Ikoria - Kelsien, Rielle, Kinnan, Gavi - #EDH Cockatrice Gameplay Ep 12

Deck Strategies

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  Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy

  Focuses on generating infinite or large amounts of mana through artifact synergies, then winning via mana outlets like Walking Ballista or Prowess combos.

• 

  Gavi, Nest Warden

  Utilizes cycling to generate incremental value and damage through creature triggers, aiming to outpace opponents with card advantage and direct damage.

• 

  Rielle, the Everwise

  Leverages discard and draw mechanics to maintain a steady flow of resources, using artifact recursion and card advantage to outlast opponents.

• 

  Kelsien, the Plague

  Focuses on creature control and incremental damage through pings and combat, maintaining board presence to grind down opponents.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Kinnan's infinite mana combo was a constant threat, forcing opponents to interact heavily with artifact tutors and mana acceleration spells.

• 2

  Gavi's cycling and damage triggers effectively disrupted Kinnan's combo plan by killing key pieces at critical moments.

• 3

  Deafening Silence and Containment Priest were pivotal in slowing down spell-heavy decks, limiting opponents' options and forcing conservative plays.

• 4

  Deflecting Swat was used strategically to protect key creatures and disrupt opponents' removal spells, demonstrating the importance of defensive instant-speed interaction.

• 5

  The use of Magus of the Moon to lock down mana bases showed the value of hate cards in a multiplayer setting, restricting opponents' ability to execute their game plans.

• 6

  Players carefully managed their resources around potential board wipes and interaction, highlighting the grindy nature of the match and the importance of timing.

Notable Cards

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  Mystical Tutor

• 

  Basalt Monolith

• 

  Walking Ballista

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  Deafening Silence

• 

  Containment Priest

• 

  Magus of the Moon

• 

  Deflecting Swat

• 

  Mana Crypt

• 

  Burning Inquiry

Summary

The game was a long, grindy match featuring four Ikoria commanders, each with distinct strategies that led to fluctuating board states and tense interactions. Early turns saw players setting up their mana bases and searching for key combo pieces, with Kinnan aiming for infinite mana through artifact combos and Gavi focusing on cycling and aggressive damage triggers. Rielle leveraged card draw and discard synergies, while Kelsien applied pressure with creature control and incremental damage. A critical turning point occurred when Gavi's cycling and damage triggers culminated in a surprise kill on Kinnan, disrupting his combo plans. Meanwhile, Rielle's ability to refill hands and Louise's artifact resilience kept the game dynamic. The interplay of control elements like deafening silence and containment priest slowed down the board, forcing players to carefully time their spells. The use of interaction such as deflecting swat and removal spells helped maintain the balance, leading to a tense, back-and-forth match that highlighted the unique strengths and vulnerabilities of each deck.