Krenko vs Saffi vs Phage vs Ruric Thar EDH / CMDR game play for Magic: The Gathering

Deck Strategies

• 

  Krenko, Mob Boss

  Generate large numbers of Goblin tokens and use anthem effects and haste to quickly overwhelm opponents with wide, aggressive attacks.

• 

  Saffi Eriksdotter

  Combo-focused deck aiming to leverage Saffi’s ability to protect or recur key creatures to execute combos, such as with Timely Hordemate and Alter of Dementia.

• 

  Ruric Thar, the Unbowed

  Aggressive creature-based deck that punishes noncreature spells and uses strong creatures and Myriad tokens to control the board and deal damage.

• 

  Phage the Untouchable

  A control and combo deck that relies on ramp and selective removal to survive, then attempts to win through Phage’s lethal combat damage or combo interactions.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  The Krenko player’s use of Metallic Mimic to give Goblin tokens plus one plus one counters upon entering the battlefield significantly increased token strength and synergy.

• 2

  Tony’s timely use of Hero's Downfall on Timely Hordemate’s trigger effectively disrupted Saffi’s combo, preventing a potentially game-winning interaction.

• 3

  Players balanced aggression with caution, as Krenko’s player spread damage evenly to avoid becoming the primary target for board wipes.

• 4

  Maze of Ith was used strategically to untap a key Goblin token, enabling additional attacks and pressure.

• 5

  The Ruric Thar player chose to hold back attacks to avoid empowering the Krenko player’s token army, highlighting political dynamics in multiplayer Commander.

• 6

  Missing land drops slowed down some players but the Krenko player’s token generation and anthem effects allowed for explosive turns that were difficult to counter.

Notable Cards

• 

  Krenko, Mob Boss

• 

  Metallic Mimic

• 

  Coat of Arms

• 

  Skirk Prospector

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  Saffi Eriksdotter

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  Timely Hordemate

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  Hero's Downfall

• 

  Maze of Ith

• 

  Drumhunter

• 

  Fiend Hunter

• 

  Elvish Visionary

Summary

The game featured a fast-paced and aggressive start, primarily led by the Krenko player who quickly amassed a large army of Goblin tokens. Using key cards like Metallic Mimic and Coat of Arms, the Krenko player boosted their Goblin horde’s power and applied pressure evenly across all opponents to avoid becoming a target for board wipes. Despite several players missing land drops, the game saw key interactions such as Tony's removal of the Ogre Battle Driver and Harry's attempt at a combo with Saffi Eriksdotter and Timely Hordemate, which was cleverly disrupted by Tony's timely Hero's Downfall. Ruric Thar’s player maintained a defensive posture, using Myriad tokens to block and mitigate damage, while Phage’s player struggled with land drops and limited board presence, focusing on ramp and removal instead. The turning point came when the Krenko player cast God of the Forge, followed by a massive Goblin token generation and an overwhelming attack that ended the game. The game highlighted the synergy of token generation and anthem effects in Krenko’s deck, while showcasing the fragile nature of combo attempts and the importance of disruption in multiplayer Commander games.