The first ability has its use, but there are cheaper options. The second ability is where he shines, preferably with Training Ground.
Vakyoom
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Gah, those beautiful izzit options. You can use this guy instead of desolate lighthouse if you want. Also helps you do more with fun spells like epic experiment and bonfire.
Question time: Does his 2nd ability work with talrand? Meaning, does the copied instant or sorcery count as "cast", enabling you to put another drake onto the field? Or does it simply appear on the stack?
benevolinsolence
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
@Vakyoom
No, copied spells never count as cast.
Really just wonderful for two mana. 2nd ability is super strong with just about anything and the first ability is a great mana sink.
4/5
djflo
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Vakyoom - it won't work with Talrand, as you said it simply gets put on the stack.
Pretty nice and synergistic; you use the draw/discard to get to the spells you want to copy. If Lightning Bolt was still in standard... As is there are very few good cheap instants/sorceries bar some removal.
Lotsofpoopy
★☆☆☆☆ (1.4/5.0)(5 votes)
Pros like me will make sure this versatile wizard sees a lot of play.
DoragonShinzui
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Snazzy wizard with a plethora of options. Copying spells that you've Overloaded will be hilarious. Mizzium Mortars for all, twice!
mathy1863
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I see this as a decent replacement for Desolate Lighthouse, but his second ability is way too expensive to be useful. Unless it's super late-game, the only thing you can copy is tiny spells. There's better things I can do with six mana than doubling my electrickery.
On the other hand, he is 2/2 for 2 CMC, and the first ability is a nice way to get value from the mana you left open to counter a spell but didn't end up needing. 3/5
AmericanVigor
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
A friend of mine derived an infinite-mana combo with Nivix Guildmage - cast Time Spiral when you have 10 lands, then use the mage's second ability to copy the spell. When the copy resolves, use the six untapped lands to pay 4 to generate another Time Spiral off of the original and tap the other two lands to generate two mana, then repeat the process.
Okuu-chan
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
A huge improvement over Izzet Guildmage, since he can loot into the spells you actually want to copy. I can definitely see this as a Miracle engine.
Hylebos
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
It was fun to tap 8 mana to play and copy Traitorous Instinct to win one of my games at the Midnight Release Draft for this set. Dead useful, should be amusing in EDH as well.
tenminutegod
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
David Bowie, is that you?
Dabok
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If you run this with Goblin Electromancer, the spells you can duplicate are much more manageable. The fact that you can have multiple copies of electromancer and add some ramping in your deck, makes this card worthy of being built around. May not competitive, but a casual fun-themed deck. Or, some would say, either a win-more or lose-more deck (yeah, lose-more since it works best if you have a god hand and no opponent) I love it! 4/5
Augthail
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
@Okuu-Chan
You do realize that because of the less restrictive mana cost Izzet Guildmage can be used to make modern-legal unlimited combos, right?
Improvement? Yes, in some aspects. HUGE improvement? Not really.
Poperp98
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card is super good in EDH. This + Turnabout/Early Harvest/Reset and it usually ends up being infinite mana. Someone else mentioned that it works with Time Spiral, though that could also give opponents a counterspell for free (eventually). :(
Plus, going through cards like that is amazing. If you end up with the infinite mana, you'll eventually be able to discard down like a tutor. Then Comet Storm everybody for 1 point of damage 1 million times.
Darkvramp
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
What happens if you use his first ability, and you happen to have no cards in your hand?
Totema
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Darkvramp: Draw a card, then immediately discard it. Derp. Unless that's yourkinda thing? There are much more efficient ways to do that sort of thing though, so it's not the greatest of plays.
Still, its always welcome when a creature can do these on its own.
Lavrant
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(5 votes)
If Innistrad was the block of awesome hats, RTR is gearing up to be the block of awful pants.
Kura-san
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I personally find the first ability overcosted by just 1 CMC. The second ability is simply amazing, and the cost is justified for the amazing things you can do with a second copy of great instants and sorceries. Other than that, a 2/2 for 2CMC that also has better art than Izzet Guildmage. Solid 4/5
zzxyyzx
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Somehow whenever I see this art I think of Hung Up by Madonna...
James_Kernaghan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Bulky and pricey activated abilities. He's labourous to play...
Doaj
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Yay, it's Ral Zarek!
Ike38
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Wait... Is that Ral Zarek???
My nerdy thought is now getting crazy. What if these abilities are the same as when he becomes planeswalker??? Something like....
2CMC Loyalty Counter : 2
+ 1: Draw a card, then discard a card. - 2: Copy target instant or sorcery spell you control. You may choose the new targets for that copy. - 4: Deals 4 damage to target creature and each other creature with the same name as that creature. (Homing Lightning)
I know this sounds not that powerful but it is only for 2 CMC.
glenncoltrane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Will the second ability still copy a spell if it is countered? If it does, then does that mean the copied spell cannot be countered?
1. Cast Time Spiral. 2. Use Nivix Guildmage's second ability targeting Time Spiral. 3. Resolve the copy, drawing a new hand and untapping 6 lands. 4. Cast spells. 5. Repeat #2-4 until you win.
The lategame potential of this guy in EDH cannot be expressed enough. Anything that runs blue, red, and mid-game spells that dont mind being copied should consider it.
The blue-red colors of this guy (and maybe throw in black for grixis.) is just perfect for taking mid-range spells and pushing them over the top to late game heavy-hitter level. ...or to take late-game finishers and really breaking them is fun too.
Now with all that said, he has to live long enough... but running black for unearth and other raise dead effects is one of the reasons I brought it up earlier.
When judging this card, remember that as long as he's alive, It's pure card advantage.... -You're not paying for the extra copy of the spell, you're paying for the card advantage of casting that spell twice.
Syrtees
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The 2 cost 2/2 with benefits is nice with this card, especially the draw-discard option. Unlike everyone else 4 mana for his second ability isn't what bothers me, it's the fact that it says "Spell you control". It is for that reason I give pause to running him.
Steinhauser
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Nivix + any spell that makes 5+ mana of any colour = autowin
Simply copy the spell for 2UR, and have either U or R left over. Build up an infinite amount of U and R. Loot an infinite number of times, then cast any spell in your deck (such as fireball for 20).
So, how do you get a spell that makes 5+ mana of any colour? In standard, triton tactics and other untapping spells can untap multiple axebane guardians and set off the combo.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Its ability is to pricey for an early drop creature. Does not sync well for a competitive deck. Control decks would prefer better defenders against aggro or more immediate utility.
Still interesting card for a casual deck.
Casimir_the_Great
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
For all of you who said that it was Ral Zarek, it's actually Bori Andon, the guy referenced on cards like Essence Backlash. https://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/ur/219
gut.gemacht
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Were the Roman columns a very early hint about Theros?
Comments (31)
Question time: Does his 2nd ability work with talrand? Meaning, does the copied instant or sorcery count as "cast", enabling you to put another drake onto the field? Or does it simply appear on the stack?
No, copied spells never count as cast.
Really just wonderful for two mana. 2nd ability is super strong with just about anything and the first ability is a great mana sink.
4/5
Pretty nice and synergistic; you use the draw/discard to get to the spells you want to copy. If Lightning Bolt was still in standard... As is there are very few good cheap instants/sorceries bar some removal.
On the other hand, he is 2/2 for 2 CMC, and the first ability is a nice way to get value from the mana you left open to counter a spell but didn't end up needing. 3/5
May not competitive, but a casual fun-themed deck.
Or, some would say, either a win-more or lose-more deck (yeah, lose-more since it works best if you have a god hand and no opponent)
I love it! 4/5
You do realize that because of the less restrictive mana cost Izzet Guildmage can be used to make modern-legal unlimited combos, right?
Izzet Guildmage + Training Grounds + Desperate Ritual(spliced to Lava Spike) or Manamorphose to cast an X-Cost Burn spell= one-turn death.
Improvement? Yes, in some aspects. HUGE improvement? Not really.
Plus, going through cards like that is amazing. If you end up with the infinite mana, you'll eventually be able to discard down like a tutor. Then Comet Storm everybody for 1 point of damage 1 million times.
Still, its always welcome when a creature can do these on its own.
My nerdy thought is now getting crazy. What if these abilities are the same as when he becomes planeswalker??? Something like....
2CMC
Loyalty Counter : 2
+ 1: Draw a card, then discard a card.
- 2: Copy target instant or sorcery spell you control. You may choose the new targets for that copy.
- 4: Deals 4 damage to target creature and each other creature with the same name as that creature. (Homing Lightning)
I know this sounds not that powerful but it is only for 2 CMC.
Nivix Guildmage, 6 islands, 1 Gilded Lotus, and 1 Chromatic Lantern.
1. Cast Time Spiral.
2. Use Nivix Guildmage's second ability targeting Time Spiral.
3. Resolve the copy, drawing a new hand and untapping 6 lands.
4. Cast spells.
5. Repeat #2-4 until you win.
For bonus points: Win by milling them out with Terrain Generator and a Hedron Crab in play.
The blue-red colors of this guy (and maybe throw in black for grixis.) is just perfect for taking mid-range spells and pushing them over the top to late game heavy-hitter level. ...or to take late-game finishers and really breaking them is fun too.
Copying gifts ungiven, opportunity, goblin grenade, exsanguinate, epic experiment, cruel ultimatum, washout, time warp, spin into myth targeting opponent commanders, a kicked sadistic sacrament to really screw someone who's earned your ire, etc. The possibilities are limited only by your mana base.
Now with all that said, he has to live long enough... but running black for unearth and other raise dead effects is one of the reasons I brought it up earlier.
When judging this card, remember that as long as he's alive, It's pure card advantage.... -You're not paying for the extra copy of the spell, you're paying for the card advantage of casting that spell twice.
Simply copy the spell for 2UR, and have either U or R left over. Build up an infinite amount of U and R. Loot an infinite number of times, then cast any spell in your deck (such as fireball for 20).
So, how do you get a spell that makes 5+ mana of any colour? In standard, triton tactics and other untapping spells can untap multiple axebane guardians and set off the combo.
Still interesting card for a casual deck.