Neheb vs Mayael vs Kurkesh vs Meren EDH / CMDR game play for Magic: The Gathering

Deck Strategies

• 

  Neheb, the Eternal

  Generate large amounts of red mana during combat to cast multiple spells and deal damage directly to opponents, using burn spells and Chandra planeswalkers to control the board and create token creatures for offense.

• 

  Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient

  Leverage artifact synergies and mana rocks to generate massive amounts of mana and value, utilizing untap effects and copying triggered abilities to fuel combos and overwhelm opponents.

• 

  Meren of Clan Nel Toth

  Utilize graveyard recursion and experience counters to bring back creatures repeatedly, creating a resilient board presence that can outvalue opponents through incremental advantage and creature attrition.

• 

  Mayael the Anima

  Ramp aggressively and cast large creatures to dominate the battlefield, using equipment and protection spells to maintain board presence and leverage big threats to close the game.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Don uses Mirage Mirror to copy powerful permanents like Neheb and Basalt Monolith, maximizing synergy and mana generation.

• 2

  Kenny leverages Chandra's minus ability combined with multiple mana sources to clear the board while still maintaining pressure with tokens.

• 3

  Tom uses Command Beacon to repeatedly recast Meren and trigger graveyard recursion, maintaining a steady flow of creatures despite board wipes.

• 4

  Dan's use of Quicksilver Amulet combined with Illusionist's Bracers indicates a combo approach to generate infinite mana or repeated triggered effects.

• 5

  Don exploits Paradox Engine and Animation Module interaction for explosive mana untapping and card draw, accelerating his ability to execute combos.

• 6

  The timing of board wipes like Chandra's Ignition and Damnation significantly shifts board presence and forces players to adapt their strategies mid-game.

Notable Cards

• 

  Mirage Mirror

• 

  Paradox Engine

• 

  Cogwork Assembler

• 

  Chandra, Flamecaller

• 

  Damnation

• 

  Quicksilver Amulet

• 

  Illusionist's Bracers

• 

  Dreamstone Hedron

• 

  Basalt Monolith

• 

  Nim Deathmantle

Summary

The game begins with all four players developing their board states with mana rocks, utility lands, and early creatures. Don, playing Kurkesh, focuses on assembling artifact synergies with cards like Mirage Mirror, Cogwork Assembler, and Paradox Engine, generating value and mana acceleration. Kenny on Neheb leverages red mana generation and Chandra's planeswalker abilities to create tokens and deal damage across the board, trying to maintain pressure while ramping mana. Tom pilots Meren, using graveyard recursion and experience counters to bring back creatures like Birds of Paradise and Maren herself, enabling a resilient creature-based strategy. Dan, with Mayael, plays big creatures and uses ramp and card draw spells to flood the board with threats while protecting his resources with equipment and interaction. Key turning points include Kenny's Chandra's Ignition wiping much of the board, forcing players to adapt. Tom responds with Damnation to reset the board, while Don capitalizes on artifact synergies and untap effects from animation module and Paradox Engine to generate explosive turns. Dan's use of Quicksilver Amulet and Illusionist's Bracers hints at combo potential, while Don's copy of Dreamstone Hedron and multiple untapping triggers accelerates his card draw and mana production. The gameplay revolves around heavy board interaction, resource management, and exploiting synergies between artifacts and creatures. The win condition appears to be a combination of combo potential from Don's artifact engine and aggressive board presence from the other players, particularly through Neheb's mana burn damage and Meren's recursive creatures.