Deck Strategies
Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator // Vial Smasher the Fierce
Utilizes artifact mana acceleration and Ad Nauseam or Underworld Breach combos to generate large amounts of mana and cards, then finishes with Laboratory Maniac or infinite damage combos. Also capable of winning with a pirate synergy involving Malcolm.
Disa the Restless
A Jund aggro/control deck that wins through combat damage using Disa and big creatures like Giant Gophs, or by generating infinite combat phases with cards like Breath of Fury.
Glarb, Calamity's Augur
Leverages Sultai colors for card advantage by playing cards off the top of the library, then wins through a Doomsday combo or classic Thassa's Oracle combo.
Plagon, Lord of the Beach
Azorius control deck that casts and flickers Plagon to draw massive amounts of cards, then wins with an Extort loop using Blind Obedience.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
The Malcolm/Vial Smasher player executed a complex loop involving multiple flashbacks of Lion's Eye Diamond and Brain Freeze to mill their entire deck and generate mana, enabling a Laboratory Maniac win.
- 2
Despite early attempts to remove Malcolm with Dismember, the player chose to let Malcolm hit the graveyard to fuel the combo instead of wasting resources.
- 3
The use of Wheel of Fortune early on helped Malcolm/Vial Smasher shuffle away unwanted cards and draw fresh hands, accelerating their combo timeline.
- 4
The game featured significant interaction around combat turns, with players debating attack targets and life totals, highlighting the importance of threat assessment in multiplayer CEDH.
- 5
The flicker and Extort loop strategy with Plagon showcased a powerful control and resource generation plan, emphasizing card draw and draining opponents slowly.
- 6
Players made careful sequencing decisions to maximize the impact of cards like Return of the Wildspeaker and Greater Good in the midgame for card advantage and board presence.
Notable Cards
Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator
Vial Smasher the Fierce
Ad Nauseam
Underworld Breach
Lion's Eye Diamond
Brain Freeze
Dismember
Wheel of Fortune
Doomsday
Thassa's Oracle
Blind Obedience
Breath of Fury
Return of the Wildspeaker
Summary
The game began with aggressive early plays focusing on rapid mana acceleration and card draw. The Malcolm/Vial Smasher deck quickly established a strong presence by leveraging artifact mana sources like Mox Opal and Lion's Eye Diamond, followed by a wheel effect to refresh the hand. This deck aimed to combo off using Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator alongside spells such as Underworld Breach and Ad Nauseam, culminating in a win with a Laboratory Maniac or similar draw-based finish. Despite early disruption attempts, the deck successfully executed a complex loop involving Brain Freeze and Lion's Eye Diamond to mill opponents and dig for a win. Meanwhile, the other players used their commanders to build board states and apply pressure. Disa the Restless aimed to close the game through combat damage enhanced by infinite combat tricks, while Glarb, Calamity's Augur focused on card advantage and a Doomsday combo finish. Plagon, Lord of the Beach, looked to draw cards repeatedly by flickering the commander and win through an Extort loop. The match featured a dynamic interplay of combos and board interaction, with Malcolm/Vial Smasher's explosive start ultimately proving decisive in the first game.