Magic: The Gathering Commander Gameplay EDH | Abdel Adrian v Toluz v Tatsunari v Shadowheart | Ep.3

Deck Strategies

• 

  Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward

  Utilizes flicker and blink effects to repeatedly exile and return permanents, generating continuous value, creating tokens, and controlling the board. The deck wins through a combo or overwhelming combat damage from flicker-generated tokens.

• 

  Toluz, Clever Conductor

  A reanimator deck that cheats large creatures out of the graveyard using flash and graveyard recursion, disrupting opponents and maintaining board presence with instant-speed interaction.

• 

  Tatsunari, Toad Rider

  An enchantress build focusing on enchantment synergies to ping and drain life from opponents, gaining life as a resource to outlast and pressure the table.

• 

  Shadowheart, Dark Justiciar

  Generates value by sacrificing permanents, producing tokens and card draw, and attacking wide to wear down opponents with incremental advantages.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Abdel Adrian's use of flicker loops with Felidar Guardian and Ephemerate created an infinite loop that was the game-winning play.

• 2

  Jeff's timely strip mines and flash reanimator plays with Toluz added pressure but were ultimately countered by Abdel's protective spells.

• 3

  The interaction between flicker effects and value creatures like Soulherder and Solitude allowed Abdel to maintain board control and card advantage.

• 4

  Alex’s sacrifice-based Shadowheart deck maximized card draw and tokens but lacked a direct answer to Abdel’s infinite flicker combo.

• 5

  Car’s enchantress strategy provided consistent life drain pressure but could not keep pace with the escalating board states and combo potential.

Notable Cards

• 

  Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward

• 

  Felidar Guardian

• 

  Ephemerate

• 

  Solemn Simulacrum

• 

  Soulherder

• 

  Solitude

• 

  Leyline of Anticipation

• 

  Strip Mine

• 

  Smothering Tithe

• 

  Master Chef

• 

  Necroblossom Snarl

Summary

The game started with each player establishing their board states and mana bases, with notable early plays including Leylines on both Jeff and Alex's sides, setting up for instant-speed interaction and ramp respectively. Abdel Adrian took an early lead by casting his commander and using its flicker effect to generate value and create soldier tokens. Key moments involved multiple flicker and blink effects stacking up, with Abdel tutoring powerful creatures like Soulherder and Solitude to further control the board. Jeff's Toluz deck was active in disrupting Abdel's setup, using strip mines and flash reanimator plays, but Abdel managed to respond with spells like Fierce Guardianship, maintaining momentum. As the game progressed, Alex's Shadowheart and Master Chef deck generated value through sacrifice and token creation, while Car’s Tatsunari enchantress deck focused on draining life and maintaining pressure. However, Abdel's consistent flicker loops culminated in assembling an infinite loop with Felidar Guardian and Ephemerate, enabling repeated flickering of Abdel Adrian to generate overwhelming value and mill opponents. This loop proved decisive, forcing the other players to concede the game. The gameplay highlighted the potency of flicker strategies combined with value creatures and the resilience provided by instant-speed protection.