Overview:

Niv-Mizzet, Parun pilots a high-velocity combo deck leveraging instant/sorcery synergy and draw-trigger damage. The core strategy revolves around resolving the commander with a Curiosity-effect (Curiosity, Ophidian Eye, Tandem Lookout) to create infinite damage loops. Backup plans include stax disruption (Weathered Runestone), overwhelming card advantage (Rhystic Study), and free countermagic-protected explosive turns.

Primer:

Core Strategy: This deck aims to resolve Niv-Mizzet by turn 3–4 using fast mana (Mox Diamond, Mana Vault) and immediately pair it with a draw-trigger enchantment for an instant win. Secondary lines involve generating massive card advantage via Harmonic Prodigy-amplified triggers or overwhelming opponents with free countermagic-backed value engines.

Mulligan Priorities:

• 2+ lands (preferably untapped duals)
• Fast mana (Lotus Petal, Chrome Mox) or Geode Golem
• Tutor (Mystical Tutor, Transmute Artifact) or combo piece
  Reject hands without early blue/red sources or protection.

Key Tips:

• Time Niv-Mizzet casts to dodge removal (cast EOT via Snap/Whir of Invention setup)
• Use Deflecting Swat/Misdirection to protect critical turns
• Harmonic Prodigy doubles both damage and draw triggers
• Gamble strategically – prioritize redundant combo pieces first

Avoid Traps:

• Overextending Niv-Mizzet without protection
• Wasting tutors on non-game-ending pieces
• Letting stax permanents (Weathered Runestone) linger unchecked

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Commander-dependent strategy (3+ removals cripple the deck)
• Limited graveyard recursion for key pieces

Moderate:

• Vulnerable to Drannith Magistrate/Cursed Totem effects
• Painland-heavy manabase pressures life totals

Minor:

• Minimal board presence pre-combo

Most Important Cards:

• Curiosity
• Ophidian Eye
• Transmute Artifact
• Mox Diamond
• Force of Will
• Fierce Guardianship
• Harmonic Prodigy
• Mystical Tutor
• Whir of Invention
• Lotus Petal

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 9/10
Theoretical T2–3 wins via Geode Golem + free mana into combo. Average goldfish T3–4 with protection. Fast mana and cost-cheating enable explosive starts.

Resilience: 8/10
12 free/cheap counterspells (Force of Negation, Mental Misstep) and redirect effects protect combos. Multiple combo redundancies (3+ aura variants) mitigate removal.

Consistency: 8/10
9 tutors (Gamble, Merchant Scroll) and 15+ cantrips ensure combo assembly. Rhystic Study/Mystic Remora provide engine-based redundancy.

Interaction: 9/10
19 instant-speed answers including S-tier counters (Fierce Guardianship, Pact of Negation) and targeted removal (Pyroblast). Trickbind/Stifle handle problematic abilities.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH viability (Rubric 8.5–9.5) with T2–3 win potential through protected combos and robust interaction. While slightly slower than fully optimized T1 cEDH lists due to commander cost constraints, its density of free interaction and tutor redundancy surpasses typical High Power (8.0) benchmarks. The critical weakness of commander dependency is mitigated by Geode Golem and countermagic, aligning it closer to Tier 2 cEDH than casual builds.

Power level: 8.5 - 9.0