom Botanist
  • 1 Ashnod's Altar
  • 1 Austere Command
  • 1 Avacyn, Angel of Hope
  • 1 Bastion of Remembrance
  • 1 Blood Artist
  • 1 Blood Tithe
  • 1 Bolas's Citadel
  • 1 Braids, Cabal Minion
  • 1 Cabal Ritual
  • 1 Catastrophe
  • 1 Cruel Celebrant
  • 1 Crypt Ghast
  • 1 Dark Ritual
  • 1 Deep Gnome Terramancer
  • 1 Demonic Tutor
  • 1 Desolation Angel
  • 1 Diabolic Tutor
  • 1 Dismember
  • 1 Doom Blade
  • 1 Drannith Magistrate
  • 1 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim
  • 1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
  • 1 Endless Ranks of the Dead
  • 1 Falkenrath Noble
  • 1 Funeral Room // Awakening Hall
  • 1 Grand Abolisher
  • 1 Grave Venerations
  • 1 Inkshield
  • 1 Leonin Arbiter
  • 1 Library of Leng
  • 1 Maha, Its Feathers Night
  • 1 Massacre Girl, Most Wanted
  • 1 Murder
  • 1 Nadier's Nightblade
  • 1 Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 1 Peer into the Abyss
  • 1 Phyrexian Arena
  • 1 Pious Evangel // Wayward Disciple
  • 13 Plains
  • 1 Renewed Faith
  • 1 Rhox Faithmender
  • 1 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
  • 1 Smothering Tithe
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Soul Warden
  • 1 Susurian Voidborn
  • 23 Swamp
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Teferi's Protection
  • 1 Temporal Extortion
  • 1 Teysa Karlov
  • 1 Vampiric Tutor
  • 1 Venerated Stormsinger
  • 1 Vengeful Bloodwitch
  • 1 Vindictive Vampire
  • 1 Worldslayer
  • 1 Zombie Infestation
  • 1 Zulaport Cutthroat