FOOD CHAIN for Thought [S1G11] ELSHA v PROSSH v MALCOM|VIAL v FIRST SLIVER

Deck Strategies

• 

  The First Sliver

  Utilizes early Necropotence for card advantage and leverages the synergistic tribal Slivers to control the board and generate incremental value.

• 

  Elsha of the Infinite

  Focused on spell combos using cards like Sensei's Divining Top and Underworld Breach to generate infinite spells and win through combo damage or lock pieces.

• 

  Prossh, Skyraider of Kher

  Craterhoof Behemoth combo deck that aims to produce massive creature tokens and finish the game with a lethal alpha strike.

• 

  Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator / Vial Smasher the Fierce

  Combines aggressive damage output and fast mana acceleration to disrupt opponents and maintain pressure while assembling key combo pieces.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  The use of Opposition Agent to flash in during an opponent's turn effectively disrupted tutoring strategies, which was crucial in slowing down combo assembly.

• 2

  Casting Wheel of Fortune midgame forced players to discard and redraw hands, significantly impacting the flow and forcing players to adapt their plans quickly.

• 3

  Kyle’s Allosaurus Shepherd played a critical role in mitigating graveyard-based combos, forcing opponents to reconsider their strategies.

• 4

  Seth’s timely use of Necropotence applied pressure by restricting card draw, while also advancing his own resource base.

• 5

  Jeremy’s reactive hand with multiple counterspells allowed him to control the pace of the game and prevent opponents from easily executing their combos.

• 6

  Shaun’s gemstone cavern start allowed for early mana acceleration and tutor access, enabling him to maintain consistent pressure with Malcolm/Vial Smasher.

Notable Cards

• 

  Necropotence

• 

  Demonic Tutor

• 

  Opposition Agent

• 

  Wheel of Fortune

• 

  Allosaurus Shepherd

• 

  Craterhoof Behemoth

• 

  Carpet of Flowers

• 

  Sensei's Divining Top

• 

  Underworld Breach

• 

  Fierce Guardianship

• 

  Spell Pierce

Summary

The game featured a competitive multiplayer Commander match with five distinct decks: The First Sliver, Vial Smasher the Fierce, Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator, Elsha of the Infinite, and Prossh, Skyraider of Kher. Early turns saw players developing their mana bases and setting up critical pieces such as mana rocks, tutors, and key creatures. Prossh's player attempted to leverage the powerful Craterhoof Behemoth combo while Kyle on The First Sliver pursued a turn two or three Necropotence to gain card advantage and pressure. Jeremy on Elsha focused on a spell combo approach with cards like Sensei's Divining Top and Underworld Breach to enable infinite spells or powerful combos. Shaun on Malcolm combined strong ramp and interaction, while Seth on Vial Smasher aimed for aggressive damage and disruption leveraging fast mana and tutor effects. Midgame revolved around players contesting board control and resource management, with notable interactions including the use of Demonic Tutor to find key pieces and Opposition Agent flash-ins to disrupt tutoring. Wheel of Fortune was cast, forcing significant hand reshuffling and impacting players’ plans. The game featured tactical counterspells and targeted removal, with several instances of life loss and treasure token generation augmenting mana availability. A pivotal moment was Kyle’s recruitment of Allosaurus Shepherd, which threatened to lock down graveyard strategies, while Seth successfully used Necropotence to restrict opponents’ card draws. The game’s tension built as players prepared for potential infinite combos or overwhelming board states, with the ultimate outcome hinging on timely disruption and efficient utilization of resources.