Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel

Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel

Color Identity

B mana
W mana

Details

Mana Value

6

Popularity

#2,453

of 3,466 commanders · via EDHREC

Card Text

Legendary Creature — Spirit Dragon

Flying

Whenever you gain life, you may pay that much life. If you do, draw that many cards.

{T}: Each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.

4/4

Playstyle

Midrange · Steady · Group influence · Incremental wins

Aggression
1 of 5
Speed
2 of 5
Interaction
2 of 5
Combat
2 of 5
Engine
4 of 5
Complexity
4 of 5

Card Price

$11.11TCGPlayer
€3.29CardMarket
as of 2026-10-02

Strategy Guides

Lifegain Strategy Guide

Lifegain decks are for players who want each point of life to become a resource, not just a larger cushion against attacks. This strategy wants to gain life in steady repeatable triggers, using lifegain commanders, Soul Warden effects, and payoff cards, to win through life drain, oversized creatures, or a charged Aetherflux Reservoir. Unlike Group Hug, it keeps the resources for itself, and unlike Aristocrats it is driven by life gained rather than death triggers. The best lifegain decks EDH players build feel patient early, then convert a safe life total into pressure.

Learn more about lifegain strategies

Combo Strategy Guide

Combo decks are for players who enjoy finding a narrow line, protecting it, and ending the game with specific cards working together. This strategy wants to assemble combo commanders, tutors, draw, and compact two-card or three-card packages, using infinite combos or deterministic loops, to win in one decisive moment. Unlike Spellslinger it is not paid for every spell cast, unlike Storm it does not need a long chain turn, and unlike Big Mana it does not rely on casting one enormous payoff. The best combo decks EDH players build balance speed with enough interaction to survive the table's disruption.

Learn more about combo strategies

Card Draw Strategy Guide

Card Draw decks are for players who want a full hand to be the engine, the protection, and eventually the win condition. This strategy wants to draw extra cards every turn, using card draw commanders, repeatable engines, wheels, and draw payoffs, to win through card advantage EDH plans such as damage triggers, stocked interaction, or superior late-game resources. Unlike Control, it is not only answering threats, and unlike Spellslinger it cares about the draw event more than the spell cast. The best card draw commanders either refill you directly or convert each extra card into pressure.

Learn more about card draw strategies

Aristocrats Strategy Guide

Aristocrats decks are for players who enjoy turning expendable creatures into cards, Treasure, damage, and life drain whenever they die. This strategy wants to make cheap bodies, use sacrifice commanders and free outlets, and convert each death trigger into value to win through drain effects or recursive sacrifice loops. Unlike Tokens, it cares less about attacking with many bodies, and unlike broad Sacrifice decks it is specifically built around death trigger payoffs. The best aristocrats commanders let you grind from small pieces while the table decides whether removing your board helps you or hurts them.

Learn more about aristocrats strategies

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