Hey I run a similar Izzet build (Why can't I hold all these instants?)! This is a cool deck and I LOVE combat tricks! I think that an amazing combat trick is Armed / Dangerous on Nivix Cyclops . That by its self can win games! I would also run Madcap Skills over Ordeal of Purphoros . You really don't need Annul and Smelt in the main board! I would definitely move those to the side board and replace them with 4x Lightning Strike ! Other then that cool budget build!

GoteamIzzet

I really don't prefer Madcap Skills it's an enchantment and I really don't have room for it, Smelt and Annul prevent most devotion decks, which is really is what is run in standard, mainly black devotion, I can get rid of their Whip of Erebos or Bow of Nylea which can easily devastate me. @RedSoxFanKy

I believe you can't use Guttersnipe here very well. 16 cards that'll trigger the 2 damage. I believe you'd be better off increasing your target spells.

Also, your tokens don't count towards devotion if you didn't know. Wish it did, I'd have a deck around them. Pure token deck with the red god

Try to find a way to slide Dragon Mantle in there. It's self replicating firebreathing for one mana, so put it this way, even if an opponent uses something to exile your graveyard or re-shuffle it back into your library that chimera can still beat face with firebreathing.

I see a lot of cards here that can be cut, such as Akroan Crusader , Fanatic of Mogis , (you dont have nearly enough devotion to make it work), Labyrinth Champion (4 mana is bad for this type of build. that's more of a Boros or Gruul card if you ask me). I also don't think you're able to use Guttersnipe very well here. My deck that featured it as a win-con had roughly 12 sorceries and 12 instants.

You may want to have a look at my deck Insane Spellslinger. We're going for slightly different angles, but it may give you some ideas.

Is that better @Grimgrinner, Izzetsane, and unholycookies Keep the suggestions flowing, I need to make this way more better. I want it to be tournament worthy.

As an Izzet lover, I really like this deck. I myself have done both Nivix Cyclops combo deck and a Spellheart Chimera counter burn deck. One thing that I came to realize, is that you need to have more creatures for your target spells. There is nothing worse than having Aqueous Form , Titan's Strength , and Dynacharge in hand with nothing to target. I personally found 12-14 to be ideal, with Young Pyromancer being a fantastic addition to any spell slinging deck, or Omenspeaker to help scry away what you do not need.

have you considered Riverfall Mimic ? It beats face with unblockable, and could still be an afternote to giving niv mizzet cyclops +3/+0. thats 7 damage for 1 spell (plus its effect).

Nivix Cyclops ...sorry

@timothy130130 this is standard not modern.@8bitJesus Thanks, I put in Young pyromancer

I would do away with the enchantments as well. Go with more instant or sorcery. The guys above have some good options. I think you could use some Dragonshift in case you encounter someone with flying. The overload cost it enormous but you might not need it. And if its late in a game (someone suggested to me) and you have the mana for the overload and elemental tokens from YoungPyromancer you could overload a lot of 4/4 dragons on you opponent.

i'd rather swing with a 4/4 unblockable then a 4/4 flyer. Same with power-up. @Hlobik

This might sound a bit oddball but I'd find a way to drop a Codex Shredder into that mix. People see Codex Shredder as a milling pain in the butt and it can really make them hesitant to scry but it's other major gift is bringing something back from your graveyard, so if you're ever caught with a handfull of cards that need your own creature as a target just pop one back from the grave.

@Izzetsane i don't think discouraging scry is enough to make that card worth it. the second ability is too expensive for this kind of build.

It's not about discouraging scry so much as making people try to bluff their way through their scry triggers and give them another annoying thing to worry about, in that way it's a distraction more than discouragement, that part is all about your pokerface. Five mana, tapping and sacking the shredder at the end of your opponent's turn isn't such a huge cost when you're looking for something to trigger the Cyclops during your attack phase, throw through the Guttersnipe or give you a creature to cast so you can use all your targeting spells. It's a guarantee for the next turn more than a solution during the current turn. I've used this kind of deck before and if things go to a late game you often wind up top-decking and hoping for a miracle. Codex Shredder guarantees that miracle.

What's the T4 win?

T1 Mountain

T2 Mountain

T3 Island Nivix Cyclops

T4 Mountain 2x Titan's Strength 1x Hidden Strings (Untap 1 Red 1 Blue) Titan's Strength Aqueous Form Swing for 21 unblockable

I wouldnt list that turn 4 win in the description. Thats a SUPER specific draw setup.

It happened quite often for me in playtests @Grimgrinner

Think an easier turn 4 win to happen is, Armed / Dangerous for 10, add in Blustersquall for 16, or Titan's Strength for 22. That's 3 mana, so still could use your Aqueous Form . Armed / Dangerous the card you want everytime.

true @unholycookies Thanks, I forgot about that easier combo. It is a great card in ANY red deck

This deck is going to have serious, serious problems against anything with removal. The whole deck is built around having creatures to ply your tricks and enchantments on, but there are only 11 creatures, and they're all very easy to get rid of. Young Pyromancer is best because she makes more creatures, but she's a 2x. I think there really needs to be some answer to control decks. You either need to protect your creatures proactively (like by using hexproof creatures), reactively (with counterspells or protective instants), or add a lot more creatures to run through kill spells and wraths. Otherwise you're just going to get two-for-one'd over and over with this deck.

That said, the deck as currently built will CRUSH aggro decks so fast it will make their head spin. Super strong against really any creature-heavy build. But the price is that you're ultra weak to control.

@KrazyCaley I was going to put in my 3x Glaring Spotlight for 3x Dragon Mantle then sac my Glaring Spotlight Boom Hexproof

But, you do make a good point, should I remove my 2x Homing Lightning and 1x Glaring Spotlight for something to give me hex proof?