MtG Commander Gameplay | Yuriko, Zur, Codie, Erebos

Commanders featured in this Gameplay Reviewed & Verified

Deck & Commander Strategies

Erebos, God of the Dead
Control deck focused on denying life gain to opponents while drawing cards through life payment, using a taxing approach and incremental advantage to outlast others.
Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow
Aggro ninja tribal deck leveraging new Kamigawa cards and artifacts to deploy evasive ninjas quickly, aiming to deal damage through ninjas’ combat damage triggers and surprise attacks.
Zur the Enchanter
Control deck using enchantments and lockdown elements to manage the battlefield, countering aggressive strategies and soft-controlling the pace of the game.
Codie, Vociferous Codex
Spell-slinging deck that copies spells and uses ramp and board wipes to control the board, aiming to leverage Codie's ability to generate value and gain advantage through repeated spell casting.

Gameplay Insights

1
Erebos’s ability to prevent life gain and force life payment for card draw shaped the early game tempo and resource management for all players.
2
Yuriko’s deployment of Kamigawa-themed ninjas and artifact synergies created evasive threats that challenged Zur’s control and Codie’s board wipes.
3
Zur relied on soft lockdown and enchantment toolbox to keep ninjas in check, demonstrating a control approach that adapts to aggressive tribal decks.
4
Codie’s deck balanced between board wipes and ramp, waiting for the right moment to leverage spell copying and maximize value without overcommitting.
5
Players demonstrated a shared understanding of maintaining a balance between competitive and casual play, opting to escalate or pull back based on board state dynamics.

Notable Cards

Erebos, God of the Dead
Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow
Zur the Enchanter
Codie, Vociferous Codex
Secluded Courtyard

Gameplay Summary

The game started with Edward deploying Erebos, God of the Dead, immediately setting a tone of control and resource denial by preventing life gain and enabling card draw through life payment.

Yuriko’s player set up a ninja-themed aggro strategy, utilizing new Kamigawa cards that synergize with ninjas and artifacts to apply early pressure.

Zur’s player maintained a control-oriented approach with lockdown elements and enchantment-based interactions, aiming to handle the ninja threats and manage the board state.

Codie’s deck focused on spell-slinging and copying spells, combining ramp and board wipes to stabilize and then leverage Codie's unique ability for advantage. Key turning points included Erebos’s early establishment of a taxing board presence that limited opponents’ life gain while drawing cards, and Yuriko’s aggressive ninja deployments supported by artifact synergies, creating evasive threats.

Zur’s toolbox control and Codie’s spell-copying kept the game balanced, with players carefully deciding when to reset the board or push damage.

The game revolved around managing these dynamic threats and control elements, with the win condition centered on Yuriko’s ninja damage output, Codie’s spell dominance, and Erebos’s incremental card advantage and life manipulation.

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