EDH Gameplay - Episode 88: First Sliver VS Belbe VS Velomachus VS Nekusar

Deck Strategies

• 

  Nekusar, the Mindrazer

  Punish opponents for drawing cards by forcing multiple wheel effects and discard, generating black mana and tokens via Waste Not, aiming to drain opponents' resources and stabilize with control elements.

• 

  Belbe, Corrupted Observer

  Generate large amounts of mana through life drain and damage effects, enabling early casting of massive spells and mana rocks to ramp quickly and dominate the midgame.

• 

  The First Sliver

  Leverage changeling creatures and tribal lords to build a synergistic board presence focused on creature types, using utility cards and interaction to maintain board control.

• 

  Velomachus Lorehold

  Cast high-value spells and dragons for free or reduced cost with the commander's attack triggers, supported by mana rocks and ramp to maintain tempo and apply aggressive pressure.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Nekusar's player capitalized on early Waste Not activation combined with multiple wheel effects to generate explosive mana and token advantage, setting a strong foundation for the game.

• 2

  Belbe's ability to generate large amounts of mana through life drain and damage synergies allowed casting of expensive spells early, shifting the board state in his favor.

• 3

  The First Sliver deck's use of changelings and tribal lords offered a unique tribal synergy that differed from traditional Sliver decks, allowing flexible creature interactions.

• 4

  Velomachus Lorehold's player leveraged the commander's attack-triggered spell casting to maintain tempo and pressure opponents with dragons and control elements.

• 5

  The timely use of Swords to Plowshares to exile Nekusar removed a major source of card draw punishment and shifted the momentum.

• 6

  Beast Within was used strategically to destroy Nekusar's Fairy's Puzzle Box, alleviating forced discards and drawing, which simplified the game state.

• 7

  Players frequently used life payment mechanics to keep critical creatures during multiple forced discard draws, highlighting the high-stakes card economy.

• 8

  Interaction with mana rocks like Chromatic Lantern and Skyclave Relic enhanced mana consistency and ramp, crucial for casting large spells on curve.

Notable Cards

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  Waste Not

• 

  Windfall

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  Wheel of Fortune

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  Chromatic Lantern

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  Swords to Plowshares

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  Scavenging Ooze

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  Timeless Witness

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  Kozilek, the Great Distortion

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  Ruby Medallion

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  Mirror Entity

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  Beast Within

• 

  Howling Mine

Summary

The game featured a dynamic four-player Commander match, each piloting distinct decks with unique strategies. Early on, the Nekusar player established a potent wheel and discard synergy, leveraging Waste Not and multiple wheel effects such as Windfall and Wheel of Fortune to generate massive black mana, tokens, and card advantage, enabling a strong board presence and mana ramp. Meanwhile, Belbe, Corrupted Observer's player focused on generating vast amounts of mana through life drain and damage triggers, casting powerful spells and mana rocks ahead of curve. The First Sliver deck, interestingly built around changelings and tribal lords rather than traditional Sliver tribal strategies, aimed to maximize creature synergies by playing impactful lords and utility creatures. Velomachus Lorehold's player utilized a high-value spell-casting dragon commander, ramping mana and casting dragons efficiently with support from mana rocks and Ruby Medallion to pressure opponents with aggressive attacks and impactful spells.