Deck Strategies
Etali, Primal Conqueror
Leverages extra combat steps and repeated casting with Food Chain to generate massive mana and value by attacking and triggering ETB effects, aiming to close out games quickly through combat damage and resource denial.
Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh / Shabraz, the Skyshark
Aggressively applies pressure early with efficient creatures like Ragavan and uses fast mana artifacts to accelerate the board state, aiming for quick damage and disruption to opponents’ plans.
Silas Renn, Seeker Adept
Focuses on artifact synergy and recursion, using value engines like Grinding Station and artifact tutors to control the board and generate incremental advantage over time.
Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy
Utilizes mana ramp and creature synergy to generate overwhelming mana advantage, enabling powerful spells and combos, often aiming to combo out with infinite mana or large spells.
Brallin, Skyshark Rider / Shabraz, the Skyshark
Combines flying creatures and aggressive tempo plays with artifact acceleration to maintain pressure, leveraging evasive threats to chip away at opponents while developing board presence.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
The turn one wheel disrupted multiple players’ hands, fundamentally altering early game plans and forcing adaptation under pressure.
- 2
The Etali player’s use of Food Chain combined with bounce effects to recast Etali and other creatures exemplified intricate cEDH combo sequencing.
- 3
Using Swan Song to protect key spells like Sneak Attack highlighted the importance of interaction and protection in high-stakes multiplayer games.
- 4
Players opted to shortcut complex stack interactions once it became clear that further interaction would not stop the combo, demonstrating practical decision-making to maintain game flow.
- 5
Early deployment of mana acceleration artifacts enabled explosive plays but also made players vulnerable to disruption, emphasizing the high-risk high-reward nature of cEDH opening turns.
Notable Cards
Food Chain
Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness
Grim Monolith
Mox Opal
Mox Amber
Ancient Tomb
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
Swan Song
Grinding Station
Lion's Eye Diamond
Talisman of Curiosity
Summary
The game began explosively with an early wheel effect on turn one, significantly disrupting the players' initial hands and game plans. This early disruption set a chaotic pace, with multiple players deploying fast mana artifacts like Mox Opal, Mox Amber, Ancient Tomb, and Grim Monolith to accelerate their strategies. Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh established early board presence with Ragavan, while Silas Renn and Etali developed their board states and mana bases. The pivotal moment came when the Etali player executed a complex sequence involving Food Chain, bouncing and recasting Etali multiple times to generate enormous mana and value through repeated ETB triggers. Despite attempts to slow down this combo with bounce effects from Tide Spout Tyrant and other disruption, the Etali player maintained control by efficiently utilizing their resources and interactions. The game showcased high-level cEDH plays, including the use of Swan Song to protect key spells and careful stack sequencing during the Food Chain combo, demonstrating the importance of timing and resource management in fast-paced multiplayer environments.