Niv-Mizzet

From MTG Salvation Wiki

Character

Name	Niv-Mizzet
Birthplace	Ravnica
Lifetime	Unknown
Race	Dragon
Sources	Guildpact, Dissension

Niv-Mizzet is the dragon leader and parun of the Izzet League and is at least 15,000 years old. His intellect exceeds the intellect of standard mortals by several (hundred?) levels, and he is known for many ingenious inventions that currently serve the citizens of Ravnica, the most known being the almost indestructible, yet easily usable and forgeable metal, mizzium.

He was a recluse and wasn't seen public for 2500+ years until his appearance when he came to help the goblin master engineer Crixizix deal with the rampant-running nephilim. He destroyed two of them, but was defeated by the rest. He then left for an unknown destination and hasn't returned since.

His disappearance from Ravnica seems to be complete, as even those who are tied to the Firemind cannot find him. There has been some speculation as for whether or not this denotes that he can planeswalk, either from having a spark or from being so genius that he could create a spell that allows interplanar travel.

[edit] The Firemind

The Firemind is an extrasensory link to Niv-Mizzet’s omniscience. It is to be immersed in passionate brilliance. Not all Izzet are in tune with the Firemind though, the honor must be earned by passing a test, or an extraordinary achievement.

[edit] Trivia

His card's flavor text "(Z->)90° - (E-N²W)90°t=1" is very well known, and has led to multiple interpretations; one such is that it reads "Niv-Mizzet = 1", as when one turns the symbols in the parenthesis 90 degrees, it reads "(NIV)-(MIZZE)t=1", a possible allusion that he considers himself #1 in every aspect, or that he is only dragon left in Ravnica. Mark Rosewater's comment on the "=1" part was that this means "equal 1 copy of his name".^[1]

Another interpretation is that his ability to tap to draw a card does 1 point of damage.

[edit] References