Deck & Commander Strategies
Octavia, Living Thesis
Uses instant-speed spells and creatures to create unblockable threats, often turning both their own and opponents’ creatures into evasive attackers to chip away at opponents’ life totals.
Shorikai, Genesis Engine
Runs a vehicle-centered artifact deck that uses convoke to cast efficiently, focusing on board development through vehicles and drawing cards to maintain momentum and pressure.
Go-Shintai of Life's Origin
An all-enchantment deck paired with a companion that builds a strong board presence through enchantment synergies and card advantage to overwhelm opponents.
Zaffai, Thunder Conductor
Focuses on casting and copying impactful spells to generate value, ramping into big spells and controlling the board with disruptive and powerful effects.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
Chief Engineer’s convoke ability synergizes strongly with artifact vehicles, enabling efficient casting and board development.
- 2
Octavia’s use of instant-speed spells to make creatures unblockable creates a constant threat of evasive damage and tactical flexibility.
- 3
Go-Shintai’s enchantment stack combined with its companion allows for a unique build focusing on enchantment synergies and card draw.
- 4
Zaffai’s strategy of copying spells opens up opportunities for exponential value and control over the game state.
- 5
Players prioritize ramp and mana fixing early to accelerate their respective game plans and enable their commanders’ abilities efficiently.
Notable Cards
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Chief Engineer
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Lonely Sandbar
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Retraced Image
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Ancient Den
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Woodland Cemetery
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Temple of the False God
Gameplay Summary
The game features four unique commanders each piloted by different players, leading to a dynamic and interactive board state.
Early turns focus on ramping mana and setting up key creatures and enchantments.
Octavia, Living Thesis leverages instant-speed plays and unblockable creatures to build pressure, while Shorikai, Genesis Engine utilizes artifact vehicles and convoke to accelerate threats and draw cards.
Go-Shintai of Life's Origin plays an enchantment-heavy strategy aiming to build a powerful board through enchantment synergies, and Zaffai, Thunder Conductor looks to cast and copy impactful spells to maintain board control and create advantageous trades.
As the game progresses, players develop their board states with various utility creatures and engines, setting the stage for mid-game interactions and potential combos.
The game’s win condition revolves around each commander’s unique mechanics, with Octavia pushing unblockable creatures for combat damage, Shorikai using vehicles and card draw to overwhelm opponents, Go-Shintai growing their enchantment presence, and Zaffai capitalizing on spell duplication to control the game tempo.
![Klothys Aggro vs. Octavia Control [Duel Commander-EDH] - Magic: The Gathering thumbnail](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aWeTU_VdMjo/sddefault.jpg)
![Galazeth Control vs. Octavia Control [Duel Commander-EDH] - Magic: The Gathering thumbnail](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tMHtBX20uhQ/sddefault.jpg)
![Go-Shintai vs Kaima vs Shorikai vs Satoru [Budget EDH/Commander, Magic The Gathering Gameplay 2022] thumbnail](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RtH14D2XE_M/sddefault.jpg)
