Ghost Counsel by mkay0

Format: Commander

Commander: Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 40

Deck overview

This Orzhov deck leverages Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel as a massive card-advantage engine and life-drain outlet. The early game establishes cheap lifegain triggers and pillowfort taxes through soul sisters like Soul Warden and enchantments such as Authority of the Consuls and Blind Obedience. Once sufficient mana is established, casting Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel turns every instance of life gain into burst card draw by paying life. This rapid cycling quickly digs into asymmetric drain threats including Sheoldred, the Apocalypse, Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose, Enduring Tenacity, and Psychosis Crawler. High-density removal spells keep opposing boards in check, while Silence and Ranger-Captain of Eos ensure clean execution on combo and big-turn attempts. The deck closes games either by assembling an explosive draw-drain loop with Sheoldred and Crawler or through massive life-swing finishers like Debt to the Deathless and Gray Merchant of Asphodel.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Ajani Resolute
  • 1 Ajani's Pridemate
  • 1 Ajani, Strength of the Pride
  • 1 Alhammarret's Archive
  • 1 Anguished Unmaking
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archivist of Oghma
  • 1 Auriok Champion
  • 1 Authority of the Consuls
  • 1 Blind Obedience
  • 1 Blood Artist
  • 1 Caves of Koilos
  • 1 Children of Korlis
  • 1 Cleric Class
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Creeping Bloodsucker
  • 1 Crypt Ghast
  • 1 Damn
  • 1 Dark Ritual
  • 1 Debt to the Deathless
  • 1 Despark
  • 1 Eclipsed Steppe
  • 1 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim
  • 1 Enduring Tenacity
  • 1 Enlightened Confidant
  • 1 Erode
  • 1 Feed the Swarm
  • 1 Gleaming Splendor
  • 1 Godless Shrine
  • 1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
  • 1 Haliya, Guided by Light
  • 1 Idyllic Tutor
  • 1 Inkshield
  • 1 Isolated Chapel
  • 1 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
  • 1 Land Tax
  • 1 Liliana the Faultless
  • 1 Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff
  • 1 Marauding Blight-Priest
  • 1 Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel
  • 1 Orzhov Signet
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 15 Plains
  • 1 Pristine Talisman
  • 1 Psychosis Crawler
  • 1 Ranger of Eos
  • 1 Ranger-Captain of Eos
  • 1 Repel Calamity
  • 1 Rhox Faithmender
  • 1 Sanguine Bond
  • 1 Settle the Wreckage
  • 1 Shattered Sanctum
  • 1 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
  • 1 Silence
  • 1 Smothering Tithe
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Soul Warden
  • 1 Soul's Attendant
  • 1 Split Up
  • 1 Suture Priest
  • 15 Swamp
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Tainted Field
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 The Darkness Crystal
  • 1 The Wind Crystal
  • 1 Toxic Deluge
  • 1 Turbulent Moor
  • 1 Vault of the Archangel
  • 1 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
  • 1 Voice of Victory
  • 1 Whip of Erebos