Commander VS S10E3: Merieke vs Rafiq vs Nekusar vs Jin-Gitaxias

Deck Strategies

• 

  Merieke Ri Berit

  The deck revolves around control and card recycling. It seeks to exploit Merieke's ability to take control of opponents' creatures, supplementing this with additional card draw and bounce effects.

• 

  Rafiq of the Many

  This deck aims to capitalize on Rafiq's exalted mechanic and the aura strategy, intending to create a single, powerful attacking creature. The goal is to get Eldrazi Conscription onto Rafiq and deliver lethal commander damage.

• 

  Nekusar, the Mindrazer

  This deck focuses on forcing opponents to draw and discard cards, thereby triggering Nekusar's damaging ability. It also includes cards that punish players for discarding.

• 

  Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur

  The plan is to establish control over the game by reducing opponents' hand sizes and taking control of their turns. The deck also aims to steal opponents' permanents.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  The Jin-Gitaxias player's successful setup of control over the game was a key turning point.

• 2

  The near-successful attempt by Rafiq to land a lethal hit with Eldrazi Conscription was a notable moment.

• 3

  The interplay between the Nekusar and Jin-Gitaxias decks was interesting, as one was forcing card draw while the other was reducing hand size.

Notable Cards

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  Temporal Mastery

• 

  Sovereigns of Lost Alara

• 

  Eldrazi Conscription

• 

  Mindslicer

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  Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur

Summary

This game saw a battle among four intriguing commanders: Merieke Ri Berit, Rafiq of the Many, Nekusar, the Mindrazer, and Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur. The early game was characterized by players setting up their decks' specific strategies, from drawing and discarding mechanics to the exploitation of auras. However, the decisive turning point came when the Jin-Gitaxias player managed to establish control over the board state. Despite attempts to disrupt this control, the Jin-Gitaxias player's strategy of reducing opponents' hand sizes and taking control of their turns proved too powerful. Eventually, this control led to an inevitable victory for the Jin-Gitaxias player.