NMG by Theverb

Format: Commander

Commander: Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel

Bracket: 4

DeckCheck Threat Index: 49

Deck overview

This deck is a focused Orzhov Lifegain Combo-Control strategy engineered to assemble deterministic life-drain loops while controlling the board. Commanded by Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel, the deck converts life-gain triggers into card draw and provides an on-demand drain trigger. The primary win condition combines Exquisite Blood with Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose, Sanguine Bond, or Marauding Blight-Priest, instantly draining the entire table when any life total changes. A robust package of 2-CMC mana rocks and versatile tutors ensures consistent assembly by turn 4 and execution on turn 5. The control shell features premier spot removal like Swords to Plowshares and Anguished Unmaking, board wipes like Toxic Deluge, and passive taxes like Blind Obedience. Proactive protection spells like Grand Abolisher and Silence safeguard the combo window, while Bolas's Citadel and Approach of the Second Sun serve as resilient alternate win lines.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Alhammarret's Archive
  • 1 Anguished Unmaking
  • 1 Approach of the Second Sun
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archangel of Thune
  • 1 Archivist of Oghma
  • 1 Auriok Champion
  • 1 Authority of the Consuls
  • 1 Beseech the Queen
  • 1 Black Market Connections
  • 1 Blacksmith's Skill
  • 1 Bleachbone Verge
  • 1 Blind Obedience
  • 1 Blood Artist
  • 1 Bolas's Citadel
  • 1 Brightclimb Pathway // Grimclimb Pathway
  • 1 Caves of Koilos
  • 1 Children of Korlis
  • 1 Cleric Class
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Creeping Bloodsucker
  • 1 Damn
  • 1 Dark Ritual
  • 1 Desolate Mire
  • 1 Despark
  • 1 Diabolic Intent
  • 1 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim
  • 1 Exquisite Blood
  • 1 Exsanguinate
  • 1 Fell the Profane // Fell Mire
  • 1 Fellwar Stone
  • 1 Flawless Maneuver
  • 1 Fracture
  • 1 Generous Gift
  • 1 Ghostly Prison
  • 1 Godless Shrine
  • 1 Grand Abolisher
  • 1 Haliya, Guided by Light
  • 1 Heliod's Intervention
  • 1 Idyllic Tutor
  • 1 Inkshield
  • 1 Insatiable Avarice
  • 1 Isolated Chapel
  • 1 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
  • 1 Karlov of the Ghost Council
  • 1 Land Tax
  • 1 Lightning Greaves
  • 1 Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff
  • 1 Marauding Blight-Priest
  • 1 Moon-Blessed Cleric
  • 1 Multiversal Passage
  • 1 Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel
  • 1 Orzhov Signet
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 1 Phyrexian Arena
  • 12 Plains
  • 1 Profane Tutor
  • 1 Reanimate
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Restoration Magic
  • 1 Sanguine Bond
  • 1 Shattered Sanctum
  • 1 Shineshadow Snarl
  • 1 Silence
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Soul Warden
  • 1 Soul's Attendant
  • 1 Surge of Salvation
  • 1 Suture Priest
  • 11 Swamp
  • 1 Swiftfoot Boots
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Tainted Field
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 Thought Vessel
  • 1 Toxic Deluge
  • 1 Vault of the Archangel
  • 1 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
  • 1 Wishclaw Talisman