Death, Taxes, and Card Advantage by FaithfulFailure

Format: Commander

Commander: Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel

Bracket: 4

DeckCheck Threat Index: 63

Deck overview

This deck is a focused Orzhov Lifegain Combo build designed to convert lifegain and life-drain synergies into deterministic, game-ending loops. Helmed by Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel, the deck functions as a potent draw and drain outlet in the command zone, while the 99 is saturated with interchangeable pieces of the classic Exquisite Blood and Sanguine Bond style infinite combos. Backed by efficient mana rocks like Sol Ring and Mana Vault, the deck quickly ramps into early engine pieces such as Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose, Starscape Cleric, or Enduring Tenacity. It then utilizes premier black and white tutors to find complementary finishers like Bloodthirsty Conqueror or Exquisite Blood. Outstanding protective elements like Grand Abolisher and Ranger-Captain of Eos ensure the winning turn cannot be interrupted, while passive taxes and versatile removal disrupt opponents along the way.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Aetherflux Reservoir
  • 1 Alhammarret's Archive
  • 1 Ancient Tomb
  • 1 Anguished Unmaking
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archivist of Oghma
  • 1 Authority of the Consuls
  • 1 Black Market Connections
  • 1 Blind Obedience
  • 1 Bloodchief Ascension
  • 1 Bloodstained Mire
  • 1 Bloodthirsty Conqueror
  • 1 Bojuka Bog
  • 1 Bolas's Citadel
  • 1 Cabal Coffers
  • 1 Caves of Koilos
  • 1 Children of Korlis
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Crypt Ghast
  • 1 Damn
  • 1 Dark Ritual
  • 1 Dawn's Truce
  • 1 Deadly Rollick
  • 1 Demonic Tutor
  • 1 Eclipsed Steppe
  • 1 Enduring Tenacity
  • 1 Enlightened Tutor
  • 1 Esper Sentinel
  • 1 Exotic Orchard
  • 1 Exquisite Blood
  • 1 Exsanguinate
  • 1 Fell the Profane // Fell Mire
  • 1 Fellwar Stone
  • 1 Fetid Heath
  • 1 Flawless Maneuver
  • 1 Flooded Strand
  • 1 Generous Gift
  • 1 Giver of Runes
  • 1 Godless Shrine
  • 1 Grand Abolisher
  • 1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
  • 1 Guide of Souls
  • 1 Imp's Mischief
  • 1 Inventors' Fair
  • 1 Isolated Chapel
  • 1 Jet Medallion
  • 1 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
  • 1 Liliana the Faultless
  • 1 Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff
  • 1 Mana Vault
  • 1 Marauding Blight-Priest
  • 1 Marsh Flats
  • 1 Mother of Runes
  • 1 Mox Amber
  • 1 Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel
  • 1 Orzhov Signet
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 5 Plains
  • 1 Polluted Delta
  • 1 Prismatic Vista
  • 1 Ranger-Captain of Eos
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Sanguine Bond
  • 1 Scrubland
  • 1 Sensei's Divining Top
  • 1 Serra Ascendant
  • 1 Shadowy Backstreet
  • 1 Shattered Sanctum
  • 1 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
  • 1 Smothering Tithe
  • 1 Snuff Out
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Sorin of House Markov // Sorin, Ravenous Neonate
  • 1 Soul Warden
  • 1 Soul's Attendant
  • 1 Starscape Cleric
  • 5 Swamp
  • 1 Swiftfoot Boots
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 Teferi's Protection
  • 1 The Wind Crystal
  • 1 Thought Vessel
  • 1 Thrull Parasite
  • 1 Toxic Deluge
  • 1 Trouble in Pairs
  • 1 Turbulent Moor
  • 1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
  • 1 Vampiric Tutor
  • 1 Vault of Champions
  • 1 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
  • 1 Words of Worship