Deck Strategies
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
A grindy, attrition-based deck that uses life gain and life drain effects triggered by opponents drawing cards to slowly deplete enemy resources and stabilize the board with selective removal and card advantage.
Urabrask the Hidden
A fast, aggressive deck that gives all creatures haste to overwhelm opponents quickly, leveraging big creatures with impactful attack triggers to deal lethal damage before others can respond.
Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines
A control-oriented deck that doubles triggered abilities on your permanents while suppressing opponents' ETB triggers, effectively shutting down many strategies reliant on enter-the-battlefield effects and generating strong board presence.
Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider
A counters-focused deck that doubles any counters placed on permanents and creatures, using trample and haste to push damage and overwhelm opponents while accelerating mana production and maintaining board dominance.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
Casting Elesh Norn early drastically hampered the effectiveness of many ETB-centric decks at the table, forcing players to pivot their strategies.
- 2
Vorinclex's ability to double counters synergized well with aggressive creatures and ramp, pressuring opponents to respond quickly or lose significant ground.
- 3
Sheoldred's player delayed casting their commander initially to bait removal, then played it once opponents seemed resource-light, leveraging its life drain abilities for incremental advantage.
- 4
Urabrask's haste grant allowed for immediate impact from big creatures, accelerating the tempo and forcing opponents to prioritize defense or removal early in the game.
- 5
The table experienced a tension between fast aggression and board control, with each player needing to carefully time their plays to avoid being shut down by Elesh Norn or overwhelmed by Vorinclex's counters.
Notable Cards
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines
Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider
Urabrask the Hidden
Scavenging Ooze
Arcane Signet
Commander's Sphere
Prime Speaker Vannifar
Summary
The game opens with a slow ramp and creature development from all players, each setting up their board with key permanents and early ramp pieces. The player piloting Sheoldred, the Apocalypse focuses on a grindy approach, leveraging life gain and drain effects to wear down opponents, while Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider seeks to apply pressure through counter doubling and haste-fueled aggression. Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines aims to control the battlefield by doubling triggered abilities and suppressing opponents' ETB effects, significantly hindering their plans. Urabrask the Hidden's deck capitalizes on haste and fast aggression, aiming to overwhelm opponents quickly before they can stabilize. A pivotal moment occurs when Elesh Norn is cast, severely impacting the effectiveness of other players' ETB triggers and slowing down their board development. Meanwhile, the Vorinclex player ramps aggressively and uses creatures with trample and haste to push damage, creating tension on the battlefield. Sheoldred's player patiently waits to capitalize on life drain and removal, maintaining a steady presence. The interaction between Elesh Norn's suppression of ETB effects and Vorinclex's counter doubling creates a dynamic board state where timing and removal become critical. The game evolves into a battle of attrition and timing, with each player trying to leverage their unique strengths before Elesh Norn's control can lock down the game entirely.
