Velomachus vs Ramos vs Aurelia vs Varina (ft Casual Jake, Livi, Kristen Emily) EDH / CMDR game play

Deck Strategies

• 

  Velomachus Lorehold

  Focuses on generating treasures and leveraging Boros equipment and combat spells to gain incremental advantage, protect creatures, and apply pressure through multiple combat phases.

• 

  Varina, Lich Queen

  Builds a resilient zombie token army using amassing and graveyard recursion mechanics to generate board presence and card advantage.

• 

  Ramos, Dragon Engine

  Uses ramp and mutation to accumulate +1/+1 counters on Ramos, turning him into a massive threat that benefits from multicolor spells to gain extra counters and dominate combat.

• 

  Aurelia, the Warleader

  Aggressively attacks with multiple combat phases, supported by equipment and anthem effects to maximize damage output and overwhelm opponents quickly.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Players frequently used multiple combat steps, with Aurelia and Irelia enabling extra attacks to maximize damage output.

• 2

  Indestructibility granted by Boros Charm and Lorehold Command was pivotal in protecting key creatures through board wipes and combat damage.

• 3

  Sacrificing treasures to cast impactful spells like Skyclave Apparition and Sunforger helped maintain tempo and remove threats efficiently.

• 4

  Varina’s zombie token production and amassing synergized to create a growing army that pressured opponents consistently.

• 5

  Ramos’s mutation strategy effectively increased his size and resilience, forcing opponents to carefully consider attacks and blocks.

• 6

  Players made tactical decisions to deny treasure generation from Smothering Tithe, preventing explosive ramp from opponents.

• 7

  The interaction between equipment and combat tricks, especially with Irelia and Velomachus’s triggers, created complex combat phases that shaped the flow of the game.

Notable Cards

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  Smothering Tithe

• 

  Sunforger

• 

  Boros Charm

• 

  Reforge the Soul

• 

  Lorehold Command

• 

  Gladecover Scout

• 

  Merciless Eviction

• 

  Talisman of Hierarchy

• 

  Loyal Warhound

Summary

The game started with a typical ramp and setup phase, as players established their mana bases and early board presence with lands, mana rocks, and utility creatures like Gladecover Scout and Lazatep Chancellor. Kristen's Velomachus Lorehold deck focused on treasure generation and equipment synergy, leveraging cards like Smothering Tithe and Sunforger to maintain card advantage and board control. Livy’s Velomachus deck aggressively pushed with equipment and token production, using creatures like Loyal Warhound and Aurelia to generate multiple combat phases. Jake's Varina deck steadily built a zombie token army through amassing and graveyard recursion, while the Ramos player prioritized ramp and board presence with mutations and counter accumulation on Ramos, Dragon Engine. Key turning points included Kristen's use of Blacksmith's Skills to save Irelia, the Harbinger from combat kills, and the interaction of multiple Boros Charms granting indestructibility at crucial moments during combat phases, preventing board wipes and enabling aggressive attacks. Jake’s Varina leveraged token synergies and recurring threats like Grave Crawler and Avonwind Guide to maintain pressure, while Livy utilized Lorehold Command and Reforge the Soul to protect and replenish her board while generating value. Ramos’s mutation strategy added counters and resilience, making it a formidable blocker and attacker. The gameplay revolved around managing board states with removal, protection spells, and combat tricks, culminating in multiple combat steps and aggressive swings to chip away at opponents' life totals.