Ponder

Sorcery

Look at the top three cards of your library, then put them back in any order. You may shuffle your library.

Draw a card.

Discussion (49)

Spell_Slam on Level Up

1 week ago

Considering that your blink spells are great with the teacher and Mulldrifter, but really bad with your level up creatures, I really wouldn't run 16 copies. I think cutting Acrobatic Maneuver, and Momentary Blink would be a good start. Maybe cutting 2-4 copies of Cloudshift as well wouldn't be bad.

In their place, I would recommend some Proliferate spells. They will fill a similar role as your teacher, though you'll have to get the first level counter on yourself. Something like Contentious Plan , Thrummingbird and maybe Martyr for the Cause could be interesting options for you. These could also be substitutes for Drift of Phantasms, which I think was only there to get your teacher, right?

You might want some other card draw like Preordain and Ponder to find what you need and smooth out your deck.

16 lands is also too few for your deck. Considering how many 3-drops you are playing, I think 22 would be more appropriate.

ThousandOaks on Niv-Mizzet, Wheel of Hatred

1 week ago

Blaksteele Really nice protoype. Niv-Mizzet, Parun may be one of the most fun commanders in EDH. I really think you have a solid prototype here. Definitely play test it to see what direction you want to take this beast.

A few suggestions:

*Less Creatures*

Niv-Mizzet, Parun loves when you draw cards and casts spells. I would recommend playing less creatures and more spells that net raw card draw. Cards like Oneirophage seem great, but aren't as valuable as triggering Niv-Mizzet's ability. The same is true with creatures like Tolarian Kraken or Nadir Kraken where you have to spend resources on top of drawing cards to trigger an additional effect.

Instead of running the extra creatures, I would trust more in Niv-Mizzet, Parun . Fill your deck with cheap spells that draw cards, and in turn trigger Niv-Mizzet, Parun 's ability to draw extra cards and do damage. Opt , Brainstorm , Wheel and Deal , Windfall , Ponder are all great examples that exploit Niv-Mizzy so well.

If you're going to run creatures, I think you double down on creatures that punish players each time you draw. You already have Electrostatic Field , so maybe include Guttersnipe ?

*Protection and Interaction*

Niv-Mizzet, Parun 's greatest weaknesses are his mana cost (3 red + 3 blue) and protecting him. This is truly a deck that will probably not win without its commander on the field, so you really need to protect him. You should include a package of instants that will allow you to interact with your opponents' attempts to remove him. Lazotep Plating is a cheap option. Basic control magic will also be very helpful (and each one triggers Niv-Mizzy). Counterspell , Delay , Narset's Reversal , Wizard's Retort etc are all good and affordable options. Consider removing Jaya, Venerated Firemage and Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded to make room for them. These planeswalker seem good, but will almost never net you as much value as other instant/sorceries will.

*Manabase and Mana-fixing*

As noted above, getting down Niv-Mizzet will be tough if you can't mana fix. If you are running 40 lands, make sure you have a way to fix your mana. You're going to need 3 Red and 3 Blue to cast Niv-Mizzet. In a basic land only build, to get Niv-Mizzy out on curve, you'll need to make sure you never miss a land drop and you drop down the right land each drop. Most games you'll lose, will probably be because you can't cast Niv-Mizzy. I'd add tools that make sure that happens. Arcane Signet is an easy add. Expedition Map as well.

As you build your mana base, focus on lands that don't come into play tap but can produce any color mana.

*OVERALL*

Really great starting place! You got it down to a solid win condition, you have a clear vision on how you're going to get there, and you have themes that support the plan. All you need know is focusing down on those themes a little more and finding more consistent paths to success. Well done for your second build. (Remember to include your manabase, even if its just filled with basic lands... because right now, it looks like you're playing 40 lands. With an average CMC of 3.5, that seems like a lot.)

Happymaster19 on My Bestest Friends (UV Walker Control)

1 week ago

Went up against what I assume was a Time Vault / Manifold Key combo. I can’t recall my opening hand perfectly but my opponent lead with Underground Sea and Mox Jet into Ponder and Imperial Seal . I could have countered something but my general rule of thumb is to counter what is tutored rather than the tutor. Land, go. They mana rock into Timetwister which I assume is what they tutored as it would shuffle away anything else. I hit that with a Force of Negation and took the turn. Land, go. From there it was much slower. I got out Teferi, Time Raveler on turn 3 and Dovin, Hand of Control the following turn. Countered a Demonic Tutor and responded with Dack Fayden . Dack pulled us into a follow up Jace, the Mind Sculptor . At that point, they were low enough that we could ride Jace’s to deck management, maintaining our counters until Narset, Parter of Veils and Kasmina, Enigma Sage . We continued to keep our opponents top deck and our own managed, eventually completing the crew with Oko, Thief of Crowns coming down for an additional Fractal. Our opponent managed to pull a Tinker while we took the turn off but we had plenty of counters ready at that point and was able to stave off and go in the lethal offensive.

It was only one game but I would definitely have brought in Ashiok, Dream Render having seen Imperial Seal , Demonic Tutor , Tinker , and Tezzeret the Seeker .

Coletrain69 on Grixis Spellslinger EDH

2 weeks ago

Ponder might not be a bad idea and I have a few of them, Gitaxian Probe is also decent for knowing when to save a counter spell and I think I have one of those as well. Three Wishes is a really interesting card that I think would be a lot more fun in commander; I have a couple. Frantic Search might also be decent if you don't like what's in your hand. Cyclonic Rift is also really good and despite it being expensive I'm pretty sure we own one. Talrand, Sky Summoner is also a classic for this kind of deck, and there's also Murmuring Mystic . One of my favs that I think would work really well is The Locust God . Jace's Archivist is really interesting as well and can help you if you're top decking and hurt everyone else, another great option for the same thing is Whispering Madness . Torrential Gearhulk might be slightly pricey but he matches well with what you're doing. Lim-Dul's Vault is also super handy and can be pretty zaney especially for it being cheap. Disallow is pretty crazy too for blocking activated abilities. Bolas's Citadel is also worth looking at. Cursed Totem is really expensive but would also be CRAZY in this deck. Also check out Propaganda .

As far as removal goes, Go for the Throat is always a good option.There's also Slaughter Pact and Force of Despair . Preemptive removal like Sadistic Sacrament would be a great idea as well. Decree of Pain is good but it's mana cost is kind of high; Life's Finale is an equally viable card. Unsommon is super cheap, Boomerang , Undo , Snap , do more or less the same thing.

Spirits on Saheeli's Thopter Factory

2 weeks ago

Hey TheDigitalMoose,

Not too much to say on this one, it has a good theme behind it, aligns nicely to the commander.

I has a good ramp package (about 12 or so on a quick look). Talisman of Creativity / Arcane Signet needs to be in here (can replace a higher CMC one). Dockside Extortionist is good if you can get his pre-con at walmart for $30. Foundry Inspector i see quite a bit. Hullbreacher if you lucky enough to crack one, he's super expensive, but so strong.

Scrap Trawler could be interesting, but I think you're on the token strategy, so it's honestly meh for you. More along the recursion lines, I often see Daretti, Scrap Savant being a go to for closing out a game. Sac your mana ramp artifacts to bring back your Myr Battlesphere for example. Hellkite Tyrant might be fun as an alt-win but he's CMC6 but certainly on theme, might be better than some others in those slots. Steel Overseer is often a good early drop, and has good value in all game facets, development, ahead, behind, even. Mirage Mirror is a good way to bring down CMC with game changers as well.

I think some targeted removal would be good, Chaos Warp , Counterspell , Cyclonic Rift , Vandalblast , lots of talk about the value/situation Mystic Reflection I think it may be cEDH level. Arcane Denial maybe. Narset's Reversal is really good, stealing an opponent spell sometimes better than just countering it. Capsize is a staple.

Draw perhaps could get a couple, it definitely has a draw package, I would convert 2-3 of my CMC6/5, and maybe 2 of my CMC4 moving them to the 1-3CMC slots. Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain is CMC4 but also good if replacing a CMC6. Recurring theme I know, thopters LOVE Skullclamp ! Jeska's Will I was a little show me what you can do, and now, I can't see any deck that shouldn't play this card, I've been trying to buy them when I see them in LGS, but they are never in stock. Brainstorm , Ponder are the strongest of the cantrips, I would include to lower the CMC and hit those land drops. Preordain is borderline I think, but it's still worthy of a spot IMHO. Faithless Looting especially if you have a Daretti, Scrap Savant .

Trading Post is just a fun card, I love it in my artifact decks. Good at a 5.

I'll say it again Lands suck, the cost :(. Steam Vents , Shivan Reef , Fiery Islet , Spire of Industry , Riverglide Pathway  ^Flip are all must includes. Highland Lake / Izzet Guildgate / Swiftwater Cliffs would all be outs for me, things like Sulfur Falls / Training Center / Fabled Passage / Exotic Orchard arent guaranteed mana but have the potential of entering untapped and mana fixing.

I would try and get some more 1 drops (a little lack there at 2, like 6-8 better curve), 3 is probably a good peak, but might be a little too high, have a better progression with CMC2 some mana rocks Arcane Signet / Talisman of Creativity can do that replacing some higher cost ramp. 4 I might try and cut like 3 honestly. 5/6 around 10 total right now its 14. Sometimes evaluating cards on when you can play them, ultimately you want to play more cards = more fun/involvement. Your commander is CMC4 so if your playing her T3/T4 consistently (and that is where most of your cards sit too), you have to choose play the commander or play a 3/4 spell. You want to be developing the board on T1-T3 leading into that T3/T4 commander play with a nice +1 thopter engine. Another thing to think about is now its T4/T5 have 4-7 mana, I can't really cast a 5 and a 2 to use my mana because I'm mostly 3 drops, maybe i have 6 mana and 2x3, but why not play a CMC6+CMC1, or CMC4+CMC2 for maximum value. When everything 3/4 drop including your commander, lots of wasted mana or tough play decisions.

Ancient Stone Idol only has value I think when your ahead, or maybe even if you have a possible swing with flyers, really bad in developing or behind. However, have to balance with how awesomely fun he would be to play.

This deck looks built with good methodology, and a theme/win plan, which is awesome. My friend had a deck I called, "The deck of missed triggers" because no matter what he misses triggers. This deck reminds me of that because you have Draw triggers, Upkeep triggers, CMC enables, ETB's, Attack triggers, end of turn triggers, etc. Lots of stuff to keep track of on your board! It's really fun looking deck, I play Mizzix Spellstorm so I just have to worry about assembling a million combo pieces, but also my Animar Budget is fun, almost the same idea as this deck with creatures vs. artifacts, cast a creature like 5 things trigger and like 4 things modifying the CMC of each spell.

Super fun, nice low moving to mid deck. Cheers!

Ziabo on Kykar Spells

2 weeks ago

Past in Flames to replay those spells, Jeska's Will adds a lot of mana to storm off, Underworld Breach can replay those spells again, Silence might be useful here for when you're wanting to storm off right quick. also some cantrips can make the deck a lil more redundant like Ponder or Preordain

But the deck looks fun as heck!

Mtg_Mega_Nerds on Sliver Deck (Looking for help)

3 weeks ago

Ponder is $3 I don't know why it says $25. Go to the website as it will show the real price, because I think this ponder is from Time Spiral Remastered which is $25. Other sets are $3.

Mtg_Mega_Nerds on Sliver Deck (Looking for help)

3 weeks ago

Oh yes I almost forgot about card draw! For card draw take a couple of lands out for Brainstorm and Ponder .