Let’s Play Commander With TheOdd1sOut, Arin Hanson, and Amy! | Shuffle Up & Play 59 | Magic Gameplay

Deck Strategies

• 

  Volo, Guide to Monsters

  Cast a diverse range of creatures to create token copies of those never previously cast, generating card draw and overwhelming board presence through creature duplication.

• 

  Wick, the Whorled Mind

  Build a synergy around rats and snails, creating snails with +1/+1 counters that can be sacrificed to deal damage to each opponent equal to the snail's power.

• 

  Starscream, Power Hungry

  Utilize the monarch mechanic to control the game, gain card advantage, and leverage political interactions to maintain or steal the monarch status.

• 

  Yasova Dragonclaw

  Steal creatures from opponents to use them as bait for larger threats, disrupting enemy boards and generating value through creature theft and combat.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Copying creatures that have never been played before with Volo to maximize token creation and card draw provided strong incremental advantage.

• 2

  Wick's ability to create and buff snails that could be sacrificed for damage introduced a unique damage-dealing mechanic that pressured opponents steadily.

• 3

  The monarch mechanic in Starscream's deck shaped political decisions and forced opponents to consider the consequences of attacking or defending the monarch.

• 4

  Yasova's strategy of stealing and then sacrificing opponent creatures as bait exemplified a disruptive control plan, forcing opponents to play around her threats.

• 5

  Players made use of creature types and changelings to interact with multiple synergies in the game, highlighting the importance of tribal themes in their decks.

Notable Cards

• 

  Volo, Guide to Monsters

• 

  Wick, the Whorled Mind

• 

  Starscream, Power Hungry // Starscream, Seeker Leader

• 

  Yasova Dragonclaw

• 

  Changeling Outcast

• 

  Thornwood Falls

Summary

The Commander game featured four players, each piloting unique and thematic decks with distinct strategies. Early game interactions involved setting up their boards with creatures and utility lands. James, playing Volo, Guide to Monsters, focused on casting a variety of creatures to generate token copies and card draw, leveraging Volo’s ability to multiply creatures he had never played before. Arin’s rat-themed Wick, the Whorled Mind deck aimed to create and grow snails that could be sacrificed to deal damage to opponents, building incremental value through rat synergy. Amy piloted a Starscream monarch deck, emphasizing the monarch mechanic to control the game's pace and gain advantage by stealing or maintaining the monarch status. Her deck likely included political maneuvering and board control. The professor's Yasova Dragonclaw deck was centered on stealing opponents’ creatures to use as bait for bigger threats, disrupting others and gaining board presence. The game unfolded with players developing their boards, interacting with one another’s creatures, and preparing to execute their win conditions, such as overwhelming board presence from Volo’s tokens or direct damage from Wick’s snails. Key moments included strategic casting and copying of creatures, life gain interactions, and the monarch mechanic influencing player decisions. The gameplay showcased a blend of creature synergy, political dynamics, and strategic tempo plays.