RIP Nadu and Dockside/ Tymna/Kraum v Thrasios/Vial v Baylen v Nadu Pre Ban Sept 2024

Deck Strategies

• 

  Tymna the Weaver and Kraum, Ludevic's Opus

  Utilizes combat damage to draw cards and generate advantage while applying pressure with efficient creatures and spells. The deck focuses on incremental value and disruption through multi-color goodstuff and interaction.

• 

  Thrasios, Triton Hero and Vial Smasher the Fierce

  A tempo and value-oriented deck that leverages cheap interaction, card selection, and incremental damage from Vial Smasher. It uses cascading spells and counters to control the pace and find key combo pieces.

• 

  Baylen, the Haymaker

  Aggressive creature-based deck that aims to lead with impactful threats and capitalize on combat tricks. Previously reliant on Dockside Extortionist for explosive resource generation, it now adjusts post-ban for sustained aggression.

• 

  Nadu, Winged Wisdom

  Combines creature synergy with disruption and value generation, often exploiting its flying creatures and incremental card advantage. The deck became less dominant as opponents found ways to counter its key threats.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Players effectively used Eldritch Evolution to upgrade smaller creatures into more impactful threats, creating shifting board states.

• 2

  Vampiric Tutor and Wishclaw Talisman were crucial for finding key spells and enabling reactive play during opponents' turns.

• 3

  There was careful management of life totals to pay for card draw and abilities, demonstrating the delicate balance of resource expenditure.

• 4

  Use of counterspells like Force of Will and disruption spells like Red Elemental Blast were pivotal in protecting critical plays and hindering opponents' strategies.

• 5

  Combat was strategically navigated with selective blocking and damage assignment, optimizing life gain and card draw triggers while limiting opponent advances.

• 6

  The loss of Dockside Extortionist forced Baylen’s deck to adapt, reducing explosive mana generation and shifting its role in the game.

• 7

  Tymna/Kraum maintained steady card advantage through combat damage, allowing sustained pressure and flexibility despite the meta changes.

Notable Cards

• 

  Dockside Extortionist

• 

  Eldritch Evolution

• 

  Vampiric Tutor

• 

  Wishclaw Talisman

• 

  Force of Will

• 

  Dragon's Rage Channeler

• 

  Charismatic Conqueror

• 

  Collector Ouphe

• 

  Walking Ballista

Summary

The game featured a competitive four-player Commander match with Tymna/Kraum, Thrasios/Vial Smasher, Baylen, and Nadu decks, all vying for control before the impending ban on Nadu and Dockside Extortionist. Tymna/Kraum leveraged efficient card draw and combat damage triggers to maintain steady pressure, while Thrasios/Vial Smasher focused on tempo plays and disruption using key spells like Force of Will and red blasts. Nadu aimed to exploit its synergy with creatures and disruption, though it struggled as opponents adapted to its strategies. Baylen, the Haymaker, sought to capitalize on aggressive creatures and combat tricks but was hampered by the loss of Dockside Extortionist, a major component of its previous win condition. Key moments included Eldritch Evolution enabling powerful creatures to enter the battlefield, multiple uses of Vampiric Tutor and Wishclaw Talisman to find critical spells, and well-timed counterspells and removal that kept the board in flux. The gameplay was marked by careful resource management, including life payments for card draw and mana, and strategic blocking decisions that shaped combat outcomes. Ultimately, the game showcased how these decks functioned in a meta pre-ban, with Tymna/Kraum and Thrasios/Vial Smasher maintaining competitive viability despite the shifting environment.