How to Play Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel in Commander

Bracket 3 · Our Niv-Mizzet decklist · Lifegain

Our Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel list is Orzhov life drain. Niv-Mizzet taps to drain each opponent for 1, and whenever you gain life, you may pay that much life to draw that many cards.

The deck gains life constantly with Soul Warden and extort, doubles it with Rhox Faithmender and Alhammarret's Archive, turns life gain into damage with Sanguine Bond and Vito, and wins on the spot with Exquisite Blood.

Strategy
Lifegain
Bracket
3
Avg. mana value
2.60
Lands
34
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01The Commander

Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel is a six-mana 4/4 flier. Whenever you gain life, you may pay that much life to draw that many cards. Tap: each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.

His tap ability gains you life, which triggers his own draw. In a four-player game he drains three, gains three, and can turn that into three cards.

With Exquisite Blood and Sanguine Bond, Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose or Enduring Tenacity, Niv-Mizzet's tap starts an infinite drain loop that kills the table.

02How This Deck Wins

  1. 1

    Gain life constantly

    Soul Warden, Auriok Champion, Guide of Souls and extort from Crypt Ghast and Blind Obedience gain life every turn.

  2. 2

    Turn life into cards and damage

    Niv-Mizzet draws off each gain. Sanguine Bond, Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose and Starscape Cleric turn gains into drain.

  3. 3

    Close the loop

    Exquisite Blood with Sanguine Bond, Vito or Enduring Tenacity is an instant win, or finish with Aetherflux Reservoir or Exsanguinate.

03Deck at a Glance

Bracket 3 · Lifegain · 100 cards

Composition

  • Commander1
  • Creatures28
  • Instants & sorceries17
  • Artifacts & enchantments19
  • Planeswalkers1
  • Lands34
  • Tokens5

Mana Curve

00
171
222
73
114
65
16
17+

Color Split

77colored
symbols
  • White 49%
  • Black 51%

By the Numbers

2.60avg. mana value
34lands (16 basic)
2Game Changers
5token types included

Cards by Role

Life Gain into Drain12
Life Gain Sources18
Life Doublers and Draw12
Finishers and Mana12
Removal and Protection12

04Life Gain into Drain

These turn every point of life gained into life lost for opponents.

Exquisite BloodGain life whenever an opponent loses life. Paired with a drain effect, it loops forever.
Sanguine BondAn opponent loses life whenever you gain life.
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk RoseSanguine Bond on a creature.
Enduring TenacitySanguine Bond that comes back as an enchantment when it dies.
Starscape ClericEach opponent loses 1 whenever you gain life.

Also in this role

Bloodthirsty Conqueror
Kambal, Consul of Allocation
Suture Priest
Blood Artist
Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim
Gray Merchant of Asphodel
Psychosis Crawler

05Life Gain Sources

Every gain triggers Niv-Mizzet's draw.

Soul WardenOne life for every creature that enters.
Crypt GhastExtort and doubled Swamp mana.
Blind ObedienceExtort, and opponents' creatures and artifacts enter tapped.
Sorin of House MarkovLifelink and extort, and transforms into a planeswalker.
Guide of SoulsLife and energy whenever creatures enter.

Also in this role

Sorin, Ravenous Neonate
Soul's Attendant
Auriok Champion
Liliana the Faultless
Haliya, Guided by Light
Authority of the Consuls
Enlightened Confidant
Serra Ascendant
Children of Korlis
Karlov of the Ghost Council
Ajani Resolute
Heliod's Intervention
Archivist of Oghma

06Life Doublers and Draw

Double the gain, double the cards.

Rhox FaithmenderDoubles all life gain.
Alhammarret's ArchiveDoubles life gain and extra draws.
The Wind CrystalDoubles life gain and cuts white costs.
Cleric ClassAdds one to every life gain.
Bolas's CitadelPlay cards off the top by paying life.

Also in this role

Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
Black Market Connections
Smothering Tithe
Esper Sentinel
Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff
Land Tax
Thought Vessel

07Finishers and Mana

X drains and an artifact that turns life into a kill.

Aetherflux ReservoirPay 50 life to deal 50 damage.
ExsanguinateEach opponent loses X, and you gain it all.
Debt to the DeathlessEach opponent loses twice X.
Approach of the Second SunCast it twice and win.
ReanimateBring back a creature for life you'll gain back.

Also in this role

Dark Ritual
Sol Ring
Arcane Signet
Orzhov Signet
Talisman of Hierarchy
Fellwar Stone
Lightning Greaves

08Removal and Protection

Orzhov answers.

Swords to PlowsharesOne-mana removal.
Toxic DelugeA wipe you can afford with a big life total.
Anguished UnmakingExiles any nonland permanent.
Flawless ManeuverFree indestructible with Niv-Mizzet out.
Restoration MagicHexproof and indestructible on a key permanent.

Also in this role

Path to Exile
Despark
Deadly Rollick
Fell the Profane
Damn
Malakir Rebirth
Witch Enchanter

09Combos and Key Interactions

+

Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond

Any life gain or loss loops until every opponent is dead.

+

Exquisite Blood + Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose

The same loop on a creature.

+

Exquisite Blood + Enduring Tenacity

The same loop again, and Tenacity returns as an enchantment if it dies.

10How to Play

Opening hand

Keep hands with three lands, a mana rock and a cheap life-gain creature. Niv-Mizzet costs six, so ramp helps.

1

Early gameturns 1-3

Play Soul Warden or Guide of Souls, and extort enchantments like Blind Obedience.

2

Mid gameturns 4-7

Cast Niv-Mizzet and tap him each turn to drain. Draw off the life you gain.

3

Late gameturn 8+

Assemble Exquisite Blood with Sanguine Bond or Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose, or fire Aetherflux Reservoir.

Tips

  • Niv-Mizzet's draw is optional. Only pay life when you can afford it.
  • Niv-Mizzet's tap starts the Exquisite Blood loop by itself.
  • Rhox Faithmender doubles the gain, which also doubles Sanguine Bond's drain.
  • Extort works off every spell, including cheap removal.

Common mistakes

  • Paying too much life to Niv-Mizzet's draw.
  • Casting combo pieces into open counterspells.
  • Forgetting Sanguine Bond and Vito target one opponent at a time.
  • Overpaying for Toxic Deluge.

Watch out for

  • Effects that stop life gain.
  • Enchantment removal on Exquisite Blood and Sanguine Bond.
  • Removal on Niv-Mizzet.
  • Aggressive decks before your life total grows.

11Bracket and Rule 0

1Exhibition
2Core
3Upgraded
4Optimized
5cEDH
Bracket3

Our list runs 2 Game Changers (Bolas's Citadel, Smothering Tithe), within the Bracket 3 limit of three.

Exquisite Blood with Sanguine Bond, Vito or Enduring Tenacity is a two-card win, so tell your table before the game.

12Full Decklist

Every card in our Niv-Mizzet proxy deck (100 cards). Hover or tap a name to see the card.

Commander

  • 1Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel2WWBB

Creatures (28)

  • 1Children of KorlisW
  • 1Esper SentinelW
  • 1Guide of SoulsW
  • 1Liliana the FaultlessW
  • 1Serra AscendantW
  • 1Soul WardenW
  • 1Soul's AttendantW
  • 1Archivist of Oghma1W
  • 1Auriok ChampionWW
  • 1Blood Artist1B
  • 1Elas il-Kor, Sadistic PilgrimWB
  • 1Enlightened Confidant1W
  • 1Karlov of the Ghost CouncilWB
  • 1Lotho, Corrupt ShirriffWB
  • 1Sorin of House Markov1B
  • 1Starscape Cleric1B
  • 1Suture Priest1W
  • 1Haliya, Guided by Light2W
  • 1Kambal, Consul of Allocation1WB
  • 1Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose2B
  • 1Crypt Ghast3B
  • 1Enduring Tenacity2BB
  • 1Rhox Faithmender3W
  • 1Sheoldred, the Apocalypse2BB
  • 1Witch Enchanter3W
  • 1Bloodthirsty Conqueror3BB
  • 1Gray Merchant of Asphodel3BB
  • 1Psychosis Crawler5

Planeswalkers (1)

  • 1Ajani Resolute1W

Instants (11)

  • 1Dark RitualB
  • 1Malakir RebirthB
  • 1Path to ExileW
  • 1Restoration MagicW
  • 1Swords to PlowsharesW
  • 1DesparkWB
  • 1Heliod's InterventionXWW
  • 1Anguished Unmaking1WB
  • 1Flawless Maneuver2W
  • 1Deadly Rollick3B
  • 1Fell the Profane2BB

Sorceries (6)

  • 1ReanimateB
  • 1DamnBB
  • 1ExsanguinateXBB
  • 1Toxic Deluge2B
  • 1Debt to the DeathlessXWWBB
  • 1Approach of the Second Sun6W

Artifacts (11)

  • 1Sol Ring1
  • 1Arcane Signet2
  • 1Fellwar Stone2
  • 1Lightning Greaves2
  • 1Orzhov Signet2
  • 1Talisman of Hierarchy2
  • 1Thought Vessel2
  • 1Aetherflux Reservoir4
  • 1The Wind Crystal2WW
  • 1Alhammarret's Archive5
  • 1Bolas's Citadel3BBB

Enchantments (8)

  • 1Authority of the ConsulsW
  • 1Cleric ClassW
  • 1Land TaxW
  • 1Blind Obedience1W
  • 1Black Market Connections2B
  • 1Smothering Tithe3W
  • 1Exquisite Blood4B
  • 1Sanguine Bond3BB

Lands (34)

  • 1Bleachbone Verge
  • 1Bojuka Bog
  • 1Brightclimb Pathway
  • 1Caves of Koilos
  • 1Command Tower
  • 1Exotic Orchard
  • 1Fetid Heath
  • 1Godless Shrine
  • 1Isolated Chapel
  • 1Marsh Flats
  • 8Plains
  • 1Reliquary Tower
  • 1Scrubland
  • 1Shadowy Backstreet
  • 1Shattered Sanctum
  • 8Swamp
  • 1Tainted Field
  • 1Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
  • 1Vault of Champions
  • 1Vault of the Archangel
Niv-Mizzet proxy deck cover

Get the deck

Niv-Mizzet Lifegain proxy deck

Niv-Mizzet turns life into cards and cards into drain. Gain, draw, and loop the table out.

Every card in this guide is shown exactly as it prints in the deck you get, sleeve-ready, with tokens.

Shop the deck · $45

Every card named in this guide is in our deck, and every image is our own proxy card, rendered from the art in this deck.