Teysa vs Hazezon vs Zurgo vs Rhys EDH / CMDR game play for Magic: The Gathering

Deck Strategies

• 

  Hazezon Tamar

  Generate a large board presence through token creation and sacrifice synergies, using Hazezon's delayed token generation and spells like Secure the Wastes to overwhelm opponents with hasty warriors.

• 

  Zurgo Helmsmasher

  Aggressively deal commander damage using equipment like Sword of Feast and Famine and Argentum Armor to maximize Zurgo's damage output and disrupt opponents' resources through forced discards and untapping lands.

• 

  Rhys the Redeemed

  Build a token army with continuous token generators such as Amara and growing rights of Vok, enhancing tokens and drawing cards with equipment like Skullclamp to maintain pressure and board presence.

• 

  Teysa, Orzhov Scion

  Capitalize on lifegain and death triggers with Soul Warden and Bitterblossom, generating tokens and drawing cards with Skullclamp, while using Teysa’s abilities to create additional value from black creature deaths.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Zach's decision to sacrifice Hazezon Tamar to City of Shadows resulted in a massive token flood that built significant board presence and synergy with haste enablers, leading to a powerful alpha strike.

• 2

  Nick’s focus on equipping Zurgo with multiple equipment pieces allowed him to maximize damage output and disrupt opponents by forcing discards and untapping lands, showcasing high-impact aggression.

• 3

  Tommy’s use of lifegain triggers from Soul Warden combined with token generation and card draw via Skullclamp created a steady advantage in resources and board presence.

• 4

  Joe’s repeated use of Skullclamp on Soldier tokens combined with token generators like Amara and Wirewood Channeler maintained card advantage and board control, allowing him to keep pace with aggressive opponents.

• 5

  The shared use of Temple of Discovery and other lands acquired through Tempt with Discovery showed a collective strategy by players to ramp and fix mana early, accelerating their midgame plays.

Notable Cards

• 

  Soul Warden

• 

  Bitterblossom

• 

  Skullclamp

• 

  Secure the Wastes

• 

  Goblin Bushwhacker

• 

  Sword of Feast and Famine

• 

  Argentum Armor

• 

  City of Shadows

• 

  Wirewood Channeler

• 

  Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun

Summary

The game opened with aggressive early plays from all players, including early creatures and equipment that set the stage for combat-focused turns. Nick, playing Zurgo Helmsmasher, aggressively pushed commander damage with Zurgo equipped with multiple swords and Argentum Armor, rapidly chipping away at opponents' life totals. Zach on Hazezon Tamar focused on token generation, sacrificing Hazezon to City of Shadows to flood the board with Sandwurm tokens and later casting Secure the Wastes to create a large army of warrior tokens, synergizing with haste enablers like Goblin Bushwhacker to swing decisively. Tommy’s Teysa deck leveraged lifegain and token synergies through Soul Warden, Bitterblossom, and Skullclamp, gaining incremental value and card draw while creating fairies and spirits to bolster his board presence. Joe’s Rhys the Redeemed deck excelled in token generation and card draw, utilizing Amara and Wirewood Channeler to sustain a growing army of tokens that also supported his life total.