MTG CEDH GAMEPLAY: Zeb from PWP brings Lotho vs Rog/Thras, Ashling, and Malcolm/Vial!

Deck Strategies

• 

  Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff

  Utilizes aggressive disruption, including hand control and gifting cards to opponents, to gain a long-term advantage by casting powerful spells from exile while pressuring opponents with creatures and efficient threats.

• 

  Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh and Thrasios, Triton Hero

  Combines fast mana and card filtering to assemble combos quickly, using Rograkh's aggressive damage output and Thrasios' card advantage generation to control the board and close out the game.

• 

  Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator and Vial Smasher the Fierce

  Focuses on disruption through damage-based spells and targeted removal while leveraging Malcolm's ability to manipulate the board and Vial Smasher's damage triggers to maintain pressure on opponents.

• 

  Ashling, Flame Dancer

  Aggressively applies damage through creature attacks and burn spells, while using Ashling's ability to punish opponents for casting spells, ramping up the offensive tempo.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Using Cruel Claws to gift cards disrupts opponents' hands while enabling the caster to reuse powerful spells from exile, creating sustained card advantage.

• 2

  Early removal of key combo pieces like Kenan Bonder Prodigy and disruption of Cloud of Faeries prevented explosive starts and slowed down opponents' tempo.

• 3

  Cycling Magmakin Artillerist dealt incremental damage to all opponents, applying pressure without committing to board presence.

• 4

  Players carefully managed floating mana and timing of spell casts to maximize value and avoid counterspell windows.

• 5

  The interaction between fast mana rocks like Grim Monolith and mana dorks allowed for explosive turns and quick development of threats.

• 6

  Counterspells and hand disruption spells were used reactively to maintain control over the game state and prevent opponents from stabilizing.

Notable Cards

• 

  Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer

• 

  Cloud of Faeries

• 

  Grim Monolith

• 

  Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator

• 

  Vial Smasher the Fierce

• 

  Arcane Signet

• 

  Song of Creation

• 

  Flare of Denial

• 

  Magmakin Artillerist

Summary

The game began with each player developing their mana base and setting up early threats, including Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer and Kenan Bonder Prodigy, which created immediate tension. Early plays like casting Springheart and activating powerful mana accelerators set the pace for a high-tempo game. The players exchanged interactions such as Swords to Plowshares and counterspells to manage board presence and prevent early combos, exemplified by the removal of Kenan and disruption of Cloud of Faeries. As the game progressed, the players leveraged their commanders and synergy pieces, such as casting Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator and using cards like Cruel Claws to disrupt opponents and manipulate hands. Key turning points included the strategic use of gifting cards with Cruel Claws, allowing players to cast exiled spells for the rest of the game, and tactical draws and plays like cycling Magmakin Artillerist to deal damage to opponents. The use of a Grim Monolith and fast mana enabled explosive plays, while the recurring threat of Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh and Thrasios, Triton Hero pressured the board state. Players employed hand disruption, flicker effects, and efficient counterspells to maintain control, culminating in a tense midgame where mana bases were optimized, and card advantage was fiercely contested. The game showcased a dynamic interplay of aggressive threats, combo potential, and control elements, with Lotho and Rog/Thrasios decks vying for dominance through resource denial and tempo plays.