TTJ: Blackneto v Kess v Sinclair v Ben Bateman| MTG Commander Gameplay episode 11

Deck Strategies

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  Jeska, Thrice Reborn / Reyhan, Last of the Abzan with Obosh, the Preypiercer companion

  Focuses on doubling damage and proliferating +1/+1 counters to quickly take down opponents, using Jeska's damage doubling and Reyhan's counter redistribution to maximize combat effectiveness.

• 

  Kess, Dissident Mage

  Utilizes a spellslinger strategy to gain card advantage and control the board through instant and sorcery spells, aiming to disrupt opponents and chain spells for value.

• 

  Juri, Master of the Revue

  Centers around sacrificing creatures for value and leveraging land destruction to disrupt opponents’ mana bases, using sacrifice synergies to generate continuous advantage.

• 

  Akiri, Fearless Voyager

  Aggressively attacks with equipment synergies and weapons, enhancing creatures to apply pressure and using targeted land destruction to hinder opponents' development.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Players prioritized early mana optimization using fetch lands and shock lands, enabling rapid deployment of threats and spells.

• 2

  The alliance and targeting decisions early on shaped the flow of combat, with players focusing on the strongest threats to ensure survival.

• 3

  Faithless Looting and Ponder were critical for deck manipulation, allowing players to find key combo pieces or answers efficiently.

• 4

  Juri’s sacrifice and land destruction package introduced pressure on opponents’ mana resources while generating incremental advantage.

• 5

  Obosh’s damage doubling mechanics created a potent threat that required coordinated responses from the table.

• 6

  The balance between aggression and control was evident as players carefully chose attacks and spells to maximize impact while minimizing risk.

Notable Cards

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  Obosh, the Preypiercer

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  Jeska, Thrice Reborn

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  Reyhan, Last of the Abzan

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  Kess, Dissident Mage

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  Juri, Master of the Revue

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  Akiri, Fearless Voyager

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  Faithless Looting

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  Ponder

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  Prismatic Vista

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  Metallic Mimic

Summary

The game kicked off with players establishing their board states through early plays of lands and mana ramp, setting up for mid-game interactions. Blackneto, playing a Jeska, Thrice Reborn and Reyhan, Last of the Abzan deck with Obosh, the Preypiercer as companion, focused on leveraging damage doubling and counters synergy. Alex Kessler piloted a Juri, Master of the Revue deck with a sacrifice theme combined with land destruction elements, creating pressure through repetitive value from creature sacrifices. Michael Sinclair II played Kess, Dissident Mage, utilizing a spellslinger approach to generate card advantage and control the board with instant and sorcery spells. Ben Bateman’s Akiri, Fearless Voyager deck aimed to capitalize on equipment synergy and aggressive attacks, while also incorporating some land destruction to disrupt opponents. A key turning point was the strategic coordination between Blackneto and Michael Sinclair II to focus early aggression on the most threatening opponents while managing their own survival. Several fetch lands and shocks were cracked early to optimize mana and life totals, reflecting high-risk, high-reward gameplay. The use of Faithless Looting and Ponder demonstrated careful deck manipulation to find crucial combo or control pieces. Juri’s sacrifice-driven tactics added a layer of complexity, forcing opponents to balance removal and disruption with maintaining board presence. The game showcased a dynamic interplay of aggression, resource management, and tactical targeting, with players continuously adapting to shifting board states and threats. The win condition revolved around assembling synergistic combos, particularly through Obosh's damage doubling and Jeska's counters, as well as leveraging sacrifice and equipment synergies to overwhelm opponents.