Nivix Cyclops
 
Nivix Cyclops is an interesting card and, I think, a rather fun one to play with. It also exemplifies the strange tension underlying the blue-red instants-and-sorceries archetype, where the deck isn't sure whether it's aggressive or defensive and is actually kind of both. In competitive Magic, when that style of deck uses creatures, it tends to just ignore the defensive side and go all in on the offense, and it tends to work because instants and sorceries are powerful. Nivix Cyclops doesn't always fit there, but it's very good for the more casual decks in that archetype, and is worth a look in multiplayer, where you might have to defend early and attack late, or else defend against one player while attacking another.
 
Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 3/5
EDH/Commander: 3/5

Nivix Cyclops (4/17)

One of the many cards that plays well with the usual blue/red strategy of lots of spells, Nivix Cyclops is pretty straightforward. It relies on, and wants, a critical mass of instants and sorceries, growing larger with each one. For one more mana, it has more bulk than Kiln Fiend, but you can’t “surprise” your opponent like you can with everyone’s favorite elemental dog.

The difference between two and three mana, though, is enough to render Nivix Cyclops a bit of a lesser choice, though. It’s good in budget/Pauper spellslinger decks as a back-up to Kiln Fiend, but it comes down a bit too late to really be as good as it would want.

Constructed: 2.75

Casual: 4.25

Limited: 4

Multiplayer: 2.5

Commander: 2.5