Nivix Cyclops
Creature — Cyclops
Defender
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, this creature gets +3/+0 until end of turn and can attack this turn as though it didn't have defender.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- RU
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might
- Price
- $0.10
- EDHREC rank
- #21460
Nivix Cyclops is a payoff for spellslinger decks that want a repeatable, untapped attacker — cast two or three instants in a turn and it swings as a 4/4 or larger while leaving blockers behind. The cost is fragility: without protection it dies to any removal spell, often on the same turn you tapped out to enable it.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Pauper is where Nivix Cyclops is most at home — it anchors dedicated Izzet spellslinger lists alongside Kiln Fiend, and the format's speed and cheap cantrips let it threaten a kill as early as turn three. In Modern and Legacy the same role exists but the competition is stiffer; Nivix Cyclops gets outclassed by faster threats and more resilient payoffs, so it appears only in budget or casual builds. Commander is the wildcard: in a focused Izzet spellslinger deck with enough cantrips and protection, Nivix Cyclops can close games, but a 1/4 base with no evasion or built-in protection gets picked off easily in a four-player pod before it ever connects.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.10 bulk tier
At $0.10, Nivix Cyclops is pure bulk — you'll find copies in any common box or throw-in trade. The price is stable because supply is vast and demand is narrow; it won't appreciably drop further, but there's no realistic upside either.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.