Phenax vs Tasigur vs Ruric Thar vs Phage EDH / CMDR game play for Magic: The Gathering

Deck Strategies

• 

  Phenax, God of Deception

  Utilizes milling and creature-based control to disrupt opponents while leveraging utility creatures and enchantments to grind out value and win through mill or combat damage.

• 

  Tasigur, the Golden Fang

  Focuses on graveyard recursion and card advantage, using delve and reanimation spells to bring back powerful creatures repeatedly, especially Consecrated Sphinx, to draw cards and outvalue opponents.

• 

  Ruric Thar, the Unbowed

  Aggressive, punishing players for casting noncreature spells by dealing damage, while applying pressure with efficient creatures and protecting itself with counterspell immunity from Cavern of Souls.

• 

  Phage the Untouchable

  Combines aggressive creatures with combo potential and disruption, utilizing mana ramp artifacts and spells to cast threats and protect them with interaction like counterspells and removal.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Harry's repeated reanimation of Consecrated Sphinx created a major card advantage engine that forced opponents to prioritize removal and board wipes.

• 2

  Tony's use of Thran Dynamo and Sun of the Infinite enabled explosive mana production allowing big plays and protection of key threats.

• 3

  Shawn leveraged Cavern of Souls to protect Ruric Thar from counterspells, ensuring consistent board presence despite poor land drops.

• 4

  The interaction between graveyard recursion spells (Necromancy, Animate Dead) and creatures like Consecrated Sphinx was a central dynamic driving advantage and tempo.

• 5

  Puppeteer Clique was effectively used to steal and exile opponents' creatures, disrupting their plans and providing incremental value.

• 6

  Multiple board wipes, including Toxic Deluge and Sudden Death, were crucial in resetting the board state, especially against recurring threats like Consecrated Sphinx and Eater of the Dead.

Notable Cards

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  Consecrated Sphinx

• 

  Animate Dead

• 

  Necromancy

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  Liliana Vess

• 

  Thran Dynamo

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  Tree of Perdition

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  Puppeteer Clique

• 

  Toxic Deluge

• 

  Sudden Death

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  Cavern of Souls

• 

  Solemn Simulacrum

Summary

The game began with all four players establishing their early board presence, with key ramp and utility creatures like Birds of Paradise, Magus of the Will, and Burning Tree Emissary. Harry, piloting Tasigur, focused on card advantage and graveyard recursion, repeatedly reanimating Consecrated Sphinx using Animate Dead and Necromancy, creating a significant threat by drawing multiple cards each turn. Meanwhile, Shawn on Ruric Thar and Tony on Phage the Untouchable tried to maintain pressure with aggressive creatures and combat damage. The Phenax player struggled with consistent land drops but utilized cards like Tree of Perdition and Puppeteer Clique to disrupt opponents and generate value. A pivotal moment occurred when Harry repeatedly brought back Consecrated Sphinx, drawing cards and generating advantage, forcing board wipes like Toxic Deluge and Sudden Death to keep the board in check. Tony leveraged Thran Dynamo and Sun of the Infinite for mana and casting power, while also deploying Liliana Vess to manipulate the top of his deck and control opponents' hands. Despite Shawn's early land struggles, he managed to cast Ruric Thar with Cavern of Souls, preventing counterspells and posing a constant threat to noncreature spells. The game featured intense interactions around graveyard recursion, counterspells, and removal spells, with each player trying to stabilize and find their win conditions amid recurring threats and disruption.