Top 8 Gameplay - 6th NLL: Acererak vs. Karlov - Quarterfinal [Duel Commander] - Magic: The Gathering thumbnail Blurred backdrop thumbnail
bitzelberg profile icon

Top 8 Gameplay - 6th NLL: Acererak vs. Karlov - Quarterfinal [Duel Commander] - Magic: The Gathering

bitzelberg ∙ ∙

Commanders featured in this Gameplay Reviewed & Verified

Acererak the Archlich

Acererak the Archlich

Acererak the Archlich card Acererak the Archlich videos from bitzelberg 
EDH.Wiki 
Karlov of the Ghost Council

Karlov of the Ghost Council

Karlov of the Ghost Council card Karlov of the Ghost Council videos from bitzelberg 
EDH.Wiki 

Deck & Commander Strategies

  • Acererak the Archlich

    Acererak the Archlich

    Utilizes cost reduction spells and artifacts to repeatedly cast Acererak cheaply, venturing into dungeons multiple times for value and life drain, slowly grinding down opponents while generating incremental advantage.

  • Karlov of the Ghost Council

    Karlov of the Ghost Council

    Leverages lifegain and extort effects alongside removal spells and resilient creatures to control the board and chip away at opponents’ life totals, aiming to outlast and outvalue opponents in attrition.

Gameplay Insights

  • 1

    The combination of Heartless Summoning and Relic of Legends significantly reduces Acererak's casting cost, enabling multiple dungeon ventures and life drain triggers in a single turn.

  • 2

    Karlov's player prioritized removing key artifacts like Relic of Legends to slow down Acererak's combo and prevent infinite dungeon ventures.

  • 3

    A well-timed board wipe by Karlov disrupted Acererak's early board presence but was not enough to stop the gradual value accrual from dungeon exploration.

  • 4

    Mana base management was crucial, as Karlov faced difficulties securing early black mana sources, impacting timely deployment of removal and creatures.

  • 5

    Acererak’s player demonstrated awareness of dungeon mechanics, carefully timing ventures to maximize value from the undercity and avoid triggering unwanted normal rooms with initiative.

Notable Cards

  • Acererak the Archlich

    Acererak the Archlich

  • Karlov of the Ghost Council

    Karlov of the Ghost Council

  • Heartless Summoning

    Heartless Summoning

  • Relic of Legends

    Relic of Legends

  • Bontu's Monument

    Bontu's Monument

  • Anointed Deacon

    Anointed Deacon

  • Sign in Blood

    Sign in Blood

  • Skullclamp

    Skullclamp

  • Massacre Wurm

    Massacre Wurm

Gameplay Summary

The game featured a duel between Acererak the Archlich and Karlov of the Ghost Council, showcasing a clash between a unique, value-driven mono-black deck and a classic Orzhov lifegain and attrition strategy.

Acererak's player focused on leveraging cost reduction effects such as Heartless Summoning and Bontu's Monument, paired with the new Relic of Legends to enable low-cost recasting of Acererak and repeatedly venturing into dungeons for incremental advantage and life drain.

This approach allowed for a slow but steady accumulation of resources and damage through dungeon exploration and triggered abilities. Karlov's player utilized classic Orzhov tools such as removal, extort, and life gain, supported by creatures like Heliod's Thrall and Anointed Deacon to maintain board presence and pressure.

The game featured key moments including a critical board wipe that cleared Karlov's early creatures, and Acererak's timely use of Heartless Summoning to keep the pressure on.

Despite some mana challenges for Karlov, especially in hitting black sources early, the player sought to stabilize with card draw and incremental life gain.

The match revolved around Acererak's ability to chain dungeon ventures for value and drain, while Karlov aimed to survive long enough to capitalize on his removal and incremental damage to close out the game.

Watch on YouTube