EDH Gameplay - Episode 54: Mikaeus VS Kykar VS Phenax VS Sidisi

Deck Strategies

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  Mikaeus, the Unhallowed

  A reanimator and sacrifice deck that uses graveyard recursion and powerful creatures to overwhelm opponents, leveraging cards like Bitter Ordeal to reuse spells and disrupt the game state.

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  Sidisi, Brood Tyrant

  A self-mill and zombie token generation deck that uses mill triggers and cards like Path of Discovery to fill the graveyard and create a large army of zombies to control the board.

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  Phenax, God of Deception

  A mill-focused deck aiming to deplete opponents' libraries while using graveyard exile effects like Ashiok, Dream Render to control graveyards and maintain advantage.

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  Kykar, Wind's Fury

  A spell-slinger deck that generates spirit tokens through casting instants and sorceries, gaining incremental value and life while controlling the board with spells like Cyclonic Rift.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Mikaeus's player utilized Bitter Ordeal to repeatedly copy and cast spells from exiled cards, generating significant resource advantage and disrupting opponents' strategies.

• 2

  Sidisi's synergy between milling and token generation with Path of Discovery allowed for a strong board presence that pressured opponents through continuous zombie token creation.

• 3

  Phenax's use of Ashiok, Dream Render effectively prevented opponents from utilizing their graveyards, adding a layer of control to the milling strategy.

• 4

  Kykar's ability to generate spirits from casting spells and the use of Cyclonic Rift provided consistent board control and card advantage, maintaining tempo in a multi-player setting.

• 5

  The interaction between multiple mill effects and graveyard recursion created complex game states where managing resources and timing became critical for survival and victory.

Notable Cards

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  Bitter Ordeal

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  Path of Discovery

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  Grim Haruspex

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  Cyclonic Rift

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  Ashiok, Dream Render

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  Teferi, Hero of Dominaria

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  Liliana, Heretical Healer // Liliana, Defiant Necromancer

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  Meteor Golem

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  Throne of Geth

Summary

The game featured four distinct Commander decks vying for control, each with unique strategies. Early turns saw players developing their mana bases and deploying key pieces such as Mikaeus, the Unhallowed, Kykar, Wind's Fury, Sidisi, Brood Tyrant, and Phenax, God of Deception. Sidisi's player leveraged her mill and zombie token generation capabilities to steadily build a board presence, using cards like Path of Discovery and multiple mill triggers to flood the battlefield with zombies and maintain card advantage. Phenax focused on milling opponents and manipulating graveyards, while Kykar generated value through spell casting and spirit tokens. Mikaeus's reanimator strategy was evident through early plays like Grim Haruspex and Expedition Map, aiming to bring back powerful creatures to swing the game in his favor. A pivotal moment occurred when Mikaeus's player performed a massive graveyard interaction with Bitter Ordeal, copying the spell multiple times to exile and reuse powerful cards from all decks, disrupting opponents' plans and recovering critical resources. Sidisi's continuous milling and token creation created a formidable army that threatened the table, while Phenax's repeated milling and graveyard exile effects kept opponents on the back foot. Kykar provided steady incremental advantage through spell-based triggers and life gain. The gameplay showcased a dynamic interplay between milling, reanimation, token generation, and control elements, with each player trying to leverage their commander’s strengths to outpace the others and establish dominance on the board.