MTGO Match-Up: Grenzo, Dungeon Warden vs Rakdos, Lord of Riots EDH / CMDR gameplay video

Deck Strategies

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  Grenzo, Dungeon Warden

  Focuses on exploiting Grenzo's ability to put creatures from the bottom of the library onto the battlefield by controlling the battlefield with efficient creatures and burn spells. Uses tutors and mana acceleration to maintain pressure and generate tokens that synergize with sacrifice outlets and incremental damage.

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  Rakdos, Lord of Riots

  Aims to reduce the casting cost of large demons by dealing damage to opponents, enabling explosive plays of powerful creatures. Controls the board through aggressive damage and recursion, leveraging Rakdos’s cost reduction to overwhelm opponents quickly.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Using Blasphemous Act at reduced cost to clear the opponent's key creatures while preserving Grenzo was a pivotal moment that swung board control.

• 2

  Repeatedly casting and killing Rakdos, Lord of Riots prevented the opponent from maintaining board tempo and was crucial to denying powerful plays.

• 3

  Leveraging Grenzo’s ability to generate multiple activations per turn allowed for efficient creature deployment and pressure.

• 4

  Maintaining life total manipulation through creatures like Blood Artist and Falkenrath Noble facilitated aggressive cost reductions for Rakdos and incremental damage.

• 5

  Choosing not to attack prematurely preserved Grenzo and allowed for a stronger alpha strike later, showing prudence in timing combat phases.

Notable Cards

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  Grenzo, Dungeon Warden

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  Rakdos, Lord of Riots

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  Blasphemous Act

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  Blood Artist

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  Falkenrath Noble

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  Shepherd of Rot

Summary

The game featured a clash between two Rakdos commanders, with Grenzo, Dungeon Warden piloted against Rakdos, Lord of Riots. Early turns saw both players developing their boards and ramping mana, with Grenzo aiming to leverage his ability to cheat creatures into play from the bottom of the deck. The opponent attempted to cast Rakdos quickly to pressure the board, but Grenzo's player responded with strategic removal including a well-timed Blasphemous Act that cleared key threats. Grenzo's low casting cost and multiple activations allowed for steady board presence and pressure. As the game progressed, Grenzo's player utilized tutors and mana acceleration to assemble a strong board state, repeatedly casting Rakdos to maintain control and threaten lethal damage. Key plays involved managing life totals and creature damage to reduce Rakdos’s casting cost, while using token generation and synergies like Blood Artist and Falkenrath Noble to chip away at opponents. Despite some resource constraints, Grenzo’s deck capitalized on recurring damage and board wipes to eventually dismantle Rakdos’s defenses, securing victory after multiple successful kills of Rakdos, Lord of Riots.