Niv-Mizzet, Parun (EDH / Commander)

Intro:

Can a man resolve curiosity on Niv-Mizzet? Just a fair warning, Niv-Mizzet, Parun isn't a top tier commander (In case you weren't aware). That being said, I think with optimal card choices, careful analysis, and serious testing most commanders can be competitive, just at varying levels. Try to enjoy as I ramble on about this deck!

Main Combos:

If you know anything about this deck you know what it wants to do: control the board state until you can resolve Curiosity, Ophidian Eye, or Tandem Lookout on Niv-Mizzet, Parun and ping your opponent(s) to 0 life.

Be cheeky and imprint Isochron Scepter with Dramatic Reversal, plus have a couple of mana rocks up to go for infinite mana. You can also be extra funny and imprint it with something like Counterspell or Mana Drain.

Strengths:

1. Controlling the board state: We play a lot of blue cards for a reason. We say no a lot and get rid of those key cards our opponents want to stick.

2. Snowballing: When this deck starts rolling things get out of control for your opponents quickly

3. Not being viewed as a threat: In group games you are seen as a supporter and not a threat. They ignore you as you just drop lands and ramp up carefully choosing what to counter or eliminate. That is until Laboratory Maniac, Niv-Mizzet, Parun hit the field. Then Curiosity comes out. They’ll try to counter it, but that Force of Will you’ve been patiently saving in your hand says, “I win. “

Weaknesses:

1. Casting Niv-Mizzet, Parun out to his high and sometimes awkward CMC

Fix: Ramp, Ramp, and more Ramp. I also made sure all of my lands either don’t come in tapped or be dead in my hand at any point (Things like Izzet Boilerworks and Temple of the False God come to mind). Sulfur Falls is rarely ever dead because I have the fetches and enough basics to get there. I also cut cards that depend on my opponent sharing a color with me (Fellwar Stone and Exotic Orchard)

2. Getting to things like Ophidian Eye and Curiosity since we don't have Enlightened Tutor or Demonic Tutor

Fix: Being as consistent as possible by adding in tons of draw power (Faithless Looting and Dig through Time), tutors (Mystical Tutor and Merchant Scroll), and transmute cards (Dizzy Spell and Muddle the Mixture).

3. Slow starts.

Fix: Hitting the curve early. I lowered the average CMC of this deck to about 1.75 if you count things like Force of Will or Force of Negation as 0 drops, since you’re never really hard-casting them. It felt really bad to see things like Consecrated Sphinx and Jace, the Mind Sculptor go, but I’m trying to keep things 3 CMC and under.

Final Notes:

This is the build I plan on going forward with, but it could change depending on set releases and experimentation. I am always looking for ways to improve so feel free to leave feedback. TIA!

Latest Update:

1/14/20
Added in Stranglehold, because I hate fun and letting my opponent just roll over me with extra turns.