I Hate Your Deck #99 Imodane v Gitrog v Cleopatra v Raffine || Commander Gameplay MTG EDH

Deck Strategies

• 

  Cleopatra, Exiled Pharaoh

  Focuses on legendary creatures with death touch, placing counters on them and drawing cards when they die to maintain a steady flow of answers and threats, while applying pressure with combat damage and poison counters.

• 

  Imodane, the Pyrohammer

  Uses mono-red burn spells that deal damage to single creatures and trigger damage to all opponents, leveraging fast mana and suspend spells for explosive damage output and control over the board.

• 

  Raffine, Scheming Seer

  Attacking-focused deck that draws cards through combat damage, supported by a small reanimator theme and combo potential with spells like Approach of the Second Sun for alternate win conditions.

• 

  The Gitrog Monster

  Utilizes land sacrifice and landfall synergies to draw a large number of cards, aiming to overwhelm opponents with card advantage and resource generation.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Cleopatra's ability to place counters on legendary creatures each end step sets up for card draw triggers on their deaths, reinforcing a resilient board state.

• 2

  Imodane's synergy with single-target burn spells triggers damage to all opponents, effectively turning removal into a multi-target burn strategy.

• 3

  The Gitrog Monster's land sacrifice mechanic forces players to manage their resources carefully, while drawing cards from lands entering the graveyard accelerates its game plan.

• 4

  Raffine's lack of traditional counterspells is offset by interaction such as bounce and redirection, focusing on disruptive but less control-heavy plays.

• 5

  Early use of suspend spells by Imodane to cast high-impact burn spells like Shivan Meteor showcases a strategic layering of damage over multiple turns.

• 6

  Cleopatra’s death touch and poison counters create a dual threat that pressures opponents both through combat and alternative loss conditions.

Notable Cards

• 

  Cleopatra, Exiled Pharaoh

• 

  Imodane, the Pyrohammer

• 

  Raffine, Scheming Seer

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  The Gitrog Monster

• 

  Shivan Meteor

• 

  Mana Crypt

• 

  Lotus Cobra

• 

  Mother of Runes

• 

  Commander's Plate

Summary

The game began with all four players setting up their mana bases and early ramp, each preparing to execute their deck's unique strategy. Cleopatra, Exiled Pharaoh focused on a legendary creatures theme with death touch, aiming to bolster legendary creatures with counters and draw cards through their deaths, while also applying pressure via death touch combat damage and poison counters. Imodane, the Pyrohammer utilized mono-red burn spells that trigger additional damage to all opponents whenever a single target is hit, leveraging fast mana and spells like Shivan Meteor for explosive board impact. Raffine, Scheming Seer combined attacking with a draw engine to gain card advantage, supported by a small reanimator sub-theme and potential combo wins like Approach of the Second Sun. The Gitrog Monster aimed to capitalize on land sacrifice and draw synergies, using its ability to draw cards whenever lands were put into the graveyard, setting up for massive card advantage and resource accumulation. Early combat and ramping shaped the board with Cleopatra swinging to apply poison counters, while Imodane prepared to unleash burn spells for symmetrical damage. The tension increased as Cleopatra's end step ability began placing counters on legendary creatures, setting up for card draw on creature deaths. Imodane's use of Mana Crypt and suspend spells demonstrated a fast, aggressive curve with a potential for explosive damage output. Meanwhile, Raffine focused on stabilizing with protection and card draw through attacking creatures, and the Gitrog player worked on landfall and cycling effects to fuel their engine. Key turning points involved Cleopatra's aggressive death touch damage and card draw synergy, Imodane's burn chain potential, and the Gitrog player's capacity to flood the graveyard for massive draw, each vying to establish dominance through their distinct strategies.