Marath vs. Ghyrson - LTC#8 Sunday - Round 1 - Duel Commander - EDH│MTG│bitzelberg

Deck Strategies

• 

  Marath, Will of the Wild

  An aggressive token and one-power creature deck that uses Marath's ability to turn small damage effects into efficient board wipes, leveraging incremental damage and token generation to overwhelm opponents.

• 

  Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph

  A midrange deck with a focus on removal and cycling lands to find key spells and stabilize the board, aiming to outvalue aggressive decks through efficient answers and incremental advantage.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Failing to properly account for first strike on Oreskos Pride led to inefficient use of removal spells and loss of tempo for the Marath player.

• 2

  Marath's synergy with one-power creatures allows it to convert one damage effects into three damage board wipes, creating strong board control early.

• 3

  Ghyrson Starn's Mulligan to five cards slowed down its ability to find lands and answers, contributing to an early concession.

• 4

  Cycling lands in Ghyrson's deck provide flexibility in mana fixing and interaction with Blood Moon effects, though they can come in tapped and delay tempo.

• 5

  Maintaining composure after suboptimal plays is crucial, as early mistakes can significantly impact the board state in aggressive matchups.

Notable Cards

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  Marath, Will of the Wild

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  Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph

• 

  Firebrand Archer

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  Spectral Sailor

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  Gut Shot

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  Wooded Foothills

Summary

The game showcased a matchup between Marath, Will of the Wild and Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph, with Marath running an aggressive one-power creature lineup that leverages its commander to convert one damage effects into three damage board wipes. Early on, a critical misplay occurred when the player controlling Marath failed to correctly handle combat involving a first strike creature, leading to inefficient removal and a suboptimal board state. Despite this setback, Marath's deck aimed to maintain pressure through incremental damage and token generation. Ghyrson Starn's deck utilized a mix of red spells and a cycling land package to find answers and stabilize, though a Mulligan to five cards hindered its pace and resource development. Ultimately, Ghyrson conceded the game due to the overwhelming board presence established by Marath, demonstrating the latter's strong early-game aggression and synergy between its commander and low-cost creatures. The game highlights the importance of precise play and the impact of early tempo swings in Duel Commander format.