A fast deck that uses exiled ciphers to boost Nivmagus Elemental for a quick Decisive win.
This deck has had a few changes to combat some of its weaknesses. In particular the lack of creatures. If you don't have a creature in your stand hand, you lose, if someone kills your create before turn 4 and you have No others in your hand... you lose. Hence the added creatures
The basic premise is to use cipher cards to boost the weird and elemental. (Cipher triggers cast the copied spell buffing Blistercoil Weird, then you can exile the spell from the stack to buff Nivmagus Elemental ). I have won on turn 3 a couple of times using just that concept.
Hidden Strings
+
Nivmagus Elemental
Nivmagus Elemental
+
Hands of Binding
Aqueous Form enchant your ciphered creature to get those extra sorcery spells to proc exile.
Armed//dangerous double strike is key for those turn 3/4 wins. Don't forget if you have double strike cipher pros after both sets of damage. (Remember to exile the first set of procs for extra counters to boost the second set of dmg)
Hands of Binding / Hidden Strings I use the initial cast to untapped lands to get more spells out and to tap blockers making it easy to sneak through. Once ciphered you will normally use the procs to buff Blistercoil Weird (normally only useful between damage phases with double strike) and then exile to boost Nivmagus Elemental
Titan's Strength depending on the situation I'll either use the plus 3 on a swing (normally in conjunction with Armed / Dangerous ) or a cheap exile for a permanent 2 counters on nivmagus.
Nightveil Specter
+
Trait Doctoring
are a recent addition. I was having trouble with fliers and early blockers. This combo worked as a interference as the added bonus of stealing spells and being able to change lands to cast the stolen cards is fun but not normally game changing. Spends more time blocking so I can swing with nivmagus.
Guttersnipe / Nivix Cyclops with the number of instants and sorceries going around in this deck it provides another layer of attack and defence where required.
Chandra, Pyromaster possibly one of the weaker cards in the deck, but the ability to stop a block and sneak in a point of dmg and card draw are why she is here. This deck can burn cards, I've been playing off the top of the deck at turn 3 more than once.
Sideboard
Rapid Hybridization a cheap source of semi removal. Helps deal with annoying abilities or overly large creatures.
Teleportal against decks with a lot of creatures/ tokens this can help you sneak passed for those precious cipher procs.
Mizzium Skin losing your super nivmagus elemental to a rogue doom blade as you swinging to win sucks. 1 blue mana to save them is nice.
Darksteel Citadel + Ensoul Artifact
weird choice right? Why bother with Darksteel citadels? Crazy right? No these are for one card that plagues my existence. MIST CUTTER HYRDA. That One Card Will Ruin your life. Being able to chump block it with indestructible eases the pain. Also turn 2 5/5 creatures hurt.
Now this is currently standard but after it rotates I'm will be attempting to make my first ever modern deck with it. So if you k ow anything that will help there. I am all ears.
Thanks for reading this far. Hope you enjoy it.
