EDH Gameplay - Episode 19: Xantcha VS Animar VS Sidisi VS Karrthus

Deck Strategies

• 

  Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund

  Utilizes sacrifice outlets and value creatures to control the board, leveraging Jund colors for removal and recursion to grind out opponents.

• 

  Xantcha, Sleeper Agent

  Punishes opponents for casting spells by dealing damage and forcing discard, aiming to control the table through attrition and incremental damage.

• 

  Animar, Soul of Elements

  Focuses on ramping and accumulating +1/+1 counters, allowing Animar and creatures to grow large and cast high-impact spells quickly, overwhelming opponents with tempo and card advantage.

• 

  Sidisi, Brood Tyrant

  Self-mills to generate zombie tokens and value from the graveyard, combining life gain and board presence to outlast opponents and control the game pace.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Sidisi's Maelstrom Pulse was crucial in removing Bloodchief Ascension, halting a major life-gain and damage engine.

• 2

  Animar's ability to put multiple +1/+1 counters on creatures and chain card draw spells allowed a swift and powerful board state buildup.

• 3

  The use of Perpetual Timepiece and Altar of Dementia synergized well with Sidisi's self-mill and zombie creation, adding mill pressure alongside board presence.

• 4

  Blocking decisions, such as Phil blocking Animar's creatures with tokens, influenced the flow of damage and board control.

• 5

  Animar capitalized on combat and commander damage to eliminate Xantcha early, reducing the number of threats on the board.

Notable Cards

• 

  Bloodchief Ascension

• 

  Beast Whisperer

• 

  Genesis Hydra

• 

  Maelstrom Pulse

• 

  Altar of Dementia

• 

  Perpetual Timepiece

• 

  Beastmaster Ascension

• 

  Ruinous Path

Summary

The game began with each player developing their mana base and early board presence, with key ramp spells and creatures entering play. Karrthus focused on a Jund sacrifice and value strategy, while Animar built up counters and cast large creatures quickly. Sidisi leveraged self-mill and zombie generation to maintain board presence, and Xantcha used punitive discard and damage effects to pressure opponents. Early turns featured key plays like Bloodchief Ascension by Sidisi and Animar's Beastmaster and Genesis Hydra, quickly escalating the board state. A pivotal moment occurred when Sidisi's Maelstrom Pulse destroyed Bloodchief Ascension, disrupting a major life-gain and damage engine. Animar then executed a significant board development, placing multiple counters on creatures and casting powerful spells like Beast Whisperer and Ruinous Path, culminating in a lethal commander damage strike against Xantcha, effectively eliminating that threat. Later, Karrthus returned to the battlefield and launched a strong attack, but the critical turning point was Animar's combination of counter accumulation and card draw that propelled him toward victory. The game showcased intense interaction, with key mill effects from Perpetual Timepiece and Altar of Dementia adding pressure and synergy with Sidisi's zombie tokens.