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Magnus the Red, The Swarmlord, Ghyrson Starn, Marneus Calgar - #cEDH Gameplay Ep 128

SplitSecond

Commanders featured in this video Reviewed & Verified

Deck Strategies

  • Magnus the Red

    Magnus the Red

    Generate large numbers of creature tokens to reduce the cost of big spells and win through repeated casting of powerful buyback spells, maintaining pressure with token swarms.

  • The Swarmlord

    The Swarmlord

    Leverage mana acceleration and sacrifice synergies, deploying creatures like Managorger Hydra and Tribute Mage to build a board presence and out-value opponents through incremental growth and token generation.

  • Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph

    Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph

    Utilize a tribal pinger strategy with small creatures and Curiosity effects to draw cards, apply incremental damage, and control the pace of the game while fueling further card advantage.

  • Marneus Calgar

    Marneus Calgar

    Aim to generate infinite or large amounts of mana early, using the commander’s ability to draw through the deck and finish the game with big threats or disruptive spells like Cyclonic Rift.

Gameplay Insights

  • 1

    David’s decision to use Cyclonic Rift in response to an incoming attack reset the board and shifted momentum, but opponents countered the play with spells like Flusterstorm, forcing careful resource management.

  • 2

    Baal’s use of Isochron Scepter imprinting Cyclonic Rift allowed repeated board control, buying time against aggressive token swarms and combo attempts.

  • 3

    Rodrigo’s tribal pinger deck leveraged interaction-heavy plays and incremental damage to keep opponents off balance while drawing cards through Ghyrson Starn’s triggers.

  • 4

    The interplay around Rhystic Study significantly influenced players’ mana and spellcasting decisions, with opponents often choosing to draw cards over paying mana, impacting tempo.

  • 5

    The threat of infinite mana combos and tutors in Marneus Calgar’s deck demanded constant vigilance and disruption from other players to prevent game-ending sequences.

  • 6

    The token generation from Magnus the Red and The Swarmlord created constant combat pressure, forcing opponents to prioritize board wipes and removal spells to survive.

Notable Cards

  • Managorger Hydra

    Managorger Hydra

  • Legion Warboss

    Legion Warboss

  • Cyclonic Rift

    Cyclonic Rift

  • Isochron Scepter

    Isochron Scepter

  • Rhystic Study

    Rhystic Study

  • Lotus Petal

    Lotus Petal

  • Jeweled Lotus

    Jeweled Lotus

  • Vampiric Tutor

    Vampiric Tutor

  • Demonic Tutor

    Demonic Tutor

  • Skullclamp

    Skullclamp

  • Faithless Looting

    Faithless Looting

  • Firebrand Archer

    Firebrand Archer

  • Dockside Extortionist

    Dockside Extortionist

  • Gilded Drake

    Gilded Drake

  • Wishclaw Talisman

    Wishclaw Talisman

  • Kessig Flamebreather

    Kessig Flamebreather

  • Sigil of Sleep

    Sigil of Sleep

  • Professional Face-Breaker

    Professional Face-Breaker

  • Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer

    Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer

  • Mana Crypt

    Mana Crypt

  • Sol Ring

    Sol Ring

  • Steam Vents

    Steam Vents

Summary

The game featured four competitive decks led by Magnus the Red, The Swarmlord, Ghyrson Starn, and Marneus Calgar, each pursuing distinct strategies. Magnus the Red's player focused on generating numerous creature tokens, using them to fuel powerful spells and maintain board presence. The Swarmlord deck utilized a combination of mana acceleration and sacrifice synergies, leveraging creatures like Managorger Hydra and Tribute Mage to establish a threatening board. Ghyrson Starn's deck centered around a tribal pinger strategy, using small creatures and Curiosity effects to draw cards and chip away at opponents. Marneus Calgar's player aimed to generate infinite mana and leverage the commander’s ability to draw their deck and finish the game with large creatures or disruption spells like Cyclonic Rift. Early turns saw explosive mana acceleration and aggressive board development, with Magnus creating tokens and The Swarmlord establishing a growing Hydra. Ghyrson Starn’s player used pingers and card draw engines to maintain pressure, while Marneus Calgar cast their commander on turn one and began setting up combo pieces. Key moments included David’s Cyclonic Rift clearing the board, triggering a flurry of responses and counterspells, and Baal’s tactical use of Isochron Scepter with Cyclonic Rift for board control. The game featured multiple interactions around Rhystic Study, forcing players to carefully manage resources and responses. Throughout, players balanced aggression with disruption in a dynamic cEDH environment, with the board state swinging between overwhelming token swarms and combo setups.

Description

This week we bring you all new Commanders from Universes Beyond Warhammer 40k!

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⬊ Decklists ⬋ ➢ Magnus the Red - tinyurl.com/4t97seu4 ➢ The Swarmlord - tinyurl.com/3xea92sx ➢ Ghyrson Starn - tinyurl.com/bdea4n8y ➢ Marneus Calgar - tinyurl.com/avekykhs

➥Don’t forget to visit Arena Porto if you’re coming to Porto/Portugal arenaporto.com ➥Magic, the Gathering and all products belong to magic.wizards.com/en ➥Intro & Outro Music from Patrick de Orteaga patrickdearteaga.com​ ➥Gameplay Music: Tragedy by Alex-Productions soundcloud.com/alexproductionsmusic Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0​

#cEDH #Commander #MagicTheGathering