Deck Strategies
Thrasios, Triton Hero & Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh
Maximize mana production using mana dorks and land synergies like Gaea's Cradle, then use draw and recursion spells to find combo pieces for a fast, efficient kill.
Emet-Selch, Unsundered // Hades, Sorcerer of Eld
Leverage transformation and upkeep triggers to generate value and control the board, while assembling a combo or storm finish with spells that enable upkeep manipulation.
Kefka, Court Mage // Kefka, Ruler of Ruin
Use rituals and spells to ramp and draw cards, aiming to cast Ad Nauseam or other large combo spells for a decisive victory without strict reliance on the commander.
Vivi Ornitier
Control the game with counterspells and storm mechanics, building up to a lethal combo while disrupting opponents' key plays with timely interaction.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
Sacrificing mana dorks with Orcish Bowmaster to disrupt opponents’ ramp was a key tempo play that slowed down fast mana decks.
- 2
Holding Deflecting Swat allowed players to protect their critical spells and combos from disruption during pivotal turns.
- 3
Choosing when to tutor for combo pieces versus playing reactive spells was vital for maintaining board control without overcommitting.
- 4
Rograkh & Thrasios’ ability to rapidly generate mana and recursion provided a consistent threat that required opponents to prioritize removal.
- 5
Players carefully managed their hand size and resources to avoid feeding opponents’ draw engines such as Mystic Remora.
Notable Cards
Deflecting Swat
Diabolic Intent
Mystic Remora
Gaea's Cradle
Birds of Paradise
Ad Nauseam
Snapcaster Mage
Underworld Breach
Summary
The game featured a high-powered cEDH pod with five competitive decks led by Thrasios & Rograkh, Emet-Selch, Kefka, and Vivi Ornitier. Early turns focused on ramping mana and establishing board presence, with Rograkh & Thrasios leveraging their mana acceleration and synergy to quickly assemble resources. Emet-Selch aimed to transform and gain value from his unique upkeep triggers, while Kefka focused on generating card advantage through spells and rituals to fuel an Ad Nauseam win. Vivi Ornitier played a more controlling role, utilizing counterspells and storm elements to protect her combo potential. Key turning points included Rograkh's aggressive plays with Birds of Paradise and sac outlets to maintain pressure and board control. Orcish Bowmaster was strategically used to disrupt opponents' ramp creatures, significantly hindering their early game mana development. Deflecting Swat and other protective spells were held in anticipation of countering threats and maintaining tempo. The interplay of tutoring effects like Diabolic Intent and mana sinks allowed players to dig for critical combo pieces while managing the threat of opposing draw engines such as Mystic Remora. The game remained tight with players carefully balancing resource development, disruption, and timing, setting the stage for explosive combo turns.
