Life control by user5496389

Format: Commander

Commander: Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 38

Deck overview

This deck is an Orzhov lifegain and drain attrition engine led by Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel. The primary game plan deploys low-cost lifegain permanents such as Soul Warden, Authority of the Consuls, and Creeping Bloodsucker during early turns. Once the commander enters on turn 5, every lifegain trigger can be converted into card draw by paying that life, rapidly filling the hand with answers and combo pieces. The deck wins around turn 8 either through an infinite life-drain loop with Exquisite Blood and Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose or Marauding Blight-Priest, an alternate win condition via Test of Endurance, or large burst-drain spells like Debt to the Deathless. An extensive removal suite handles opposing permanents effectively, while combat taxes and tap effects buy time against aggressive boards.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Ajani Resolute
  • 1 Alhammarret's Archive
  • 1 Anguished Unmaking
  • 1 Arcane Lighthouse
  • 1 Archaeomancer's Map
  • 1 Authority of the Consuls
  • 1 Bitter Triumph
  • 1 Blind Obedience
  • 1 Bojuka Bog
  • 1 Boon Reflection
  • 1 Brightclimb Pathway // Grimclimb Pathway
  • 1 Cabal Stronghold
  • 1 Caves of Koilos
  • 1 Chaplain's Blessing
  • 1 Children of Korlis
  • 1 Cleric Class
  • 1 Cliffhaven Vampire
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Creeping Bloodsucker
  • 1 Crypt Ghast
  • 1 Damn
  • 1 Dark Ritual
  • 1 Daxos, Blessed by the Sun
  • 1 Debt to the Deathless
  • 1 Despark
  • 1 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim
  • 1 Enlightened Confidant
  • 1 Escape Tunnel
  • 1 Evolving Wilds
  • 1 Exquisite Blood
  • 1 Exsanguinate
  • 1 Fabled Passage
  • 1 Farewell
  • 1 Fell the Profane // Fell Mire
  • 1 Fetid Heath
  • 1 Flawless Maneuver
  • 1 Fumigate
  • 1 Ghostly Prison
  • 1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
  • 1 Haliya, Guided by Light
  • 1 Isolated Chapel
  • 1 Jet Medallion
  • 1 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
  • 1 Karlov of the Ghost Council
  • 1 Lightning Greaves
  • 1 Liliana the Faultless
  • 1 Lunar Convocation
  • 1 Marauding Blight-Priest
  • 1 Memorial to Folly
  • 1 Muraganda Raceway
  • 1 Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel
  • 1 Orzhov Signet
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 1 Pearl Medallion
  • 1 Phyrexian Arena
  • 6 Plains
  • 1 Psychosis Crawler
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Restless Fortress
  • 1 Restoration Magic
  • 1 Rhox Faithmender
  • 1 Rogue's Passage
  • 1 Scoured Barrens
  • 1 Serra Ascendant
  • 1 Sheoldred's Edict
  • 1 Silent Clearing
  • 1 Soul Warden
  • 1 Soul's Attendant
  • 1 Starscape Cleric
  • 1 Suture Priest
  • 6 Swamp
  • 1 Swiftfoot Boots
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Tainted Sigil
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 Terramorphic Expanse
  • 1 Test of Endurance
  • 1 The Dross Pits
  • 1 The Fair Basilica
  • 1 The Wind Crystal
  • 1 Toxic Deluge
  • 1 Turbulent Moor
  • 1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
  • 1 Vault of the Archangel
  • 1 Venser's Journal
  • 1 Vibrant Cityscape
  • 1 Vindicate
  • 1 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
  • 1 Witch Enchanter // Witch-Blessed Meadow
  • 1 Witch's Cottage