Marath vs. Sheoldred - RT Straßbourg - R3 - Duel Commander - EDH│MTG│bitzelberg

Deck Strategies

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  Marath, Will of the Wild

  A midrange deck focused on generating and distributing +1/+1 counters to grow creatures and control the board. Utilizes Hardened Scales and synergistic creatures to apply incremental pressure while maintaining the Monarch and Initiative to out-value opponents.

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  Sheoldred, the Apocalypse

  Mono-black control with disruption through removal and graveyard hate like Go Blank, aiming to stabilize the board and leverage powerful finishers such as storm spells. Focuses on controlling the opponent’s resources and slowly grinding out value.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Marath’s use of Hardened Scales allowed for efficient counter distribution, making creatures like Scavenging Ooze significantly more threatening.

• 2

  Sheoldred’s inclusion of Go Blank provided graveyard exile and discard synergy but was limited by its sorcery speed and the opponent's ability to play around it.

• 3

  The decision to not immediately play creatures like Caves of Chaos Adventurer reflected careful resource management, especially in response to Sheoldred’s ability to regain the initiative.

• 4

  Trading creatures such as pumping Scavenging Ooze to kill an opposing creature demonstrated tactical exchanges to maintain board presence and pressure.

• 5

  The match highlighted the importance of managing triggers from cards like Sheoldred and understanding the nuances of life loss and initiative mechanics in Duel Commander.

Notable Cards

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  Hardened Scales

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  Scavenging Ooze

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  Go Blank

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  Dauthi Voidwalker

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  Solitude

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  Dead of Winter

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  Tendrils of Agony

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  Caves of Chaos Adventurer

Summary

The duel commander match featured a contest between Marath, Will of the Wild, and Sheoldred, the Apocalypse, highlighting a clash between midrange and control strategies. Early game board development saw Marath establishing a solid presence with Hardened Scales enhancing counters and leveraging interaction with creatures like Scavenging Ooze, while Sheoldred aimed to control the board with removal and graveyard disruption like Go Blank. A key moment involved a board wipe that reset some advantage, but Marath's ability to generate and manipulate +1/+1 counters, combined with the Monarch and Initiative mechanics, maintained a steady pressure. Sheoldred's deck featured classic mono-black control elements, including a combination of removal, disruption, and potential storm finishers like Tendrils of Agony, though the tempo was slower due to resource constraints. The presence of cards like Dauthi Voidwalker and Solitude added to defensive options and control. Throughout the game, strategic plays revolved around managing the board presence, trading creatures optimally, and carefully timing removal spells to mitigate threats. The match was a dynamic interplay of incremental advantages, with Marath capitalizing on counter synergies and Sheoldred attempting to stabilize and disrupt. The game’s progression suggested a focus on incremental board control and leveraging key creatures and spells to tilt the balance rather than immediate combo finishes.