Deck Strategies
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
A hatebear stax deck that deploys disruptive creatures to control the board and aims to win through Elesh Norn's powerful anthem effect and combat damage.
Lord Windgrace
A lands-focused deck that ramps, uses land recursion, and mass land destruction to break parity and control the game, winning through land-based synergies and big threats.
Akroma, Vision of Ixidor / Tana, the Bloodsower
A token and hatebear build that buffs creatures with keywords, aiming to overwhelm opponents with enhanced creatures and combat damage.
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces / Tymna the Weaver
A stax deck focused on locking down opponents with Rule of Law and other disruption while drawing incremental value from commanders and key draw engines.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
The early use of Alms Collector to shut down the Wheel of Fortune cast by Lord Windgrace was a critical disruption that slowed the ramp and draw advantage.
- 2
Casting Elesh Norn twice to apply the -2/-2 effect repeatedly was pivotal in controlling the board and killing key creatures like Lord Windgrace and his tokens.
- 3
Lord Windgraceโs use of World Shaper to bring back multiple lands after a board wipe helped stabilize his position and recover from land destruction.
- 4
Ravages of War was used to destroy all lands, a powerful land destruction play that set back all players but was mitigated by Lord Windgraceโs recursion capabilities.
- 5
The interaction between hatebears like Kataki, War's Wage and multiple artifact and mana acceleration pieces created a taxing environment that limited opponents' plays.
- 6
Torpor Orb was deployed to prevent problematic enter-the-battlefield effects, demonstrating layered disruption in the Elesh Norn deck.
Notable Cards
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Lord Windgrace
Titania, Protector of Argoth
World Shaper
Alms Collector
Kataki, War's Wage
Mana Crypt
Jeweled Lotus
Ravages of War
Torpor Orb
Wheel of Fortune
Dark Confidant
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces
Tana, the Bloodsower
Akroma, Vision of Ixidor
Summary
The game started with all four players setting up their respective board states and early plays that showcased their deck strategies. Lord Windgrace established a strong land base with ramp and recursion elements, casting Titania and eventually World Shaper to bring lands back from the graveyard. Elesh Norn's player focused on hatebear creatures like Sworn Canonist and Alms Collector to disrupt opponents, eventually casting Elesh Norn herself to control the board with a minus two minus two effect on opponents' creatures. The Akroma/Tana deck aimed to buff tokens and creatures with keywords and used hatebears and Chromatic Lantern synergy to build incremental advantage. Tymna/Sakashima utilized stax elements like Rule of Law to slow the game down and grind value with draw engines like Dark Confidant.