Phoenixlance wrote: ↑11 months ago
The other would be primarily focusing on multicolored cards, which could open up
Niv-Mizzet Reborn or
Niv-Mizzet, Supreme as alternate commanders. The latter does have natural synergy with the Loam plan although it does make finding it initially more challenging.
I have a
Niv-Mizzet Reborn primer which uses cycling as one of the main themes. You could adapt elements to focus on things that you want to do.
But the main idea is that you can use cascade cards (
Ardent Plea,
Demonic Dread,
Violent Outburst,
Shardless Agent) to get either the
Life from the Loam or
Fluctuator if these are the only 2 cmc or under cards in your deck.
Niv-Mizzet Reborn ability to get you one of those cascade cards is super high. Then combine with
Astral Slide and
Astral Drift to get insane value blinking Niv-Mizzet Reborn.
Then I literally just made a
Niv-Mizzet, Supreme deck last night so I can reflect on how you can build something that fits into the Loam plan.
Glimpse the Unthinkable can mill for 20 (jump-start) to fill your graveyard up and Loam.
Memory Sluice does 8 (or even 16).
Breaking // Entering for 16.
Grisly Salvage has the advantage of putting cards into hand, but also filling graveyard with spells.
Getting the
Fluctuator is a little more work, but
Treasured Find works if milled.
Academy Ruins,
Buried Ruin,
Sequestered Stash are lands that Loam can get to get you
Fluctuator if milled. The neat thing about these lands is that you can always get the
Fluctuator back if removed.
Then filling up your graveyard with Loam, gives you a ton of access to bi-colored control cards via
Niv-Mizzet, Supreme. Discarding lands for the jump-start is also perfect with Loam.
On the same vein
Hall of Heliod's Generosity can give you access to
Astral Slide or
Astral Drift and although
Niv-Mizzet, Supreme doesn't have an ETB, they are excellent protection against removal (you will have him the entire rest of the game with the setup) and you could look at some ETB creatures in 99 for value.
For example
Arboreal Grazer can put extra lands into play which is guaranteed with the Loam.
Slogurk, the Overslime can double up as a pseudo Loam via
Astral Slide.
And yes
Volrath's Stronghold can give you access to creatures to round out utility lands.
I will say the neat thing about having a deck with
Niv-Mizzet Reborn or
Niv-Mizzet, Supreme is that I'm always excited to see new bi-colored cards in future sets. It gives you a nice focus and makes particular cards that you might have not valued, more exciting when spoiled.
I would say with
Fluctuator that you want the
2 cycling lands (
Canyon Slough,
Fetid Pools,
Irrigated Farmland,
Scattered Groves,
Sheltered Thicket) just because having to spend
1 on triomes is a factor. They are cheap to buy.