Deck & Commander Strategies
Thrasios, Triton Hero and Vial Smasher the Fierce
A fast combo and midrange control deck focusing on efficient ramp, disruption, and incremental damage through Vial Smasher's ability, combined with Thrasios's card advantage to outvalue opponents and close games quickly.
Kefka, Court Mage // Kefka, Ruler of Ruin
A spell-slinging combo deck that utilizes Kefka's ability to chain spells and exile key cards, aiming to win through a storm-like sequence or burn damage by exploiting the exile and cast mechanics.
Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator
A tempo and value deck that uses Malcolm's ability to generate card advantage and pressure opponents with evasive threats and efficient interaction, leveraging disruption and incremental damage to gain the upper hand.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
Casting Kefka under pressure and using Force of Will to protect it triggered a critical die roll for damage distribution, illustrating the high-risk nature of high-powered plays.
- 2
Orcish Bow Master created multiple triggers dealing significant damage each combat, showcasing the importance of incremental damage sources in cEDH.
- 3
A well-timed Chain of Vapor bounce on a key blocker enabled lethal damage, highlighting the power of bounce spells combined with aggressive board states.
- 4
The use of Demonic Consultation to find key combo or disruption pieces despite life loss emphasized the deck's willingness to trade resources for critical spells.
- 5
Players prioritized fast mana and tutors early to ramp into threats quickly, reflecting the fast-paced and interactive nature of cEDH gameplay.
Notable Cards
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Winds of Change
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Mana Vault
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Mox Diamond
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Demonic Consultation
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Force of Will
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Brain Freeze
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Chain of Vapor
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Vial Smasher the Fierce
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Kefka, Court Mage // Kefka, Ruler of Ruin
Gameplay Summary
The gameplay featured a high-powered Grixis cEDH pod with four commanders: Thrasios and Vial Smasher, Kefka, Malcolm, and a partner deck involving Vial Smasher.
The early game saw players ramping aggressively using fast mana such as Mana Vault, Mox Diamond, Ancient Tomb, and various mana rocks, alongside efficient tutors and interaction like Force of Will and Dark Ritual.
A pivotal moment occurred when Kefka was cast, prompting a Force of Will counter and a five-point damage roll that hit the Kefka player, setting the tone for high-pressure play. Throughout the midgame, aggressive combat damage from creatures like Orcish Bow Master and Vial Smasher chipped away at opponents while players leveraged powerful spells such as Brain Freeze and Demonic Consultation to sculpt their hands and disrupt others.
The Orcish Bow Master proved particularly brutal, generating multiple triggers that applied lethal pressure, culminating in a chain of vapor and deflecting swat interaction leading to a swift elimination.
The game ended decisively when a well-timed Chain of Vapor bounced a key blocker, paving the way for lethal damage and ending the match in a spectacular finish.
