Deck Strategies
Kozilek, the Great Distortion
Utilizes artifact ramp and Eldrazi synergies to cast large threats quickly, drawing cards on casting and applying pressure with menace and high damage.
Multani, Yavimaya's Avatar
Ramp-heavy deck focused on landfall and big creatures, using multicolor ramp and life gain to establish a strong board presence and overwhelm opponents with large creatures.
Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder
Cascade-centric deck that generates value by casting multiple spells per turn, cloning key creatures and using cascade triggers to maintain card advantage and board control.
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Aggressive damage dealer that doubles combat damage and punishes opponents, supported by life gain and equipment/enchantments to maintain pressure on the board.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
Matt’s timely use of Force of Vigor to destroy Kozilek’s key artifact ramp pieces slowed down Frank’s explosive Eldrazi plays.
- 2
Frank’s Karn, Scion of Urza was pivotal for recovering lands and artifacts, maintaining board presence despite disruption.
- 3
Mike’s use of Gisela to double damage created a combat environment where attacks became decisive, forcing players to allocate blockers carefully.
- 4
Trevor’s cloning of artifacts and creatures with Vizier of Many Faces and Sculpting Steel added resilience and incremental advantages throughout the game.
- 5
The interaction between Kozilek’s menace and Gisela’s damage doubling created a lethal combination of commander damage pressure.
- 6
Matt capitalized on landfall and ramp synergies with Multani, swinging with overwhelming board presence to close out the game.
Notable Cards
Everflowing Chalice
Sensei's Divining Top
Ancient Tomb
Thespian's Stage
Force of Vigor
Karn, Scion of Urza
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Smothering Tithe
Vizier of Many Faces
Sculpting Steel
Oath of Lieges
Sakura-Tribe Elder
Summary
The game began with ramp and mana acceleration from all players, setting up their early board states. Frank, playing Kozilek, the Great Distortion, focused on artifact ramp with Everflowing Chalice, Ancient Tomb, and Thespian's Stage interactions to quickly cast Kozilek and other powerful Eldrazi-related threats. Mike's Gisela deck established early life gain and board presence with Sarah Ascendant and ramping into impactful enchantments like Oath of Lieges and Smothering Tithe. Matt, piloting Multani, Yavimaya's Avatar, leveraged ramp spells such as Sakura-Tribe Elder and Coarser of Kruphix to hit big creatures and landfalls, while Trevor's Yidris deck aimed at maximizing cascade and cloning effects with Vizier of Many Faces and Sculpting Steel copying key artifacts and creatures for value. Key turning points included Matt using Force of Vigor to destroy two of Frank's artifact ramp pieces, significantly slowing Kozilek's explosive start. Frank responded by using Karn, Scion of Urza, to retrieve important lands and threats, maintaining pressure. The arrival of Gisela on Mike's board began to tilt combat in his favor by doubling damage dealt to opponents. Matt's Chromatic Memorial and other land-based synergies enhanced Multani's presence, while Trevor's Vizier of Many Faces and cascade triggers created additional value streams. Ultimately, a combination of aggressive commander damage from Kozilek and the doubled damage from Gisela forced players to carefully manage their defenses. Matt leveraged Multani’s large body and board presence to finish the game, swinging with an overwhelming force while Gisela’s damage doubling and Kozilek’s menace pushed opponents into critical life totals.
