RETURN OF THE @NitpickingNerds !!! | MAMTG cEDH Gameplay S5 E1

Deck Strategies

• 

  Kaalia of the Vast

  Deploy big, impactful creatures quickly via Kaalia's ability to attack and win through heavy combat damage.

• 

  Karador, Ghost Chieftain

  Use graveyard recursion and value creatures to grind out attrition wins over time.

• 

  Thrasios, Triton Hero & Bruse Tarl, Boorish Herder

  Establish infinite mana combos and use Thrasios's card draw to find finishers and close the game.

• 

  Tivit, Seller of Secrets

  Control the board with disruption and lock pieces, aiming to win via a one-card combo with Tivit.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Casting Linvala, Keeper of Silence was a key play to disrupt activated abilities and slow down combo decks significantly.

• 2

  Using Swan Song to counter a tutor spell rather than the tutor's target resource was a strategic choice to prevent the opponent from advancing their game plan.

• 3

  The interaction of flicker effects with mana artifacts like Grim Monolith created a potential infinite mana loop, a frequent game-winning combo in cEDH.

• 4

  Players had to balance between developing their board state and holding up interaction to counter opponents' key plays, showcasing the high interactive nature of the game.

• 5

  The presence of multiple control and combo decks led to a game heavily focused on disruption and timing rather than straightforward aggression.

Notable Cards

• 

  Linvala, Keeper of Silence

• 

  Grim Monolith

• 

  Faerie Miscreant

• 

  Swan Song

• 

  Chain of Vapor

Summary

The game began with players setting up their mana bases and early board presence, with key plays involving ramp and disruption. Thrasios and Bruse Dawnwaker's player focused on generating infinite mana combos using Grim Monolith and Faerie Miscreant with Flicker effects, aiming to draw their deck and win through combo finishers. Kaalia of the Vast's player took a more aggressive approach, deploying powerful creatures to put pressure on opponents and close out the game with combat damage. Karador, Ghost Chieftain's strategy revolved around value recursion and attrition effects, slowly gaining advantage and controlling the board. Tivit, Seller of Secrets aimed to lock down the game state and win through a one-card combo with its commander. A pivotal moment occurred when Linvala, Keeper of Silence was cast, significantly hindering the combo-centric decks by shutting down activated abilities. This forced players to adapt their plans and led to a tense board state with careful interaction and targeted disruption. The use of Swan Song to counter a tutor and the strategic timing of bounce spells like Chain of Vapor exemplified the high level of interaction and tactical play. Ultimately, the game showcased the tension between aggressive beatdown, control lockdown, and combo execution, with each player leveraging their deck's strengths to gain incremental advantages.