Deck & Commander Strategies
Gyruda, Doom of Depths
Focuses on cloning Gyruda repeatedly to mill both libraries and cheat creatures from graveyards onto the battlefield, aiming to build a powerful board presence through creature recursion and combo loops.
Niv-Mizzet Reborn
Utilizes a multi-color control and value strategy, leveraging Niv-Mizzet Reborn’s ability to draw cards and cascade mechanics to generate incremental advantage, build counters, and end the game through commander damage and flying attackers.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
Clayton’s use of cloning Gyruda multiple times allowed for repeatedly milling and triggering recursion, showing a high-level combo setup with graveyard synergy.
- 2
Jeremiah’s decision to use Simic Charm to bounce an opponent’s flyer during a critical cascade spell disrupted Clayton’s air defense but came just shy of preventing lethal damage.
- 3
The interaction between cascade triggers and War Doctor’s exile and counter stacking was a game-winning play that rapidly increased damage output.
- 4
Clayton’s cloning loop was impressive but ultimately vulnerable to fast, high-impact damage from cascade-enabled spells and flying creatures.
- 5
Jeremiah’s sequencing of spells to maximize cascade triggers and counter accumulation exemplified efficient resource use in a 1v1 commander setting.
Notable Cards
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Gyruda, Doom of Depths
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Niv-Mizzet Reborn
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Sakashima the Impostor
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Clever Impersonator
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Simic Charm
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Sally Sparrow
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Haunted Crossroads
Gameplay Summary
The game began with both players ramping mana and developing their boards cautiously.
Clayton, piloting Gyruda, Doom of Depths, focused on assembling a clone-based combo by repeatedly copying Gyruda and triggering its mill effect to fill both players' graveyards with creatures.
This strategy aimed to create a looping ability to cheat creatures onto the battlefield from the graveyard.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah, commanding Niv-Mizzet Reborn, utilized his deck’s multi-color card advantage and cascade abilities to generate value and pressure through flying creatures and incremental counters. A pivotal moment occurred when Clayton managed to chain multiple clones using cards like Sakashima the Impostor and Clever Impersonator, enabling repeated mill triggers and graveyard recursion.
Despite this, Jeremiah leveraged his cascade spells and a war doctor synergy to amass a massive number of counters and deal lethal commander damage in one explosive turn.
Jeremiah’s timely use of Simic Charm to bounce a critical flyer disrupted Clayton’s air defense but ultimately was not enough to prevent the overwhelming damage output.
The match concluded with Jeremiah’s aggressive finish, showcasing the power of cascade and synergy in a tightly contested 1v1 Commander game.
![Sythis Enchantress vs. Niv-Mizzet Midrange [Duel Commander-EDH] - Magic: The Gathering thumbnail](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6en7JiXsDIE/sddefault.jpg)
