Zedruu vs Yidris vs Seizan vs Teysa Karlov EDH / CMDR game for Magic: The Gathering

Deck Strategies

• 

  Teysa Karlov

  Leverages death triggers and token synergies to generate value and maintain board control, using equipment like Skullclamp to convert creatures into card draw and pressure opponents with aggressive creatures.

• 

  Seizan, Perverter of Truth

  Focuses on black mana ramp with Cabal Coffers and powerful control spells like Toxic Deluge to reset the board, combined with card draw and life manipulation for attrition and political dominance.

• 

  Zedruu the Greathearted

  Plays a group hug style deck that donates permanents to opponents while generating card advantage through spells and enchantments, aiming to control the pace of the game with fog effects and taxing cards.

• 

  Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder

  Utilizes cascade spells and clone synergies to generate card advantage and board presence, combining ramp and disruption to enable explosive turns and maintain pressure.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Matt’s use of Cabal Coffers enabled him to generate massive amounts of black mana, allowing him to cast high-impact spells like Toxic Deluge and Dark Petition that turned the tides in his favor.

• 2

  The synergy between Skullclamp and Teysa Karlov’s death triggers allowed Frank to draw multiple cards during board wipes, maintaining his hand size and tempo.

• 3

  The interaction with Puzzle Box and cards that force discards or bottoming hand effects created a complex dynamic where players had to carefully manage their hand resources.

• 4

  Matt’s deployment of Wound Reflection and Fate Unraveler effectively shut down life gain strategies, converting what was initially a group hug environment into a punishing group squeeze.

• 5

  Trevor’s use of cascade and draw engines, combined with timely Cyclonic Rift, provided crucial disruption and card advantage, though he had to be cautious of life total management against black’s attrition tactics.

• 6

  Countering key spells with Mana Drain at critical moments prevented potentially game-changing plays and highlighted the importance of interaction in the mid-game.

Notable Cards

• 

  Skullclamp

• 

  Cabal Coffers

• 

  Toxic Deluge

• 

  Ghostly Prison

• 

  Propaganda

• 

  Dark Petition

• 

  Underworld Dreams

• 

  Fate Unraveler

• 

  Wound Reflection

• 

  Cyclonic Rift

• 

  Mana Drain

Summary

The game started with each player developing their board and mana base steadily, with early plays including ramp and defensive cards like Ghostly Prison and Propaganda to control aggression. Frank, playing Teysa Karlov, quickly established a strong board presence with creatures like Krav and Regna while equipping Skullclamps to maintain card advantage. Matt, on Seizan, Perverter of Truth, utilized Cabal Coffers and mana ramp to cast powerful spells like Toxic Deluge, clearing the board and resetting the game state. Trevor on Yidris employed cascade spells and draw engines to generate card advantage and pressure the table, while the Zedruu player focused on group hug elements with card draw and control tools like Aid from the Cowl and Ghostly Prison. A pivotal moment occurred when Matt leveraged his mono-black synergy with Cabal Coffers and spells like Dark Petition and Underworld Dreams to suffocate opponents through damage on life gain and card draw punishments. He further locked down the game with cards such as Fate Unraveler and Wound Reflection, preventing life gain and maximizing punishment effects. This shifted the dynamic from group hug to group squeeze, forcing all players to adapt. Throughout, strategic interactions such as countering key spells with Mana Drain and managing puzzle box triggers demonstrated a high level of tactical play. The game showcased a mix of political play, resource denial, and combo potential, with Matt’s oppressive control and taxing life loss effects creating a significant advantage against the others.