Deck Strategies
Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd
Utilizes flicker effects to gain value from enter-the-battlefield abilities, control the board, and disrupt opponents. Phelia's deck focuses on assembling a board with synergistic creatures and using exile-based removal like Solitude to handle threats. Mana ramp and token generation support casting big threats and maintaining pressure.
Azusa, Lost but Seeking
A ramp-focused deck aiming to play multiple lands each turn to accelerate mana production rapidly. It leverages landfall synergies and token generation, creating a wide board presence with insect tokens from cards like Skuse Swarm and Desert of the Outlaws. New cards from Modern Horizons 3 enhance ramp and utility, aiming to overwhelm opponents with resources and board state.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
Using Recruiter of the Guard to fetch key removal spells like Solitude was pivotal in disrupting Azusa’s ramp and board development.
- 2
Flickering creatures like Recruiter and Azusa herself provided repeated value and card selection, helping to manage board threats.
- 3
Containment Priest effectively shut down flicker combos from Azusa’s side, limiting her ability to reuse creatures for extra value.
- 4
Azusa’s ability to play multiple lands per turn and generate insect tokens rapidly created a growing threat that was difficult for Phelia to fully contain.
- 5
Mana acceleration from I of Eugen and Temple of False God allowed Phelia to play large threats early, but losing key creatures to exile removal slowed down momentum.
- 6
The interaction between taxing creatures like Elite Spellbinder and Azusa’s hand helped control the pace and limit options for ramp and spells.
Notable Cards
Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd
Azusa, Lost but Seeking
Solitude
Recruiter of the Guard
Containment Priest
Primeval Titan
Elite Spellbinder
Once Upon a Time
Summary
In this intense quarterfinal of the National Lounge League, the game featured a clash between Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd, and Azusa, Lost but Seeking. Phelia's deck showcased a strong early game with flickering effects, efficient removal like Solitude, and mana acceleration via I of Eugen and Temple of False God, enabling the casting of powerful creatures such as Emeral and Primeval Titan. The player utilized flicker effects to repeatedly disrupt Azusa’s board and remove key artifacts like Exploration and Library, slowing Azusa’s land ramp and card draw. Azusa’s deck focused on explosive land ramp and generating large numbers of insect tokens through Skull Swarm and lands like Desert of the Outlaws, leveraging new cards from Modern Horizons 3 like the updated Eld Fungus to search and exile lands. Despite early disruption, Azusa steadily built a threatening board presence with token swarms and utility lands. White’s Phelia deck tried to control the tempo through exile effects and taxing creatures like Elite Spellbinder, but Azusa’s ability to generate multiple lands per turn and build a large token army posed a constant threat. The game revolved around managing resources, flicker interactions, and board wipes with key cards like Solitude and Containment Priest shaping the flow. The outcome depended on whether Phelia could keep Azusa’s ramp in check while assembling a decisive board presence.
