Animar vs Atraxa, Grand Unifier vs Talion vs Marneous | #cedh  | Gameplay 007 | Happy Thanksgiving! thumbnail Blurred backdrop thumbnail
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Animar vs Atraxa, Grand Unifier vs Talion vs Marneous | #cedh | Gameplay 007 | Happy Thanksgiving!

MTG Basics


Commanders featured in this Gameplay Reviewed & Verified

Decklists

Deck & Commander Strategies

  • Atraxa, Grand Unifier

    Atraxa, Grand Unifier

    Focuses on mana acceleration and board control using utility creatures and enchantment destruction like Nature's Claim, aiming to leverage Atraxa's abilities to generate incremental advantage and maintain board presence.

  • Animar, Soul of Elements

    Animar, Soul of Elements

    Ramp and synergy-based deck that aims to quickly deploy creatures and use Animar's counters to reduce costs and protect key pieces, facilitating fast combos or overwhelming board states.

  • Talion, the Kindly Lord

    Talion, the Kindly Lord

    Uses incremental damage and recursion to control the board, employing token generation and sacrifice outlets to create value and pressure while disrupting opponents' plans.

  • Marneus Calgar

    Marneus Calgar

    One-lander deck that leverages early mana rocks and disruption to set up a controlling game plan, using powerful creatures and interaction to maintain advantage and push towards a combo or combat finish.

Gameplay Insights

  • 1

    The use of Gilded Drake to steal and return important creatures demonstrated the value of tempo swings in competitive Commander.

  • 2

    Flash casting of creatures like Orzhov Mastermind allowed for surprise interaction and card draw, increasing resilience against opponents' disruption.

  • 3

    The management of Mana Crypt damage risk was critical, balancing aggressive acceleration with life total preservation.

  • 4

    Players continuously used removal and bounce effects to prevent any single player from gaining an overwhelming board presence.

  • 5

    Interaction like Nature's Claim was pivotal in countering key enchantments and slowing down potential combos.

  • 6

    The timing of attacks and blocks showed careful calculation to maximize damage to opponents while minimizing retaliation.

  • 7

    Usage of Laboratory Maniac as a win condition highlighted the importance of alternative victory routes in cEDH.

  • 8

    Players prioritized holding mana open for counterspells and interaction over developing board presence, reflecting a control-heavy meta.

Notable Cards

  • Mana Crypt

    Mana Crypt

  • Imperial Seal

    Imperial Seal

  • Gilded Drake

    Gilded Drake

  • Laboratory Maniac

    Laboratory Maniac

  • Nature's Claim

    Nature's Claim

  • Mother of Runes

    Mother of Runes

  • Orcish Bowmasters

    Orcish Bowmasters

  • Reclamation Sage

    Reclamation Sage

Gameplay Summary

The game began with players establishing their mana bases and setting up early interaction, with key plays including casting Mana Crypt and Imperial Seal to accelerate the game.

Early board states saw the use of utility creatures like Gilded Drake and Laboratory Maniac, creating a dynamic of stealing and protecting important pieces.

Atraxa's player utilized Mother of Runes and Nature's Claim to maintain board presence and disrupt opponents' enchantments, while Animar focused on ramp and control elements to build towards a threatening board state. Midgame featured strategic plays such as flash casting of creatures and effective use of removal and counters to maintain tempo.

Notable was the interaction involving the stealing and bouncing of key creatures, which kept the board fluid and forced opponents to adapt constantly.

The players aimed to leverage their commanders' synergies and powerful spells to outvalue and outpace one another.

The game saw multiple targeted attacks and blocks, with players managing life totals carefully while setting up for potential win conditions through infinite combos or overwhelming board presence. Ultimately, the game showcased a balanced mixture of control, disruption, and combo potential, with no single player dominating early, leading to intense tactical decisions and interactions.

The use of cards like Mana Crypt and Laboratory Maniac created tension around resource management and draw power, while the presence of interaction like Nature's Claim and Gilded Drake ensured that board states shifted frequently.

The gameplay emphasized the importance of timely removal, card advantage, and synergy exploitation in competitive Commander settings.

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