Deck & Commander Strategies
Yarok, the Desecrated
Leverages doubling triggered abilities to enable a combo-centric game plan focused on Intruder Alarm and Aluren interactions to generate infinite mana or creatures, then finish opponents quickly.
Atla Palani, Nest Tender
Utilizes landfall and treasure token generation to shuffle permanents back into the deck and replay them for value, aiming to overwhelm opponents with incremental advantage and big creatures.
Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger
Applies early graveyard-based pressure by forcing opponents to discard and recurring Kroxa from the graveyard to chip away at life totals while disrupting opponents’ hands.
Elsha of the Infinite
Focuses on top-deck manipulation and instant-speed casting enabled by Elsha’s ability, coupled with card selection tools like Sensei's Divining Top and tutors to control the board and generate card advantage.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
Jan’s use of Teferi, Time Raveler prevented opponents from casting spells at instant speed, allowing him to protect key artifacts and maintain tempo control.
- 2
Countering Jim’s Gilded Drake with Reality Shift disrupted a major threat that could have stolen Elsha and swung the game.
- 3
The interaction of Elsha’s triggered ability with Sensei's Divining Top enabled Jan to manipulate the top of his library repeatedly, creating a significant card selection engine.
- 4
Bill’s decision to cast Eladamri’s Call to tutor Mirror Entity indicated a plan to leverage wide board presence or pump creatures, but it was overshadowed by Elsha’s growing dominance.
- 5
Eliot’s early casting of Kroxa applied pressure on opponents by forcing discard, but the inability to pay escape costs limited its prolonged impact.
- 6
Jim’s combo attempts with Neoform and Intruder Alarm were met with efficient disruption from opponents, demonstrating the importance of timely counterspells and removal.
Notable Cards
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Elsha of the Infinite
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Sensei's Divining Top
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Teferi, Time Raveler
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Gilded Drake
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Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger
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Intruder Alarm
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Carpet of Flowers
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Mirror Entity
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Eladamri's Call
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Smothering Tithe
Gameplay Summary
The game began with each player developing their board and mana bases carefully, with early plays including ramp spells like Sol Ring and mana-producing artifacts.
Jim on Yarok Aluren Intruder Alarm established an early board presence with Mox Diamond and Carpet of Flowers, aiming to accelerate his combo-oriented strategy.
Eliot, piloting Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger, applied pressure by casting Kroxa early, discarding key cards, and leveraging graveyard recursion and aggressive threats.
Bill on Atla Palani, Nest Tender focused on land drops and generating treasure tokens to fuel his shuffle-and-recast strategy, while Jan on Elsha of the Infinite set up with mana rocks and card selection tools such as Sensei's Divining Top and Enlightened Tutor to enable his top-deck manipulation playstyle. A pivotal moment occurred when Jim’s Gilded Drake was countered and exiled via Reality Shift, thwarting his attempt to steal Elsha.
Jan capitalized on Teferi, Time Raveler to maintain control and efficiently bounce artifacts like Mox Opal for value, setting up a powerful top-deck manipulation loop with Sensei's Divining Top under Elsha's triggered abilities.
Eliot tried to disrupt Jan’s board with Pyroblast but was countered, allowing Jan to continue assembling his combo.
Meanwhile, Bill’s use of Eladamri’s Call to find Mirror Entity hinted at a potential wide board or shuffle synergy, but the main focus remained on Jan’s growing advantage through Elsha's ability to cast instants and sorceries at instant speed and manipulate the top of his deck for incremental card advantage and control. The game’s trajectory favored Jan’s Elsha deck as it gained momentum through incremental advantage and control elements, while other players struggled to establish overwhelming board states or combos.
The interaction between Elsha’s top-deck manipulation, protection from disruption via Teferi, and artifact recursion set the stage for a strong finish.
Kroxa’s aggressive early pressure and Jim’s combo attempts provided tension but were ultimately held in check by timely counters and disruption.