Big Power Big Turns, ft. Blood, Wernog and Argyle, Mirko, Lord Windgrace [EDH/Commander Gameplay]

Deck Strategies

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  Extus, Oriq Overlord

  Control and burn deck focused on sacrificing creatures to reduce the cost of casting Awaken the Blood Avatar, then using multiple planeswalkers as blockers and mana sources to create and attack with multiple powerful Avatars to defeat opponents.

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  Wernog, Rider's Chaplain

  Artifact value and flicker combo deck generating clues and repeatedly flickering Wernog to draw cards and produce infinite combos, backed by counterspells and board wipes to control the game and win through infinite mana or Jace, Wielder of Mysteries.

• 

  Mirko, Obsessive Theorist

  Control and reanimation deck using surveil to cheat creatures into play, assemble an infinite mana combo with Paragon Drake and Deadeye Navigator, then win by draining opponents with Gary, the Duelist or stealing their permanents with Treachery.

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  Lord Windgrace

  Ramp and land synergy deck leveraging land recursion and token production via Scute Swarm and other landfall effects, using planeswalker abilities to draw cards and bring lands back to create overwhelming board presence and value.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  The Blood Avatar deck relied heavily on setting up multiple planeswalkers to serve as blockers and mana sources to enable casting several avatars simultaneously for a lethal assault.

• 2

  Wernog's deck emphasized generating clues and flickering its commander repeatedly to draw cards and assemble infinite combos, using flicker synergy with artifact generators like Academy Manufactor and flicker cards such as Conjurer's Closet.

• 3

  Mirko's deck used surveil to fill the graveyard for reanimation and cheat powerful creatures into play, aiming for the classic infinite mana combo with Paragon Drake and Deadeye Navigator to either drain opponents or steal their permanents.

• 4

  Lord Windgrace's deck utilized land recursion and token generation to build a wide board presence, with planeswalker loyalty abilities facilitating card draw and additional land drops to accelerate the game plan.

• 5

  Players expressed concern about interaction with planeswalkers, noting that removal options were limited and combo decks needed to be cautious of instant-speed answers and disruption.

• 6

  The game pace started slow as players developed their board states and control elements but shifted as combos began to emerge, with flicker loops and large Avatar attacks serving as key turning points.

Notable Cards

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  Awaken the Blood Avatar // Awaken the Blood Avatar

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  Lotus Field

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  Academy Manufactor

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  Conjurer's Closet

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  Jace, Wielder of Mysteries

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  Deadeye Navigator

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  Treachery

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  Field of the Dead

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  Scute Swarm

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  Karn, Scion of Urza

Summary

The game featured a diverse group of decks each employing distinct strategies centered around their commanders. One player piloted Extus, Oriq Overlord with the plan to cast Awaken the Blood Avatar, leveraging creature sacrifice to reduce its cost and generate a massive hasty Avatar that punishes opponents aggressively. This deck balanced control elements with burn and value plays, aiming to overwhelm opponents with multiple avatars once some planeswalkers were established as blockers and mana sources. Another player brought a flicker and artifact combo deck built around Wernog, Rider's Chaplain, generating clues and recurring Wernog with cards like Academy Manufactor and flicker effects such as Conjurer's Closet or Elvish Displacer to create infinite value and ultimately win via combos including Jace, Wielder of Mysteries or mana engines like Karn, Scion of Urza. The control and combo nature of this deck aimed to lock the game down with counterspells and board wipes while setting up its infinite loops. Mirko, Obsessive Theorist led a control/combo deck focused on surveil and reanimation, cheating creatures into play from the graveyard to establish a Paragon Drake plus Deadeye Navigator infinite mana combo. This deck aimed to leverage infinite mana to cast massive spells or drain opponents out with creatures like Gary, the Duelist, and to disrupt opponents by stealing permanents using cards such as Treachery. Lastly, Lord Windgrace headed a ramp-centric deck utilizing powerful land synergies, Scute Swarm, and field recursion to overwhelm the board with tokens and value. His planeswalker was key to drawing cards and recurring lands, enabling explosive land drops and board presence. The game unfolded slowly at first, with players setting up their combos and control elements, but pivotal moments included the establishment of creature flicker combos and the eventual deployment of the Blood Avatar avatar to close out the game through attrition and combat damage.