Deck & Commander Strategies
Soraya the Falconer
Builds a bird tribal deck centered around the banding mechanic, using numerous low-cost flying creatures to overwhelm opponents and synergize through buffs and combined blocking.
Shiko and Narset, Unified
A spell-slinger deck that aims to cast multiple instants and sorceries each turn, copying spells to maximize value, draw cards, and control the board.
MacCready, Lamplight Mayor
Utilizes a staxy approach punishing large attackers with life drain while granting skulk to small attackers, combined with incremental damage and life gain to control combat.
Heliod, the Radiant Dawn // Heliod, the Warped Eclipse
Focuses on casting spells with flash and reducing their costs based on opponents’ draws, aiming to generate overwhelming value through efficient spellcasting and token creation.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
The Soraya player’s use of Z's Incubator to reduce bird spell costs to one mana was a key enabler for rapid board development.
- 2
Howling Mine created a significant card advantage for all players, accelerating spellcasting and strategic options, especially benefiting Heliod and Shiko and Narset players.
- 3
Kaya Özov was used to exile graveyard threats and gain incremental life, helping to stabilize the board state against graveyard recursion strategies.
- 4
McCreaty’s ability to grant skulk to small attackers and punish large attackers created a unique combat dynamic that shaped opponents’ attack decisions.
- 5
The Shiko and Narset player’s spell copying and card draw synergy aimed to outvalue opponents through repeated spell effects and increased resource generation.
- 6
The use of Curse of the Swine to exile multiple creatures, including commanders, showed a bold removal strategy that reshaped the board state dramatically.
- 7
Blood Artist’s synergy with token creation and creature death triggers added a deadly layer of incremental damage and life drain throughout the game.
Notable Cards
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Howling Mine
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Blood Artist
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Curse of the Swine
Gameplay Summary
The game began with each player deploying their unique strategies reflecting their commanders’ strengths.
The player piloting Soraya the Falconer focused on assembling a bird-themed deck with the elusive banding mechanic, which allowed their hawks to band together for combined offense and defense.
Meanwhile, the Shiko and Narset player embraced a spell-slinging strategy, aiming to cast multiple spells per turn to maximize their commander’s ability to copy spells and draw cards.
McCreaty, Lamplight Mayor’s pilot leveraged a staxy, life-gain and life-drain approach, punishing opponents who attacked with large creatures while buffing small creatures with skulk.
Heliod’s player, new to non-green decks, aimed to control the board with flash and cost reductions, intending to chain multiple spells efficiently by capitalizing on opponents’ card draws.
