MTG Commander Gameplay | The Cookout ‘24 | Kuro vs Ellie vs Quinn vs Blackneto | TTJ ep68

Deck Strategies

• 

  Stella Lee, Wild Card

  Builds a storm combo using a unique card that no other deck plays to generate massive card draw and mana, aiming to win through a storm-based combo finish.

• 

  Ultra Magnus, Tactician // Ultra Magnus, Armored Carrier

  Focuses on cheating large artifacts like Blightsteel Colossus into play without paying their mana costs, using artifact ramp and control elements to protect the combo.

• 

  Imskir Iron-Eater

  Leverages artifact synergies and affinity mechanics to accelerate board development and pressure opponents with artifact-based threats.

• 

  Urabrask // The Great Work

  Uses board wipes and creature control to slow opponents down while applying pressure with aggressive creatures and artifact ramp.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Early mana acceleration with Jewel Lotus and Soul Ring enabled explosive early plays and fast development.

• 2

  Use of Paler of War's influence counters applied pressure by forcing opponents to either allow card draws or lose life based on the total mana value of cards drawn.

• 3

  The interaction between Urabrask’s board wipe and the sparse creature board created a strategic opportunity to reset the battlefield.

• 4

  Ultra Magnus’s player signaled their plan to cheat in Blightsteel Colossus, prompting opponents to consider countermeasures or disruption.

• 5

  Artifact synergies and treasure tokens created a shared resource environment, influencing players’ decisions on when to deploy key spells.

Notable Cards

• 

  Talisman of Indulgence

• 

  Blightsteel Colossus

• 

  Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer

• 

  Urabrask // The Great Work

Summary

The game started with players establishing their board states and mana bases, with early plays such as Jewel Lotus, Soul Ring, and Talisman of Indulgence accelerating mana production. Stella Lee’s player aimed to build a storm combo with unique cards, while Ultra Magnus's pilot focused on cheating big artifacts like Blightsteel Colossus into play for a powerful finish. Imskir Iron-Eater's deck pursued an artifact-centric strategy, leveraging artifact synergies and affinity-style plays. Urabrask // The Great Work was used as a board control element, wiping creatures to maintain tempo. Early interaction included damage dealing and resource management, with players cautiously navigating threats and developing their strategies. As the game progressed, key turning points included the attempt to cast Ultra Magnus’s Blightsteel Colossus for free and the use of influence counters on Paler of War to pressure opponents. The artifact theme started gaining traction with treasure tokens and artifact ramp enabling explosive plays. Despite some board wipes and creature damage, players continued to ramp and draw cards, setting up for their respective win conditions. The dynamic between storm potential, artifact synergy, and big artifact threats created tension and pivotal moments, pushing the game toward a climax centered on the execution of high-impact combos and board control.