Deck Strategies
Teferi, Temporal Archmage
Control the board and assemble a combo with Chain Veil to generate infinite mana and draw through the library, then win using blue finishers.
The Gitrog Monster
Utilize dredge, discard outlets, and land interactions to loop through the deck and execute a multi-step combo to win the game.
Azami, Lady of Scrolls
Tap Wizards to draw cards and generate value, aiming to win through repetitive draw combos involving Isochron Scepter and Dramatic Reversal or similar effects.
Krenko, Mob Boss
Create a large board of Goblin tokens quickly, supported by artifact synergies like Dockside Extortionist and burn effects like Goblin Bombardment to overwhelm opponents.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
Back to Basics from Teferi slowed down non-basic land strategies, applying pressure on opponents who rely heavily on non-basic lands.
- 2
Krenko’s use of Dockside Extortionist to generate treasure tokens enabled explosive mana acceleration and combo with Fervor for lethal swings.
- 3
Teferi’s Jace, the Mind Sculptor was used to sculpt the top of the deck and protect combo assembly, but was quickly removed by Krenko to maintain board pressure.
- 4
Mental Misstep was used to counter Veil of Summer, preventing Gitrog’s protection and allowing Teferi to bounce the Gitrog Monster, disrupting their combo setup.
- 5
Sylvan Library was a double-edged sword for Gitrog, providing card advantage but costing life each time, which required careful life management.
- 6
The interplay between artifact/enchantment hate, discard, and counterspells created a dynamic and interactive board state where timing of spells was critical.
Notable Cards
Back to Basics
Sylvan Library
Mana Crypt
Dockside Extortionist
Fervor
Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Veil of Summer
Mental Misstep
Imperial Recruiter
Goblin Bombardment
Summary
The game started with a typical setup from each player, establishing their mana bases and early board presence. Teferi, Temporal Archmage focused on assembling a control and combo engine using Chain Veil to generate infinite mana and draw through the deck for a blue-based finish. The Gitrog Monster deck aimed to leverage dredge and discard synergies combined with land interactions to loop through its library and win through a complex combo. Azami, Lady of Scrolls sought to generate card advantage by tapping Wizards and potentially winning through combos involving Isochron Scepter and Dramatic Reversal or other blue spells. Krenko, Mob Boss aimed to flood the board with Goblin tokens and overwhelm opponents, often supported by cards like Dockside Extortionist and Fervor for rapid damage output. Early turns saw artifact ramp and disruption attempts, including Back to Basics from Teferi, which slowed down non-basic land strategies, and various counterspells and removal to protect critical combo pieces. The Gitrog player capitalized on Sylvan Library to gain card advantage at the cost of life, pushing their combo setup, while Krenko developed a large Goblin army with treasure tokens from Dockside Extortionist enabling explosive turns. Critical moments included Teferi deploying Jace, Mind Sculptor to manipulate the top of his deck and further set up his combo, and Krenko clearing Jace to maintain aggressive pressure. The Gitrog player also used Veil of Summer to protect key spells, although it was countered by Mental Misstep, illustrating the tight interaction of disruption in the game. The game unfolded with a mix of counterplay and combo assembly, with each player trying to balance board control, mana development, and disruption. Teferi’s ability to generate infinite mana and draw through the deck was a looming threat, while Gitrog’s dredge and discard loops presented a powerful alternate victory path. Krenko’s overwhelming board presence and Azami’s wizard synergy added layers of complexity. The interactions around artifact/enchantment hate, careful resource management, and timely removal defined the pace, leading to a highly interactive and strategic match among four distinct archetypes.