Deck Strategies
Garth One-Eye
Utilizes Food Chain to generate infinite mana and cast powerful creatures, combined with card advantage tools like Rhystic Study and Esper Sentinel to assemble a combo finish via Underworld Breach and Brain Freeze or Thassa’s Oracle.
Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator & Vial Smasher the Fierce
Aggressively ramps and disrupts opponents with tax effects and efficient spells, aiming to leverage damage triggers and combo pieces to close out the game quickly.
Tymna the Weaver & Jeska, Thrice Reborn
Focuses on card draw via combat damage with Tymna and Jeska’s abilities, combined with disruption spells and creature control to maintain board dominance and prevent opponents’ combos.
Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge
Executes a spell-based combo plan by exiling cards with Jeleva's triggered ability and using treasure tokens to generate large mana pools for explosive plays, often aiming for powerful finishers through storm or big spell interactions.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
David’s use of Intuition to tutor Dockside Extortionist, Swords to Plowshares, and Underworld Breach in the end step was a critical setup to bypass Drannith Magistrate’s lock.
- 2
Baal’s Drannith Magistrate effectively slowed down combo attempts by restricting tutors and graveyard recursion, forcing David to take a more complex route to victory.
- 3
Hélder’s Jeleva triggered exiling cards and generating treasures created significant tempo, but was ultimately disrupted by targeted removal and counterspells.
- 4
Leite’s Cyclonic Rift on Underworld Breach was a timely attempt to disrupt David’s combo, but could not fully prevent the win due to David’s flash-in of Hullbreaker Horror and subsequent recursive plays.
- 5
Multiple Rhystic Study and Esper Sentinel triggers pressured players’ resources and influenced decisions on paying mana, shaping the pacing and interaction throughout the game.
Notable Cards
Underworld Breach
Dockside Extortionist
Brain Freeze
Food Chain
Rhystic Study
Esper Sentinel
Drannith Magistrate
Cyclonic Rift
Hullbreaker Horror
Swords to Plowshares
Intuition
Pact of Negation
Mana Crypt
Dark Ritual
Summary
The game started with each player setting up their mana base and early board presence while carefully managing hand size and interaction. David on Garth One-Eye used ramp and card advantage tools like Birds of Paradise, Esper Sentinel, and Rhystic Study to maintain a strong grip on the game. Leite on Malcolm & Smasher developed board presence with tax and disruption elements like Dauthi Voidwalker and Cyclonic Rift, while Baal on Tymna & Jeska focused on card draw and disruption, including casting Tymna and Jeska early for board control. Hélder piloting Jeleva used tutors and ramp to assemble a threatening board state, including Jeleva to exile cards and generate treasures, aiming for a big combo turn. A key turning point was David's clever use of Intuition to find Dockside Extortionist, Swords to Plowshares, and Underworld Breach, enabling him to navigate around Baal's Drannith Magistrate lock. Although Leite had a Cyclonic Rift to disrupt David's Breach, David responded by flashing in Hullbreaker Horror and then escaping multiple spells from Underworld Breach, culminating in a powerful Brain Freeze mill combo combined with Food Chain and infinite Shivan Dragons or Thassa’s Oracle for a quick win. The game showcased intricate interactions, resource management, and well-timed disruption until David’s combo sealed the victory.