MAMTG cEDH S1 E22 | ft. Casually Competitive, Mental Misplay & The Commander Guru

Deck Strategies

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  Meren of Clan Nel Toth

  Midrange attrition deck that grinds value over the midgame using graveyard recursion and experience counters, aiming to assemble creature-based combos for a decisive finish.

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  Jeska, Thrice Reborn and Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker

  A punishing storm build that applies early pressure with Ishai and looks to generate infinite mana combos with Jeska as an outlet, accelerating through spell casting and storm mechanics.

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  Zaxara, the Exemplary

  A combo-centric deck with multiple A + B combos supported by a Soul Tie synergy and strong interaction, aiming to win quickly by assembling powerful combinations and controlling the board.

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  Tymna the Weaver and Tana, the Bloodsower

  A Stax-style Blood Pod deck that uses creature-based combos to circumvent hate pieces, focusing on resilient combos and incremental value generation to secure a win.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  The use of Deafening Silence early in the game effectively slowed down Jeska's storm combo potential, showcasing how targeted disruption can cripple aggressive combo decks.

• 2

  Fire Covenant was played at a high life cost to clear the board, highlighting the high-risk, high-reward decisions players make to reset unfavorable board states in cEDH.

• 3

  Meren's focus on accruing experience counters and recurring creatures allowed steady value accumulation even when facing board wipes, demonstrating the power of attrition in a multiplayer setting.

• 4

  Jeska/Ishai's strategy to build storm count while applying early aggression was met with timely interaction and removal, underlining the importance of balancing offense with defensive plays.

• 5

  The Blood Pod deck's careful management of mana and tutors to assemble combos around hate pieces illustrated the importance of adaptability and resilience in cEDH metas.

• 6

  Players frequently tutored for key combo pieces, indicating the critical role of efficient deck manipulation in executing complex game plans.

Notable Cards

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  Deafening Silence

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  Fire Covenant

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  Sylvan Library

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  Imperial Recruiter

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  Jeweled Lotus

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  Dark Ritual

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  Loyal Apprentice

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  Birds of Paradise

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  Nurturing Peatland

Summary

The game began with a diverse four-player pod featuring Meren of Clan Nel Toth, Jeska and Ishai, Zaxara the Exemplary, and a Tymna and Tana Blood Pod. Early turns saw players developing their boards cautiously, with notable ramp and card draw from Meren and Jeska/Ishai starting to apply pressure through early attacks. Meren focused on accruing experience counters and value through creatures and recursion, while Jeska/Ishai aimed to leverage storm-style combos bolstered by Ishai's growing power. Zaxara utilized an A + B combo approach with strong interaction, and the Blood Pod deck aimed to assemble resilient creature combos that could break through hate pieces commonly seen in cEDH. As the game progressed, key moments included a well-timed Deafening Silence that stalled Jeska's storm potential and a board wipe by Fire Covenant, which wiped the board at significant life cost. Despite disruption, players continued to develop their combo engines and interaction. Mid to late game saw Meren generating incremental advantage through graveyard recursion and experience counters, while Jeska/Ishai attempted to storm off but was checked by timely interaction. Zaxara maintained pressure with multiple combo avenues and strong removal, leveraging a Soul Tie synergy to keep up card advantage. The Blood Pod deck carefully navigated around hate pieces, establishing a board presence with Mana dorks and combo pieces like Loyal Apprentice and Timna. The game featured strategic tutoring and resource management, with players balancing aggression and defense. The game’s win conditions mainly revolved around creature-based combos and storm finishes, with key turning points including disruption spells and combat damage exchanges that shifted tempo. Overall, the match showcased a complex interplay of grinding value, combo execution, and interaction typical in high-level cEDH play.