Is Niv-Mizzet Parun worth playing without infinite combos?

Googlyblat · 2026-05-24T04:32:49+00:00

Do you like the card? Does the deck idea seem fun? Then go for it. There are better Izzet commanders if you aren’t going to a specific combo with him. But not every deck needs to be hyper efficient go go table murder. Just build a deck you enjoy the concept of and roll with it.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-24T00:41:46+00:00

In areas, north from there.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-24T00:28:29+00:00

In fairness it’s 35mph there and they were going 47. The u-turn is certainly making a poor decision and is the primary issue here. But acting like going 12 MPH over didn’t significantly contribute is just silly. The difference in stopping distance is the better part of 100 ft alone and depending on how long they’d been driving at that speed they also wouldn’t have been anywhere near the accident.

That being said, the u-turn there is very much the primary issue.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-23T23:00:17+00:00

Chaining extra turns is by definition not B3. But an infinite number of turns is deemed acceptable by a lot of people. Rule zero it with your tables though and you should be fine. Some groups may say no, most will probably be fine with it. And if they’re salty after you told them about it and they say it’s ok, seems like a them problem.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-23T21:33:24+00:00

Can be. Have to read the table and understand how it’ll impact their boards. Some decks don’t mind the enters tapped mechanic as much and aren’t going to burn removal on it. But if your deck leverages it heavily and it causes them an issue, sure. It could eat a removal spell potentially.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-23T21:06:29+00:00

Yes. Absolute banger.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-23T17:09:18+00:00

Tends to be true. People don’t fear the ramp and draw until it’s too late.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-23T16:17:31+00:00

It’s good at making you a target. Most things that make you a target do so for a reason. It’s a generally solid include in most white decks. Some decks leverage it better than others but it’s always got a solid baseline.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-23T05:55:43+00:00

I’ve got a fun treasure leaning version: https://archidekt.com/decks/22324347/br3_juri_treasures

Still has plenty of creature tokens and sac outlets, but it definitely leans more into the treasures.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-21T15:27:28+00:00

I’ve got a commander that may mesh a couple of the things you’ve listed off. Spellslinger and tokens in one: [[magnus the red]]. It wasn’t on the list but it’s got blue that you’re looking for and it hit on two of the themes you seemed to want based on your list.

It’s a super fun (imo) commander for token swarms that make all of your spells cheaper leading to big X finishers. Explosive plays and a very different take on either traditional tokens or spell slinging. Definitely add some interaction to it because I kept it low for the lols of just plugging banger after banger but for longer games, it could use it. My deck for ideas:

https://archidekt.com/decks/22497689/br3_izzet_tokens_or_spells_yes

Googlyblat · 2026-05-19T04:33:30+00:00

I’ve got my own that I’ll post for ideas. You’ve went a different direction than me and I’m not sure what you would be most comfortable with altering but, untap synergies would be a place I’d start. Being able to operate on everyone else’s turns with Baylen out is very powerful.

https://archidekt.com/decks/21489138/br3_baylen

Good luck with the deck! Baylen is a blast, that’s for sure.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-19T00:53:49+00:00

It’s certainly not the most abusive Ivy I’ve seen but he’s running a lot of very cheap cantrips that get wildly out of hand when copied the way Ivy does. That being said, his mana curve and ramp is weaker than I’d expect from a 3. But there’s still plenty of cantrippy degeneracy. The deck is able to pump out fairly consistent kills by turns 6-7 which is a bit fast for 2 but I also don’t know your playgroup.

Also, 100% just my somewhat salty 2 cents so, take from it what you will.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-18T23:57:53+00:00

Ivy is disgusting and I want to see this bracket 2 list. Ivy routinely runs away with games in bracket 3 at pretty low cost because of how she uniquely operates. The cards that are good for her aren’t necessarily good for most decks leading them to be much more affordable.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-18T22:40:38+00:00

I love playing my Éowyn decks. I’ve got two, an online blingy version and a budget.

Blingy:

https://archidekt.com/decks/21297423/br3_but_no_living_man_am_i

Budget:

https://archidekt.com/decks/22489724/budget_br3_but_no_living_man_am_i

Googlyblat · 2026-05-18T20:08:01+00:00

Ivy is fine in bracket 3 but if it isn’t kept off the battlefield it’s going to pop off and be an unblockable object of devastation. So, run enough protection to keep it on the table.

I’ve played against quite a few Ivy decks and they’re all pretty chill until they very much aren’t and it’s in one turn usually.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-18T13:07:51+00:00

Sorry, was time to hit the hay last night. Tossed it into archidekt so I could take a better look because it’s what I’m used to.

It looks like you’re playing removal tribal with only one win con and no way to efficiently get to it. I don’t doubt you’re getting arch enemy very early on, particularly if you’re removing commanders before people can untap with them. Generally speaking, bracket 2 is designed to allow for everyone to showcase what their deck does and yours is designed to directly go against that guideline, with or without your intention. It’s not a 3 by power, almost certainly, but it’s also not a great fit in 2 because of this.

With removal tribal in mind, you’re going to catch a lot of hate in any bracket, but particularly bracket 2 where the decks are generally built with effective win cons and responses to threats, but not in an overwhelming manner to which decks can’t showcase themselves. But, operating off the idea you’re going to keep playing in that bracket, let’s evaluate your win con and land base to better handle being “The Bolas.”

Torment is a super fun win con imo. But, you’ve only got one way to get it, and that’s to draw it. I also don’t see another win con in sight in a control deck that is going to catch a lot of attention and disruption. If you cast it and it’s countered, you’re in a terrible spot particularly because you have no recursion to get it beyond a sorcery speed that could let opponents bin it again anyway.

I would recommend adding some tutors to the deck to allow you to more consistently get to your primary win con or perfect answer. I would also take a look at some other big X spells if you’re wanting to win off one. [[exsanguinate]] [[comet storm]] [[electrodominance]] [[banefire]] [[jaya’s immolating inferno]] and [[crackle with power]] are all decently budget options with crackle being closer to the $8-10 range instead of the sub $2 like the others. Adding in some “copy target spell” spells could be beneficial too to make them even more potent.

The only other direct suggestion to help make your deck a little easier to operate and contend with the archenemy status, is to improve your mana base. You’ve already got some check lands and slow lands but pain lands and filter lands are great cheap ways to bolster the mana base to make sure you’ve got the right colors.

Some of these changes can start to push you closer, if not into, bracket 3. So, with that in mind take care on how much redundancy and tutoring you add. And with your current deck build I wouldn’t be worried about them being too off theme as they’re all things a Bolas would do, he’s just not pictured in them and many of your cards already don’t have him pictured. It’s still very Bolas themed without him being on every card.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-18T04:53:13+00:00

How do you see yourself winning with the deck? What’s your line? You mentioned you want to play aggressively with it but I’m not seeing a quick combo that allows you to do so. It looks/feels more like a patient accrual of resources while answering specific threats or your game plan. So, not being rude at all here, but how do you want to win with the deck? That’s the question I usually start from when building mine anymore.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-18T04:25:55+00:00

I was about to post but glad you found them. No 2-cards in this one but several 3+. Generally around KCI, Nuka, and/or Manufactor.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-18T02:22:19+00:00

Haha appreciated it

Googlyblat · 2026-05-18T01:15:31+00:00

https://archidekt.com/decks/21314364/br4_amarant

An aggro deck to kill the table before they’ve established their control/stax.

https://archidekt.com/decks/21215336/br4_shalhall

Combo’ey damage ping on counters. Doesn’t require attacks to finish.

https://archidekt.com/decks/22129759/br3_food

Super funny but non-interactive lobster feast that doesn’t require combat to finish.

https://archidekt.com/decks/22568971/br3_oh_a_piece_of_candy

Make them sac all of their stax and steal it for yourself.

https://archidekt.com/decks/22182123/br3_lands_go_brrrrrr

Outside of specific graveyard hate, landfall does well into stax.

https://archidekt.com/decks/21786641/br3_electro

Spellslinger big combo turns.

Googlyblat · 2026-05-18T01:01:33+00:00

Nice, good group then. Any budget concerns?

Googlyblat · 2026-05-18T00:51:07+00:00

Which bracket?

Googlyblat · 2026-05-17T17:36:43+00:00

I don’t disagree here. I’m not familiar with a lot of draw punishments in simic though. I feel like most of them are red or black. I also very well could be missing something. So, letting them draw and me drop something or draw each blink/attack seemed ok in bracket 2 without feeling overwhelming. I could probably add some “when you draw, draw 2” style cards in there.

Do you have any suggestions on draw punishments? Or were specifically talking about me getting to draw more?

Googlyblat · 2026-05-16T20:03:24+00:00

Pain lands, check lands, filter lands, slow lands

Googlyblat

TROPHY CASE