cards so nice for 1 mana. cant wait to pull one see if its as good as i think 5/5
.Blaze.
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Don't think this is that good a card, but the effect alone is cool enough for me to hope this sees play.
Totema
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(5 votes)
One of the neat utilities of this is to remove your spells from the stack, in case they end up countered or rendered useless. That way you at least get some benefit from everything you cast.
I like how this takes away some of the disadvantage of getting your spells countered. Just get this bad boy out and every countered spell makes him bigger and bigger. Sure, he's weak to removal, but he's a solid one-drop.
Nikeyeia
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(5 votes)
I can see this being used in Legacy burn sideboards, against countermagic. Playtesting will yeld results.
4/5
lorendorky
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Hello Burning Vengeance. you don't need spells to resolve to trigger the enchantment.
djflo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Weird would have been a more appropriate creature type.
Trygon_Predator
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It hasn't got evasion or protection, but they are +1/+1 counters instead of a temporary boost. Lotleth Troll is easier to pump, but our non-Weird Elemental here could be an alternate win-con for Storm. Hmmm.
Lotsofpoopy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.7/5.0)(5 votes)
Pros like me also realize that this guy makes your situational spells relevant at all times.
Earthdawn
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I can see this being awesome in a Charbelcher-styled deck (or as maybe a sideboard option for the real deck). Storm it up and eat all the copies to 1-shot them.
pedrodyl
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Adds some resilience to your deck if you plan on seeing a lot of counterspells. Oh you want to counter that? Looks like I get the last laugh, son.
DoragonShinzui
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
1/2 for R/U is already decent, and the ability to convert anything of yours that's countered (Among other cheapies) into permanent pump is nice.
Every part of me is screaming, however, because someone forgot to put the damned Weird creature type in there. Seriously? Seriously R&D? Are you going to continue to deprive us of Weirds, Izzet's damned creature type? For shame.
Running this in my Izzet sideboard just in case my opponent runs counter spells.
AmericanVigor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Combo this guy with a Tendrils of Agony storm combo deck for super-win.
Domak
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Combines decently with Curse of Echoes. Any instant or sorcery your opponent casts that wouldn't be particularly useful to you, you eat. They'll never want to play instants or sorceries again.
Vakyoom
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I won every game that this guy hit the board during the prerelease. Nothing like dishing two 0 dmg street spasms and a chemister's trick at once then eating them all to make this guy into a 7/8 and swing for the win when my opponent thought he had a victory in the bag.
Will see glorious standard play by yours truly. I'll try to leave some for the delvers in the audience. And yes, that curse seems perfect for a deck revolving around this guy. So much potential.
Oh and he's a 1/2 for (R) or (U) even without his excellent ability, plus he untaps lobber crew when you cast him. Scary good.
ToAsTy42o
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Ruling: You can exile a copy of an instant or sorcery spell to activate Nivmagus Elemental’s ability if you control the copy. Gigadrowse with infinite blue mana? i think this will be the card that will unlock my johnny..... nobody tell me, i wanna figure it out! 8-D
JanusAurelius
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
First turn this and then a free Gut Shot for an easy 3/4.
Let me just say, I love this card. Especially in standard. I'm running 3x of him mainboard in my Grixis Control and he's a threat to any control deck. In the blink of an eye, he can turn into a very aggressive creature or an impressive blocker, only having to exile a flashbacked desperate ravings during an emergency to make him a 3/4. He's a solid one drop that blocks 1/1 creatures all day, can fight Garruk Relentless easily, and can turn countered instant/sorcery spells into fuel. Your opponent will Think Twice before countering your instants and sorceries. He's a very viable alternative to Delver. He may not have evasion, but he can definitely be a threat.
lightningrod14
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
quite frankly, anyone who thinks this card isn't incredible is wrong. mark my words, you'll change your tune.
TheManakinTransfer
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Trust Izzet to make the batshit crazy one drop in the set.
Very interesting mechanics - nothing before has done anything remotely like this, I believe. Lots of crazy potential here.
Gheridarigaaz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ideal scenario... curiosity on guttersnipe. You don't lose anything. The cards replace themselves and you still get a trigger off of guttersnipe. Just make sure to save a few answers for when you'll need them :D
I think there is some dreadful menace from Phyrexia coming, and Niv-Mizzet, one of the few Planar-bound living beings actually aware of a Multiverse, is preparing the Izzet for War with Mirrodin. I think they're going to be compleately curb-stomped.
But they're still going to fight.
Because if they can't Protect the Guildpact, you can be damned well sure they'll AVENGE IT.
Rakevinwr
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Nivmagus Elemental - because some spells with storm weren't being played enough already.
Clashkill84
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
How this has a lower rating than Jackal Pup I have no idea...once this becomes broken and dominates a format the rating will go up I guarantee, still too new.
For now though this might be my favorite one drop ever, makes me wanna build a storm deck.
RedAtrocitus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Wow... Slaughter Pact, phyrexian "free" cards... this can get big fast...
voyager1
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A competitively-costed card with a novel, 'build-around-me' ability? And it's in my two favorite colors? Yeah, I like this card a lot!
My one complaint: I wish it had been printed as an atog.
VirusVescichetta
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This actually gets stupid with Guttersnipe and Goblin Electromancer. Just cast your cheap spells, do the damage with Guttersnipe, then exile them to pump this guy and swing. Not a bad first three turns, really.
deceifulfox
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
says spell you control. does that mean grave yard as well? since you have control over your graveyard? Do you have to cast a spell or pitch it from your hand instead? Think it can be great card just wondering
docstorm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Not really sure where this thing would be good. I guess I could see it being ok in a guttersnipe deck or burning vengeance deck, since you get the value out of casting the spell (doesn't need to resolve to trigger the abilities). Also might be ok with Quirion Drayd.
Overall though, doesn't seem too useful. 2.5/5
Gamecat23
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I got one of these out along with a Guttersnipe enchanted with Dual Casting. Suddenly, Artful Dodge = 6 direct damage + an unblockable 11/12 creature. It pretty much asks to be in a deck with one drop flashback cards.
shotoku64
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
T1 mountain, This guy T2 mountain, shock, shock, exile, exile, swing for 5 T3 mountain, spell, spell, spell, exile, exile , exile, Swing for 11 T4...
makes me want to build a deck for him, but I like my spells to resolve too much =(
Otterbee
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
If you're not in Standard, Nivmagus combos awesomely with cheap Storm spells. But, with Cipher having just been spoiled for Dimir, I'm thinking there's some awesome combo action to be had starting in Gatecrash. I'm buying my playset now.
For some reason, I'm seeing Mewtwo with dreadlocks.
Arachnos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's a dual-colored 1/2 one-drop which is by itself not bad.
The spell exile thing is a bonus. Though, I can see situations where the spell you exile can be replaced wih the Elemental itself, say, instead of Lightning Bolting an attacking creature, exile the Lightning Bolt, and block with the Elemental.
XepherXero
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The art almost reminds me of Mewtwo in its armor from the first Pokemon movie.
Hunter06
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy is suprizingly... bad... 3/5 Stars
Odee
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Plus this bad-boy exists happily in Blue and Blue-Splash decks. There is a damn good chance you'll have something to protect him when he cops removal, Dissipate, Dispell, Syncopate, Izzet Charm, Negate, Counterflux, Judge's Familiar, Mizzium Skin...he's packed with goodies.
Secksee
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I might be a little fuzzy, but would you be able to exile multiple copies of gigadrowse? I know that the copies don't count as casting a spell, but it sounds like they are still spells. Just ones you copied, not casted.
SRSFACE
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This guy + cipher cards is surprisingly good. Getting him off on turn 1 and then casting, then allowing the cipher to be encoded on him with Hands of Binding on turn 2 is particularly gruesome. It also makes Syncopate a dramatically different card because it turns it into "Do I let this spell get countered or do I let the Elemental grow by +2/+2?"
a 1/2 for 1 that is dual color? Sign me up! Only downside is if an opponent Sorin's your turn and exiles all your fancy spells. Wait! That ability can be used to your advantage to say: "Hey i know you say countered my spell but i have a question... What spell?" Or actually use it in a deck built around this mechanic or replicate or something. Why is it not 5/5? What could be a better non legendary 1 drop creature for red/blue ?
Trapez
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Correct me if im wrong, but if you would cast Reverberate to copy any spell, then cast second Reverberate to copy the first Reverberate you can create infinite loop of copies. And as far as I understand this card doesnt care if its a copy so you can exile the copies. Infinite copies that is. Of course you can also use Twincast or any other coping machine.
My favourite thing about this is the pseudo-counter protection it offers, if I'm understanding the ability correctly.
-"I'll counter that lightning bolt" -"Beat you to it"
non1337
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
>Trapez
You can't, because one spell leave the stack before the other is put into it, there is no spell that can be exiled from the loop that doesn't cause it to break. At most you only have 2 spells that can be exiled.
Mistralis
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Aside from his amazing ability, at the end of the day, he's a one-drop 1/2 in two colors. Not only will he block any of your opponent's first creatures, he'll kill them. The only T1 cards I can think of that can kill him (there's definitely more, I don't know many) are Isamaru, Hound of Konda, Kird Ape (sometimes), and Mogg Fanatic.
Same can be said for Deathrite Shaman, though. Both are awesome.
EdgarPoeAllen
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ink Treader Nephilim. Have fun attacking with something like a 21/23. Really go nuts with Selesnya Charm or Assault Strobe
Melubb
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
It's a creature that often 2 to 1 on yourself - when you use a sorcery or instant and exile it and doesn't resolve - u will lose two cards when it get removed from the game. A really bad rare drop.
Ping all your heroics for 1, counter with nivmagus = 3 heroic triggers and +2/+2.
TPmanW
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Fun combo with Possibility Storm. You can sac your spells to the elemental and still have the storm resolve
jbump75
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Question...I have Nivmagus Elemental on the battlefield. His Power/Toughness is 5/6 due to exiling spells. I then play a card like Phyrexian Metamorph. The question is, is Phyrexian Metamorph a 1/2 or a 5/6?
Raexs
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Kinda cool with Dimir's cipher mechanic. Keeps him fed for free as long as he keeps swingin'.
I use him in a heroic deck. I cast hidden strings and cypher on him then every time he attacks I target my heroics so they get pluaes and then he eats the spell. turn 2 I have a 4/4 and a 2/3. and an engine to keep going
BabyZiggles
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card with anything that has cipher is fantastic, especially Hidden Strings.
This card can eat the ciphers, because they are copies of the card being cast, not just the effect being repeated.
EidolonDragon
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
How to go ultimate yolo with Nivmagus:
T1: Land, Cast Nivmagus. T2: Land, Cast (and exile) 4 of any of the "Pact" Spells or other Instant/Sorceries that can be done without cost. Then Cast Armed (from Armed // Dangerous). Swing for 20.
Ataraxiom
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I feel like the experimenters in the flavour text were actually MaRo and his design team o_o
Necrotech1
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Since Theros block hit... this little guy just got *ALOT* of extra mileage.
Ciphered Hidden Strings... untap two lands... Cast an extra T2 spell or a get 3/4 on T2... Nice
Use the Hidden Strings to Feed him... or tag some Heroics creatures you might have... then feed him...
and to bat... Master of Waves interacts with him giving MORE of a boost?
Not bad at all for a 1 drop that can also evolve a cloudfin raptor or Shambleshark
JojoTheSummonner
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If you cast something, then exile it with Nivmagus Elemental, if you have a Guttersnipe, will Guttersnipe's ability activate?
Also works wonders with Storm as you can eat the copies.
Aquillion
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
His ability is all sorts of useful; in addition to being valuable tech against countermagic (or any other response that would cause your instants and sorceries to fizzle), simply being able to dump one-mana instants into him at instant speed is often very valuable.
Comments (76)
4/5
Oh you want to counter that?
Looks like I get the last laugh, son.
Every part of me is screaming, however, because someone forgot to put the damned Weird creature type in there. Seriously? Seriously R&D? Are you going to continue to deprive us of Weirds, Izzet's damned creature type? For shame.
Will see glorious standard play by yours truly. I'll try to leave some for the delvers in the audience. And yes, that curse seems perfect for a deck revolving around this guy. So much potential.
Oh and he's a 1/2 for (R) or (U) even without his excellent ability, plus he untaps lobber crew when you cast him. Scary good.
Gigadrowse with infinite blue mana? i think this will be the card that will unlock my johnny..... nobody tell me, i wanna figure it out! 8-D
Remove the spells that you don't want to cast from the stack to fuel this guys power...
That's all I can come up with.
T_T
I think there is some dreadful menace from Phyrexia coming, and Niv-Mizzet, one of the few Planar-bound living beings actually aware of a Multiverse, is preparing the Izzet for War with Mirrodin. I think they're going to be compleately curb-stomped.
But they're still going to fight.
Because if they can't Protect the Guildpact, you can be damned well sure they'll AVENGE IT.
For now though this might be my favorite one drop ever, makes me wanna build a storm deck.
Yeah, I like this card a lot!
My one complaint: I wish it had been printed as an atog.
Do you have to cast a spell or pitch it from your hand instead?
Think it can be great card just wondering
Overall though, doesn't seem too useful. 2.5/5
mountain, This guy
T2
mountain, shock, shock, exile, exile, swing for 5
T3
mountain, spell, spell, spell, exile, exile , exile, Swing for 11
T4...
makes me want to build a deck for him, but I like my spells to resolve too much =(
The spell exile thing is a bonus. Though, I can see situations where the spell you exile can be replaced wih the Elemental itself, say, instead of Lightning Bolting an attacking creature, exile the Lightning Bolt, and block with the Elemental.
3/5 Stars
Let's not forget he's an excellent target for Illusionist's Bracers.
Sign me up!
Only downside is if an opponent Sorin's your turn and exiles all your fancy spells.
Wait! That ability can be used to your advantage to say: "Hey i know you say countered my spell but i have a question... What spell?"
Or actually use it in a deck built around this mechanic or replicate or something.
Why is it not 5/5?
What could be a better non legendary 1 drop creature for red/blue ?
2 +1/+1 counters for each
-"I'll counter that lightning bolt"
-"Beat you to it"
You can't, because one spell leave the stack before the other is put into it, there is no spell that can be exiled from the loop that doesn't cause it to break. At most you only have 2 spells that can be exiled.
Not only will he block any of your opponent's first creatures, he'll kill them.
The only T1 cards I can think of that can kill him (there's definitely more, I don't know many) are Isamaru, Hound of Konda, Kird Ape (sometimes), and Mogg Fanatic.
Same can be said for Deathrite Shaman, though. Both are awesome.
A really bad rare drop.
Ping all your heroics for 1, counter with nivmagus = 3 heroic triggers and +2/+2.
This card can eat the ciphers, because they are copies of the card being cast, not just the effect being repeated.
T1: Land, Cast Nivmagus.
T2: Land, Cast (and exile) 4 of any of the "Pact" Spells or other Instant/Sorceries that can be done without cost.
Then Cast Armed (from Armed // Dangerous). Swing for 20.
Ciphered Hidden Strings... untap two lands... Cast an extra T2 spell or a get 3/4 on T2... Nice
Use the Hidden Strings to Feed him... or tag some Heroics creatures you might have... then feed him...
and to bat... Master of Waves interacts with him giving MORE of a boost?
Not bad at all for a 1 drop that can also evolve a cloudfin raptor or Shambleshark
Also works wonders with Storm as you can eat the copies.