Can Kenrith fend off the pretenders to the throne? - cEDH Gameplay

Deck Strategies

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  Carmen, Cruel Skymarcher

  Utilizes sacrifice outlets to grow Carmen and generate value by returning permanents from the graveyard to the battlefield, aiming to overwhelm opponents with recurring threats and incremental life gain.

• 

  Atraxa, Grand Unifier

  Leverages board wipes and powerful control elements combined with proliferate and wide-color access to stabilize the board and out-value opponents through incremental advantage.

• 

  Kenrith, the Returned King

  Focuses on fast mana and tutoring to assemble a versatile toolkit, using Kenrith’s multiple modes for removal, life gain, and utility to control the board and press for wins.

• 

  Krark, the Thumbless / Sakashima of a Thousand Faces

  Combines disruptive elements with combo potential, using Krark’s chaotic effects and Sakashima’s copying abilities to generate value and threaten opponents with unexpected plays.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Players prioritized early mana acceleration and interaction to establish tempo and disrupt fast combo attempts.

• 2

  Carmen’s strategy of sacrificing permanents to grow and recur threats effectively pressured opponents while maintaining life gain.

• 3

  Kenrith’s ability to tutor and leverage versatile modes allowed flexible responses to board states and helped maintain control.

• 4

  Mental Misstep and Force of Will were used strategically to counter key spells, preventing early combo wins.

• 5

  The One Ring provided valuable card draw and protection, becoming a focal point for control and tempo.

• 6

  Political considerations influenced targeting decisions, with players weighing threats and potential win conditions carefully.

Notable Cards

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  The One Ring

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  Mental Misstep

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  Force of Will

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  Chrome Mox

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  Dark Ritual

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  Arcane Signet

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  Opposition Agent

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  Mana Crypt

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  Tainted Pact

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  Dockside Extortionist

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  Demonic Consultation

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  Solitude

Summary

The game opened with players setting up their mana bases and early plays, with Carmen focusing on sacrifice synergies to grow and recur permanents, while Kenrith aimed to leverage fast mana and tutoring to establish board presence. Atraxa sought to control the game with board wipes and card advantage, while Sakashima and Krark (Krark, the Thumbless) prepared for their own combos and disruptive plays. Early turns saw typical ramping and card draw, with several players deploying utility creatures and equipment to build their engines. A pivotal moment occurred when Carmen successfully cast multiple sacrifice effects to grow her commander and generate value by recurring permanents from the graveyard. Meanwhile, Kenrith used tutors and mana acceleration to pressure opponents and maintain a strong board state. The One Ring appeared as a key artifact providing card draw and protection, influencing players' decisions. The game featured several counterspells and interaction attempts, including mental missteps and force of wills, attempting to prevent opponents from executing combos or gaining overwhelming advantage. The tension rose as players eyed each other warily, with discussions about who to target and when to strike, highlighting the political and tactical layers of the game. The match was characterized by incremental gains, well-timed disruption, and the looming threat of combos or powerful creatures swinging the momentum.