Deck Strategies
The Jolly Balloon Man
A Boros deck that utilizes early asymmetrical stax pieces to disrupt opponents before assembling a pseudo-Kiki-Jiki combo to generate infinite attackers and win through combat damage.
Victor, Valgavoth's Seneschal
A reanimator-oriented Orzhov combo deck that seeks to put Abdell Adrian into the grave and then reanimate it with enchantments to create a loop that Victor can use to deal infinite damage.
Kenrith, the Returned King
A five-color goodstuff and combo deck that generates infinite mana via Dockside loops and finishes the game using Kenrith’s versatile abilities or classic combos like Thassa's Oracle or Underworld Breach.
Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator & Vial Smasher the Fierce
A Grixis deck aiming for early Ad Nauseam to draw massive cards and establish a winning board state, often closing out the game with a Thassa's Oracle combo or leveraging Glen Elendra Buccaneer synergy with Malcolm.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
Players prioritized early mana acceleration and establishing key combo pieces while managing threats through interaction like Deafening Silence and board wipes.
- 2
The timing of casting 'One Ring' and protecting it heavily influenced combat phases and player aggression.
- 3
Use of Orcish Bowmasters and Archist to generate incremental damage and life gain created pressure and longevity for the controlling players.
- 4
A well-timed Meow Massacre board wipe reset the board state, allowing life gain triggers to help stabilize before combos were completed.
- 5
Negotiations around removal highlighted the importance of managing threats without unnecessarily helping opponents, demonstrating high-level meta awareness.
- 6
Tutoring effects such as Demonic Tutor and land fetches like Marsh Flats accelerated combo assembly and mana fixing, crucial in a four-color or five-color deck environment.
Notable Cards
Jeweled Lotus
Lotus Petal
Ignoble Hierarch
Orcish Bowmasters
Demonic Tutor
Chrome Mox
Deafening Silence
Dockside Extortionist
Thassa's Oracle
Underworld Breach
Ad Nauseam
Summary
The game features a competitive four-player duel with unique and powerful commanders, each pursuing distinct combo-centric win conditions. Early turns see players establishing their mana bases and deploying key utility creatures and artifacts, such as Lotus Pedal, Jeweled Lotus, and Ignoble Hierarch, while also applying pressure with incremental damage and life gain mechanics. The Jolly Balloon Man aims to assemble a pseudo-Kiki-Jiki infinite attacker combo, leveraging Boros's aggressive synergy and early board presence. Victor, Valgavoth's Seneschal focuses on reanimator loops involving Abdell and enchantments to generate infinite value and damage, while Kenrith, the Returned King looks to create infinite mana combos through Dockside loops and finish with potent combos like Thassa's Oracle or Underworld Breach. Malcolm paired with Vial Smasher uses early Ad Nauseam draws and classic combo pieces to overwhelm opponents quickly. Midgame sees tension rise as players use interaction like Deafening Silence and board wipes, and key creatures such as Orcish Bowmasters and Archists influence the board state. Players tactically remove threats and attempt to preserve vital combo pieces. The strategic use of mana rocks, tutors, and land fetches accelerates the game towards explosive turns where infinite combos come online. Negotiations and targeted removal shape the pace, with notable plays including a well-timed Meow Massacre to clear boards and life gain triggers aiding survivability. Ultimately, the game revolves around assembling and executing combos while managing opponents’ disruption and damage outputs.
