This is my janky Izzet Blitz deck. It can perform well in some cases (I went 5-0 last FNM) but it lacks consistency. I do not expect this to perform like a Tier 1 deck at all, but with some luck you will be able to catch opponents off-guard. I definitely don't think I could pull 5-0 at FNM regularly with this deck, but I think it is very fun to play. Also I don't like to spend a ton of money on magic, but I have found that this deck performs well for my budget.

The game plan of this deck is to get out a Guttersnipe or Nivix Cyclops, then land some heavy damage through spells and combat. All of the creatures synergise very well with instants and sorceries, so knowing when to cast your spells and when to save them is essential. An ideal combo against an opponent with no board state is: Turn 3 Nivix Cyclops, followed by Turn 4 Hidden Strings, untapping your two lands and ciphering onto the Nivix Cyclops, and then casting Armed / Dangerous. If uncontested, the first hit will deal 8 damage, trigger the ciphered Hidden Strings, and then another hit for 11 damage. 19 damage on turn 4 is easily within burn range if they haven't taken damage already. Additionally you have 4 free mana open after combat for a Steam Augury, counter spell, etc. Guttersnipe works very well with this combo too; the same combo on Turn 4 will result in 6 combat damage plus 8 damage from it's ability triggers. However you must be cautious about kill spells or other tricks your opponent might have; I would never tap out or give the opponent a chance to 2 for 1 or even 3 for 1 my cards with a spell that I could have countered. I choose to main deck 3 Mizzium Skin for protecting my creatures, and they also serve as minor combat tricks to trigger creature abilities.

I find it is better to play defensively against an opponent with a more formidable board state. Against an aggressive deck you should save your spells and look for opportunities to 2 for 1 your opponent. For example, if they attack you with a Burning-Tree Emissary and a Ash Zealot, and you have a Nivix Cyclops, you can lightning strike one and block the other, killing both attackers. When you finally stabilize against aggro you can combo off some spells and kill your opponent in a single attack.

Against control I would side out Lightning Strike for Skullcrack, and put in as much counter magic as possible. I haven't actually played this deck versus U/W yet, so I am not exactly sure though.

The cards in the maybe board are cards that I would like to try out in the side board, but do not own.

Now for my description of how my first FNM went with this deck. I think I played well but I couldn't have won so much without luck.

Round 1: vs RG Monsters

The girl I was playing did not know the rules of magic or how to play her deck that well. For example she played a BTE turn 2, then on turn 3 she thought that the mana from playing BTE last turn could be added to her pool to cast Polukranos. I feel like if she was more familiar with the game she would have more fun at FNM, oh well.

Win 2 - 0

Round 2: vs mono-blue brew

This guy was playing a strange heroic blue brew deck that featured Fated Infatuation, Triton Tactics, and Thassa, God of the Sea. He was definitely a good player and playing his own brew for fun. This was also the first time I played against a Perplexing Chimera, it definitely made the game more complicated. He won game one, and game two was close but I took it. In the last game he tapped out and I was dead on board next turn. However I top decked a clutch Teleportal, and with my Nivix Cyclops on board I was able to pull off a Armed / Dangerous + Teleportal attack for the win.

win - 2 - 1

Round 3: vs mono-red aggro

Surprisingly this was my longest round so far, as well as my closest. Match one started off pretty well for me, I was able to keep pressure off the board and bring the beats. I was able to trade her creatures with removal and generate lots of value thanks to Young Pyromancer and Guttersnipe, and Nivix Cyclops acts as a great defender as well. Match two was very fast, she dumped 4 creatures on to the field by turn three and beat my face in fast. Match three was very tense, I was able to stop her initial onslaught and stay at 2 life for two turns. If she top decked a single burn spell in that time I would have lost for sure. I would not have been able to win without getting a little lucky this round.

win 2 - 1

Round 4: vs Black splash green

This round I played versus a friend who helped me set it up and let me borrow the Steam Vents right before FNM. The first match was close, I was racing my creatures versus his. Thanks to Young Pyromancer I was able to tap down his Desecration Demon by sacrificing tokens. It was a close match but I eventually won. The second match was quick. He wasn't able to do much and got mana screwed pretty bad. I got a Guttersnipe out on turn 3 and another on turn 4. On his next turn he used Duress me with only one black mana on the field, and I cast Mizzium Skin in response. I revealed to him two Hidden Strings, Armed / Dangerous and a land. He took a Armed / Dangerous and passed to me, with only a Temple of Mystery and a Mutavault on the field. Using the Hidden Strings I was able to tap down his Mutavault, trigger my 2 Guttersnipes for four more damage, and swing for the kill. The flexibility and playability of Hidden Strings is awesome in most situations with this deck. I won the round but my friend and I have played a lot before, and he usually beats me.

win 2 - 0

Round 5: vs G/u devotion

This guy was basically playing monogreen, splashing blue for Cyclonic Rift, Prophet of Kruphix and Kiora, the Crashing Wave. I wittled him down slowly in the first game and was able to burn him with a Magma Jet before he killed me with polukranos. In game 2 he was able to sustain my damage with Nylea's Disciple, and wreck me with fat creatures. In the final game I sided in some Skullcrack to stop his life gain. His Garruk and ramp was slowly building up a large army, but I was able to survive and win with an overloaded Teleportal.

win 2 - 1