Overview

Seize Control is a spellslinger deck that gets cheaper with every big spell. Mizzix of the Izmagnus gives you an experience counter whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell with mana value greater than the number of experience counters you have, and your instants and sorceries cost {1} less for each experience counter. The more expensive your spells are, the faster the discount grows.

The 99 cards are 14 creatures, 5 artifacts, 3 enchantments, 23 instants, 15 sorceries and 39 lands. The deck has cost reducers such as Goblin Electromancer and Seal of the Guildpact, spell payoffs such as Talrand, Sky Summoner, Charmbreaker Devils and Melek, Izzet Paragon, and theft spells such as Blatant Thievery, Dominate, Aethersnatch, Act of Aggression and Word of Seizing. Card draw and X spells such as Stroke of Genius, Blue Sun's Zenith, Comet Storm and Epic Experiment fill out the deck.

Key Cards

◈
Mizzix's Mastery
Copy Spell · Finisher
A sorcery for {3}{R}. It exiles an instant or sorcery from your graveyard and casts a copy for free, and overloaded for {5}{R}{R}{R} it casts a copy of every instant and sorcery in your graveyard. It can make a whole game's worth of spells go off at once.
◈
Blatant Thievery
Theft · Sorcery
A sorcery for {4}{U}{U}{U}. For each opponent, you gain control of target permanent that player controls. A huge swing in a multiplayer game, and it takes their best card.
◈
Arjun, the Shifting Flame
Card Draw · Flying
A 5/5 for {4}{U}{R}. It has flying, and whenever you cast a spell you put the cards in your hand on the bottom of your library and draw that many. It rebuilds your hand every time you cast a spell.
◈
Counterflux
Counterspell · Overload
An instant for {U}{U}{R}. It can't be countered and counters target spell you don't control, and overloaded for {1}{U}{U}{R} it counters each spell you don't control. It can end a whole turn from the other players.

Playing the Deck

The early game is about mana and cheap cards. Sol Ring, Izzet Signet, Thought Vessel, Worn Powerstone and Goblin Electromancer ramp you or lower costs, and Brainstorm, Preordain, Faithless Looting and Desperate Ravings sort your hand. Mizzix of the Izmagnus begins collecting experience counters as soon as you cast a big spell.

The middle of the game is about interaction and card advantage. Talrand, Sky Summoner makes Drakes, Fact or Fiction, Steam Augury and Prophetic Bolt mix cards and damage, Counterflux, Mystic Confluence and Aethersnatch stop other players' plays, and Dominate, Act of Aggression and Word of Seizing steal creatures. Thought Reflection doubles your draws.

The late game is about huge turns. Blatant Thievery takes a permanent from each opponent, Mizzix's Mastery and Epic Experiment cast many spells for free, Meteor Blast, Comet Storm and Urza's Rage finish, and Call the Skybreaker makes a 5/5 flyer again and again. Chain Reaction, Magmaquake and Sleep clear or freeze the table.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths: The deck has a huge number of cheap instants, plenty of card draw and a lot of ways to take over a game. It also has plenty of interaction, including Mizzium Mortars, Aetherize, Echoing Truth, Repeal, Mirror Match and Reins of Power.

Weaknesses: Only 14 creatures means the deck has little board presence, so it relies on spells and a long game, and a single counterspell on a key piece can slow it down. Many of the best cards are expensive, so the deck can be vulnerable early.

Want to improve it? See the Seize Control upgrade guide: twelve swaps with the data behind each one.

Verdict
Seize Control is a spell-heavy deck with a big payoff for playing expensive spells and stealing the best cards at the table. It is a good choice for players who like instant-speed interaction and big, flashy turns.

Want to see what a fully optimised Mizzix of the Izmagnus build looks like? Try the Oracle.

✦ Build with The Oracle

Frequently Asked Questions

What cards are in the Seize Control decklist?
The Seize Control precon is a 100-card Commander deck led by Mizzix of the Izmagnus. The full Seize Control decklist, with every card, current prices and a button to copy the list into your deck builder, is on this page.

When was Seize Control released?
Seize Control was released on November 13, 2015 as part of Commander 2015.

Who is the commander of Seize Control?
Seize Control is led by Mizzix of the Izmagnus, a Izzet (U/R) legendary creature.

How many creatures are in Seize Control?
The 99 cards besides Mizzix of the Izmagnus include 14 creatures.

How many lands does Seize Control have?
Seize Control has 39 lands in the 99 cards besides Mizzix of the Izmagnus, including basic lands.

Full Decklist

All 100 cards from the out-of-the-box Seize Control precon, with current prices. Click any card to expand it.

Fetching decklist…