Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel by Akolyan

Format: Commander

Commander: Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 35

Deck overview

This Orzhov deck operates as a control and lifegain midrange strategy centered around Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel. The primary game plan focuses on developing mana rocks and stabilizing the board during the early turns with efficient spot removal and sweepers. Once the commander enters the battlefield on Turn 5, every lifegain instance converts directly into card advantage by paying life, quickly refueling the hand and digging through the library. The deck aims to close the game on Turn 8 via Approach of the Second Sun, casting it on Turn 7 to gain 7 life, immediately drawing the 7 cards needed to put Approach back in hand, and recasting it on the following turn. Alternate paths to victory include draining the table with Gray Merchant of Asphodel, generating flying armies with Ob Nixilis, the Ascended, or weaponizing card draw with Psychosis Crawler. The deck boasts versatile removal and resilient lifegain, though it lacks direct tutors and fast stack countermagic.

Decklist (100 cards)

• 1 Akroma's Vengeance
• 1 Angel's Grace
• 1 Anguished Unmaking
• 1 Approach of the Second Sun
• 1 Arcane Signet
• 1 Barren Moor
• 1 Blind Obedience
• 1 Boggart Trawler // Boggart Bog
• 1 Captain Marvel, Earth's Protector
• 1 Captain Marvel, Shooting Star
• 1 Castle Ardenvale
• 1 Castle Locthwain
• 1 Caves of Koilos
• 1 Celestial Force
• 1 Chaplain's Blessing
• 1 Charcoal Diamond
• 1 Charming Prince
• 1 Command Tower
• 1 Damn
• 1 Darksteel Mutation
• 1 Desolate Mire
• 1 Despark
• 1 Diviner's Wand
• 1 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
• 1 Fetid Heath
• 1 Flickerwisp
• 1 Gelatinous Cube
• 1 Ghostway
• 1 Glasswing Grace // Age-Graced Chapel
• 1 Godless Shrine
• 1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
• 1 Haliya, Guided by Light
• 1 Healing Salve
• 1 Holy Cow
• 1 Inspiring Overseer
• 1 Invasion of Dominaria // Serra Faithkeeper
• 1 Invasion of Fiora // Marchesa, Resolute Monarch
• 1 Isolated Chapel
• 1 Ivory Tower
• 1 Joined Researchers // Secret Rendezvous
• 1 Kaya's Wrath
• 1 Knight of the White Orchid
• 1 Marauding Blight-Priest
• 1 Marble Diamond
• 1 Merciless Eviction
• 1 Mortify
• 1 Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel
• 1 Ob Nixilis, the Ascended
• 1 Obzedat, Ghost Council
• 1 Orzhov Signet
• 1 Palace Siege
• 1 Path to Exile
• 1 Peace of Mind
• 8 Plains
• 1 Priest of Ancient Lore
• 1 Pristine Talisman
• 1 Psychosis Crawler
• 1 Reliquary Tower
• 1 Reprieve
• 1 Restoration Angel
• 1 Revitalize
• 1 Scavenger Grounds
• 1 Scheming Silvertongue // Sign in Blood
• 1 Scrubland
• 1 Secluded Steppe
• 1 Shambling Vent
• 1 Shattered Sanctum
• 1 Sheltered by Ghosts
• 1 Silent Clearing
• 1 Sol Ring
• 1 Solemn Simulacrum
• 1 Starfall Invocation
• 8 Swamp
• 1 Swords to Plowshares
• 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
• 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
• 1 Temple of the False God
• 1 Teysa, Opulent Oligarch
• 1 The Mind Stone
• 1 The Soul Stone
• 1 Thought Vessel
• 1 Tithe Drinker
• 1 Utter End
• 1 Vault of Champions
• 1 Vault of the Archangel
• 1 Witch Enchanter // Witch-Blessed Meadow