Queen Marchesa vs Kynaios & Tiro vs Phage vs Ruric EDH / CMDR for Magic: The Gathering

Deck Strategies

• 

  Queen Marchesa

  Uses Monarch mechanic to gain card advantage and generate deathtouch Assassin tokens, controlling the board with taxing enchantments and recursion spells to maintain pressure and grind out the game.

• 

  Ruric Thar, the Unbowed

  Aggressive midrange deck that punishes players for casting noncreature spells with Ruric Thar’s damage triggers, supported by ramp and powerful creatures to maintain relentless pressure.

• 

  Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis

  Group hug style deck emphasizing land ramp, group card draw, and political advantage, leveraging incremental benefits for all players while positioning for a winning opportunity.

• 

  Phage the Untouchable

  Volatile combo/aggro deck focused on landing Phage quickly to win or disrupt opponents, supported by card draw and value creatures to mitigate inconsistent mana and maintain pressure.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Maintaining Monarch status allowed Queen Marchesa to generate card advantage and create Assassin tokens that pressured opponents effectively.

• 2

  OB Nixilis’s ability to remove Ruric Thar was crucial in checking aggressive board development and shifting momentum.

• 3

  Phage’s player compensated for poor mana draws by leveraging group card draw effects to stay relevant in the game.

• 4

  Dale’s use of Cabal Coffers combined with multiple swamps and mana doubling significantly accelerated his mana production, enabling casting high-impact spells like Platinum Angel.

• 5

  Removal of taxing enchantments via Merciless Eviction was a double-edged sword, clearing defenses but exposing Queen Marchesa to potential attacks.

• 6

  Sun Titan and Karmic Guide synergy enabled Queen Marchesa to recover key pieces and maintain board presence despite heavy board wipes.

• 7

  The political dynamics influenced decisions around card draw and life gain, especially with Kynaios and Tiro encouraging group benefit while positioning for advantage.

Notable Cards

• 

  Queen Marchesa

• 

  Ruric Thar, the Unbowed

• 

  Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis

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  Phage the Untouchable

• 

  Mother of Runes

• 

  Ghostly Prison

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  Bramblewood Paragon

• 

  Ob Nixilis Reignited

• 

  Solemn Simulacrum

• 

  Merciless Eviction

• 

  Thought Vessel

• 

  Sun Titan

• 

  Karmic Guide

• 

  Archfiend of Depravity

• 

  Swords to Plowshares

• 

  Avenger of Zendikar

• 

  Wretched Confluence

• 

  Cabal Coffers

• 

  Platinum Angel

Summary

The game began with a typical opening sequence where each player developed their mana bases and played early creatures and utility spells. Queen Marchesa quickly established herself as the Monarch and built up defenses with Ghostly Prison and Mother of Runes. Ruric Thar, the Unbowed, asserted aggression early, casting impactful creatures like Regal Behemoth and Bramblewood Paragon, while Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis focused on land ramp and group card draw synergies. Phage the Untouchable struggled with land drops but supported the table with card draw effects and incremental value plays. A pivotal moment came when Ruric Thar was removed by OB Nixilis's ultimate, slowing down aggressive pressure. Meanwhile, Queen Marchesa leveraged her Monarch status to generate 1/1 Assassin tokens with deathtouch and haste, applying constant threat pressure. A significant board wipe with Merciless Eviction reset enchantments but left Queen Marchesa vulnerable, prompting her to prioritize card advantage and board presence with Sun Titan, Karmic Guide, and Archfiend of Depravity to handle token swarms. The game featured heavy interaction, including strategic removal spells, taxing effects, and incremental card advantage engines, with each player vying for board control and momentum.