Deck Strategies
Elesh Norn
Generate a wide token board to leverage Elesh Norn’s taxing damage mechanic, forcing opponents to pay life or mana when interacting with tokens, then transform for a potent anthem and double strike to close out the game.
Vorinclex
Use a combination of milling and fighting mechanics with large creatures to control the board and attack opponents, finishing with aggressive combat damage supported by token creatures and fight triggers.
Sheoldred
Force opponents to sacrifice creatures or planeswalkers while filling graveyards, then reanimate all graveyard creatures to overwhelm the board and control the game through attrition and recursion.
Urabrask
Cast multiple instants and sorceries to trigger damage to opponents, generate mana, and filter cards, culminating in playing spells from graveyards and leveraging artifacts and extra turns to deliver a lethal combo.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
Elesh Norn’s token production combined with its taxing damage ability creates a powerful deterrent for opponents to block or attack without significant life loss.
- 2
Vorinclex’s fight ability paired with distributing +1/+1 counters allows efficient board control by forcing unfavorable trades.
- 3
Sheoldred’s sacrifice trigger and mass graveyard reanimation can shift board states drastically, punishing opponents who rely on creatures.
- 4
Urabrask’s synergy with instant and sorcery spells, along with graveyard recursion, sets up explosive turns where multiple damage sources and extra turns can quickly end the game.
- 5
Early plays like Altar of the Brood and Electrostatic Field set up incremental advantages by milling and dealing damage as players cast spells.
- 6
Land Tax is a strong value engine for decks with many basic lands, enabling card advantage and mana fixing even on a low land curve.
- 7
Choosing to exile creatures with Lay Down Arms based on planes controlled is an effective way to handle aggressive early threats like Ragavan.
- 8
Artifacts such as Arcane Signet and Thought Vessel provide crucial ramp and mana fixing for executing mid-to-late game strategies.
Notable Cards
Stuffy Doll
Altar of the Brood
Electrostatic Field
Land Tax
Crash Through
Underworld Breach
Mechanized Warfare
Cultivate
Imperial Recruiter
Lay Down Arms
Summary
The game started with a typical setup phase where each player established their mana base and early plays reflective of their commanders' themes. CGB on Elesh Norn focused on generating tokens and leveraging tax effects to drain opponents' life totals. Ben with Vorinclex aimed to develop a board of large creatures, using mill and fight mechanics to clear blockers and pressure opponents. Shea piloted Sheoldred, leveraging sacrifice effects and graveyard recursion to maintain board presence and control, while Blake's Urabrask deck focused on casting numerous instants and sorceries to deal incremental damage and eventually exploit graveyard interactions for a lethal combo. Early game saw cautious development with some graveyard milling from Sheoldred and card draw from others. Ben's play of Explore and ramp spells set him up for midgame board dominance with big creatures. CGB used Land Tax and token generation to keep pressure on mana and life totals, while Blake utilized artifact ramp and damage triggers from Urabrask to build towards a spell-heavy turn. Shea's Sheoldred created a steady stream of tokens and forced opponent sacrifices, setting up for a late game resurgence with mass reanimation. The game was poised for a dramatic mid to late game where each player’s unique commander transformations and synergies would come into play, particularly with Elesh Norn’s token floods, Vorinclex’s fight mechanics, Sheoldred’s graveyard recursion, and Urabrask’s spellstorm finishers.
