Hidetsugu & Kairi vs. Tivit - Relic Fest 2024 - R15 - Duel Commander - EDH│MTG│bitzelberg

Deck Strategies

• Hidetsugu & Kairi

  A combo-control deck that uses the commanders' ability to exile cards from the top of the library and cast instants and sorceries without paying their mana cost. It aims to cast expensive, game-ending spells like Rise of the Eldrazi and Expropriate, while maintaining control through sacrifice outlets and disruption.

• 

  Tivit, Seller of Secrets

  A Dimir control deck focused on counterspells, selective card draw, and disruption to control the pace of the game. It uses cards like Lazotep Query and Sinister Con to manage threats and leverages reanimation and recursion to maintain card advantage.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Casting Rise of the Eldrazi was a game-changing moment, nearly ending the game by leveraging the commanders' ability to cast high-cost spells for free.

• 2

  Tivit’s repeated use of Lazotep Query helped to disrupt Hidetsugu & Kairi’s key spells and maintain board control despite mana constraints.

• 3

  Hidetsugu & Kairi’s inclusion of sacrifice outlets like Innocent Blood and reanimation effects provided resilience against removal and board wipes.

• 4

  The back-and-forth counterspell interactions demonstrated the importance of timing and resource management in this high-level Dual Commander matchup.

• 5

  Utilizing treasure tokens and mana acceleration helped Hidetsugu & Kairi to cast expensive spells earlier, pressuring Tivit’s slower mana base.

Notable Cards

• 

  Rise of the Eldrazi

• 

  Expropriate

• 

  Force of Will

• 

  Remand

• 

  Innocent Blood

• 

  Cling to Dust

• 

  Brainstorm

Summary

The game featured a matchup between a combo-control deck led by Hidetsugu & Kairi and a Dimir control deck piloted by Tivit, Seller of Secrets. Early on, both players developed their boards cautiously, with Tivit leveraging counterspells and disruption spells like Force of Will and Remand to maintain control. Hidetsugu & Kairi's deck focused on assembling high-impact spells such as Rise of the Eldrazi and Expropriate, exploiting the commanders' ability to exile and cast instants or sorceries from the top of the library, gradually swinging the game with massive spells and life loss triggers. A pivotal moment occurred when Rise of the Eldrazi resolved, putting the opponent on the edge of defeat and showcasing the deck's potential to end the game quickly once it overcame counterspell resistance. Throughout the game, Tivit struggled with mana issues but utilized efficient interaction cards like Lazotep Query and Sinister Con to slow down Hidetsugu & Kairi's advances. The duel was marked by a series of counter wars and tactical plays involving brain searches and board manipulation. The inclusion of reanimation and sacrifice effects in Hidetsugu & Kairi's deck allowed for resilience against removal, while Tivit relied on careful card selection and disruption to maintain a foothold. The match highlighted the high skill ceiling and complexity of Dual Commander, emphasizing the tension between explosive combo lines and tight control plays.