Niv Mizzet, Ghost Counsel by DT65

Format: Commander

Commander: Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 40

Deck overview

This deck is an Orzhov Lifegain Control strategy led by Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel. It uses inexpensive lifegain permanents like Soul Warden, Authority of the Consuls, and Pristine Talisman to stabilize early life totals and disrupt aggressive tempo. Once Niv-Mizzet enters the battlefield, any lifegain trigger allows you to pay that much life to draw an equivalent number of cards, creating a massive card-flow engine. The deck converts this card advantage into game-ending pressure through drain payoffs like Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose, Sanguine Bond, and Psychosis Crawler, or a compact finish via Approach of the Second Sun. When Approach is cast, Niv-Mizzet's trigger lets you pay 7 life to draw 7 cards, immediately returning Approach to your hand to win on the following turn. Supported by efficient Orzhov spot removal, stack interaction, and board protection like Dawn's Truce, the deck controls the pace of play before securing a decisive victory.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Alhammarret's Archive
  • 1 Amalia Benavides Aguirre
  • 1 Anguished Unmaking
  • 1 Approach of the Second Sun
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archivist of Oghma
  • 1 Authority of the Consuls
  • 1 Blind Obedience
  • 1 Bofur, Reliable Guardian // Concerted Care
  • 1 Bojuka Bog
  • 1 Bontu's Monument
  • 1 Caves of Koilos
  • 1 Chaplain's Blessing
  • 1 Children of Korlis
  • 1 Cleric Class
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Cruel Celebrant
  • 1 Damn
  • 1 Dawn's Truce
  • 1 Daxos, Blessed by the Sun
  • 1 Debt to the Deathless
  • 1 Despark
  • 1 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim
  • 1 Elenda's Hierophant
  • 1 Exemplar of Light
  • 1 Exotic Orchard
  • 1 Exsanguinate
  • 1 Fabled Passage
  • 1 Fellwar Stone
  • 1 Fracture
  • 1 Fumigate
  • 1 Generous Gift
  • 1 Gixian Puppeteer
  • 1 Godless Shrine
  • 1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
  • 1 Guide of Souls
  • 1 Haliya, Guided by Light
  • 1 Inkshield
  • 1 Isolated Chapel
  • 1 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
  • 1 Lapse of Certainty
  • 1 Lightning Greaves
  • 1 Lunar Convocation
  • 1 Moseo, Vein's New Dean
  • 1 Night's Whisper
  • 1 Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel
  • 1 Orzhov Basilica
  • 1 Orzhov Signet
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 1 Phyrexian Arena
  • 11 Plains
  • 1 Pristine Talisman
  • 1 Psychosis Crawler
  • 1 Reanimate
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Reprieve
  • 1 Rhox Faithmender
  • 1 Sanguine Bond
  • 1 Scheming Silvertongue // Sign in Blood
  • 1 Shattered Sanctum
  • 1 Sign in Blood
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Sorin of House Markov // Sorin, Ravenous Neonate
  • 1 Soul Warden
  • 1 Starscape Cleric
  • 1 Suture Priest
  • 11 Swamp
  • 1 Swiftfoot Boots
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Tainted Field
  • 1 Tainted Sigil
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 The Gaffer
  • 1 Vault of Champions
  • 1 Vault of the Archangel
  • 1 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
  • 1 Vizkopa Guildmage
  • 1 Wispdrinker Vampire
  • 1 Witch Enchanter // Witch-Blessed Meadow
  • 1 Zulaport Cutthroat