Mistform vs Zedruu vs Zo-Zu vs Sai EDH / CMDR game play for Magic: The Gathering

Deck Strategies

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  Mistform Ultimus

  Leverages artifact synergies and cloning effects to flood the board with flying Thopter tokens and powerful creatures, using incremental combo pieces like Aetherflux Reservoir and Astral Cornucopia to build advantage and finish opponents through sustained damage and spells.

• 

  Zo-Zu the Punisher

  Focuses on punishing opponents by dealing damage every time lands enter the battlefield or through direct combat damage, steadily reducing opponents’ life totals while maintaining pressure with aggressive creatures and burn spells.

• 

  Zedruu the Greathearted

  Implements a political control and disruption style, using enchantments and permanents to hinder opponents while gaining card advantage through donating permanents and protecting herself with cards like Karmic Justice and Ghostly Prison.

• 

  Sai, Master Thopterist

  Builds an artifact token army and leverages artifact synergies to generate value and board control, using spells and artifacts to create flying tokens and overwhelming board presence through equipment and combo interactions.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Countering the Gilded Lotus ramp prevented a significant mana advantage early in the game, slowing aggressive ramp strategies.

• 2

  Using Trading Post to sacrifice Thopter tokens and recur artifacts allowed for sustained card draw and resource management.

• 3

  Employing Arcane Adaptation to turn all creatures into Wizards enabled flexible creature-fetching with wizard tutor effects, enhancing consistency.

• 4

  Heavy artifact token generation synergized well with commander abilities, creating multiple layers of threats that opponents had to address simultaneously.

• 5

  Players carefully managed upkeep costs and sacrificial interactions to maximize value from permanents like Mystic Remora and Wellspring.

• 6

  The use of Ghostly Prison and Karmic Justice helped protect players from wide attacks and direct aggression, influencing combat decisions significantly.

Notable Cards

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  Aetherflux Reservoir

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  Astral Cornucopia

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  Gilded Lotus

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  Karmic Justice

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  Ghostly Prison

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  Thought Vessel

• 

  Arcane Adaptation

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  Psychosis Crawler

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  Trading Post

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  Consulate Crackdown

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  Path to Exile

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  Thopter Assembly

Summary

The game featured four distinct commanders with divergent strategies, creating a dynamic and interactive play session. Early turns saw players establishing their mana bases and laying down key artifacts such as Soul Ring, Thought Vessel, and Gilded Lotus, with some early removal and counterspells shaping the board state. Mistform Ultimus utilized artifact synergies and cloning effects, quickly generating flying Thopter tokens and leveraging powerful artifact combos like Aetherflux Reservoir and Astral Cornucopia to gain incremental advantage. Meanwhile, Zo-Zu the Punisher pressured opponents with damage triggers from landfall and direct attacks, aiming to chip away at life totals consistently. Zedruu the Greathearted played a politically charged control style, using cards like Karmic Justice and Ghostly Prison to protect herself and disrupt opponents' plans. She also leveraged her ability to donate permanents and keep opponents off balance. Sai, Master Thopterist capitalized on artifact token generation and artifact-centric spells, synergizing with cards like Thopter Assembly and War of Invention to overwhelm the board. Key moments included countering a Gilded Lotus ramp, multiple uses of Sacrifice outlets like Trading Post for card advantage, and a large combat phase where Mistform Ultimus and Master of the Pearl Trident dealt a combined 14 damage to Zo-Zu player Kevin. The game’s tempo swung with aggressive artifact-based combos and well-timed counterspells, with Mistform’s deck showcasing its power in maintaining board presence and card draw to eventually dominate the game.