PLAYING WITH RYAN FROM PLAYING WITH POWER - GODO vs TALIONS vs MAGDA vs SISAY

Deck Strategies

• 

  Godo, Bandit Warlord

  Accelerate mana rapidly to assemble combo pieces quickly, using Necropotence to draw into key cards and aiming to win as early as turn two with powerful artifact synergies and Helm of the Host combos.

• 

  Talion, the Kindly Lord

  Leverage blue control and value creatures like Esper Sentinel to disrupt opponents and stabilize early, while using Mind Over Matter combos to generate incremental advantage and create a resilient board presence.

• 

  Magda, Brazen Outlaw

  Aggressively utilize dwarf tribal synergies and artifact generation to pressure opponents, combining artifact ramp such as Ruby Medallion and Brassfire to quickly assemble threats and win through combat damage or combo lines.

• 

  Sisay, Weatherlight Captain

  Employ a five-color toolbox strategy that focuses on activating Sisay’s ability to fetch legendary permanents, enabling combo pieces and utility creatures to control the board and assemble a game-winning synergy despite mana disruption.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Godo’s early attempt to combo off with Necropotence and Helm of the Host was slowed by opponents’ red interaction and timely counterspells, illustrating the difficulty of going for a fast kill in a multicolor, interaction-heavy pod.

• 2

  Magda’s player prioritized removing Magus of the Moon despite the high resource investment, recognizing that its continuous mana disruption was key to preventing Sisay’s deck from executing its multi-pip activations and combos.

• 3

  The deployment of utility artifacts like Lotus Pedal and Ruby Medallion enabled efficient mana acceleration and flexibility in color fixing, which was critical in the multi-color environment.

• 4

  Talion’s use of blockers and incremental card advantage through creatures such as Esper Sentinel helped slow down aggressive rushes and added complexity to combat decisions.

• 5

  Ryan’s decision to keep open mana for disruption and not rush Godo’s combo immediately demonstrated a strategic shift from all-in combo to a more controlled, longer game plan when facing multiple threats.

Notable Cards

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  Necropotence

• 

  Magus of the Moon

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  Helm of the Host

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  Mindbreak Trap

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  Deflecting Swat

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  Esper Sentinel

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  Ruby Medallion

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  Smuggler's Copter

Summary

The game features a fast-paced cEDH match between four high-powered commanders: Godo, Bandit Warlord; Talion, the Kindly Lord; Magda, Brazen Outlaw; and Sisay, Weatherlight Captain. Early turns saw aggressive mana acceleration and key artifact drops, with Godo attempting a quick combo win using Necropotence to draw deeply and set up a turn-two kill. However, the presence of multiple red decks and interactive plays slowed down this plan. Magda and Godo engaged in a close race, each trying to leverage their aggressive dwarf tribal synergies and artifact-based combos. Sisay's deck struggled somewhat with the early presence of Magus of the Moon, which disrupted her multicolor mana base and activation-heavy strategy, forcing her to find ways to remove it while maintaining pressure. A pivotal moment was when Magda's controller used targeted removal and interaction to keep Magus of the Moon off the battlefield, recognizing its significant impact on Sisay's deck function. Meanwhile, Godo's opponent cleverly employed counterspells and disruption, including Mindbreak Trap and Deflecting Swat, to protect critical pieces and prevent Godo's early combo. The game evolved into a tense midgame where board state control and resource denial became key, with players balancing their aggressive damage output against the need to answer disruptive elements. Talion's player contributed to the dynamic by deploying blockers and value creatures, adding complexity to combat decisions. Ultimately, the game highlighted the importance of timing, interaction, and flexibility in cEDH games where multiple combo and synergy decks compete simultaneously.