Deck & Commander Strategies
Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis
Utilizes group hug effects to ramp mana and draw cards for all players while assembling chaos combos like Possibility Storm and Teferi's Puzzle Box to win with infinite draw and laboratory-based combos.
Phelddagrif (Liz’s Hippo Burn)
Focuses on group hug cards to draw and ramp but incorporates burn spells and commander damage through creatures like Synborn Mules and Suture Priest to pressure opponents.
Phelddagrif (Doug’s Defensive Hugs)
Plays a defensive group hug style, giving resources to opponents while protecting self, aiming to win through Approach of the Second Sun or mass bounce spells like Words of Wind.
Xyris, the Writhing Storm
Leverages snakes on the battlefield to generate mana and deal damage, with a self-imposed rule to avoid attacking with snakes unless forced, focusing on additional draw and ramp to overwhelm opponents.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
ProxyLab used mana flare combined with Teferi's Puzzle Box and Laboratory Maniac to create a powerful infinite draw combo, winning the game despite having fewer lands than normally required.
- 2
The use of group hug effects accelerated land drops and card draws, speeding up the game and enabling explosive turns where multiple players could generate large board states quickly.
- 3
Chris’s self-imposed rule of not attacking with snakes unless forced added an interesting layer of tactical restraint, focusing on building the board rather than aggressive combat early.
- 4
Liz’s timely use of Arcane Denial and protective spells like Sword to Plowshares helped delay opponents’ threats and maintain board presence.
- 5
Doug’s defensive approach with mass bounce and life-gain spells bought him time but was insufficient against ProxyLab’s combo finish.
- 6
The chaotic nature of group hug combined with chaos cards like Possibility Storm led to unpredictable but engaging gameplay, showing the synergy between group hug and combo elements.
Notable Cards
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Teferi's Puzzle Box
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Laboratory Maniac
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Mind's Desire
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Possibility Storm
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Approach of the Second Sun
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Words of Wind
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Mana Flare
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Propaganda
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Arcane Denial
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Temple Bell
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Horn of Greed
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Rites of Flourishing
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Suture Priest
Gameplay Summary
The game featured a four-player Group Hug multiplayer Commander match involving Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis, two Phelddagrif decks, and Xyris, the Writhing Storm.
The players started with traditional group hug strategies, focusing on ramping mana and drawing cards to fuel their decks.
ProxyLab, piloting Kynaios and Tiro, aimed to assemble combos using chaos effects such as Possibility Storm and Teferi's Puzzle Box, while simultaneously accelerating mana and card draw to set up a powerful finish.
Meanwhile, Liz’s Phelddagrif deck utilized group hug staples alongside burn and commander damage to pressure opponents, and Chris’s Xyris deck capitalized on the presence of snakes for damage and mana generation, abiding by a self-imposed rule to avoid attacking with snakes unless forced.
Doug’s defensive Phelddagrif deck focused on protecting himself and eventually winning through Approach of the Second Sun or mass bounce spells like Words of Wind. As the match progressed, multiple group hug effects triggered massive card draws and land drops, accelerating the game pace.
ProxyLab executed a pivotal sequence involving Laboratory Maniac and Mind's Desire, leveraging mana flare and puzzle box interactions to draw through his entire library and secure the win in a surprising but legitimate play.
The game showcased how group hug strategies can quickly escalate into powerful combo finishes when combined with chaos and draw engines.
The match was fast-paced and explosive, with key moments including mass card draw chains, reactive counterspells, and a massive damage swing from Chris’s snake tokens before ProxyLab clinched victory with his infinite draw combo.