Deck Strategies
Loot, the Pathfinder
Uses efficient mana ramp and artifact synergy to quickly deploy threats and generate card advantage, aiming to outpace opponents and leverage artifact-based combos.
Pako, Arcane Retriever and Haldan, Avid Arcanist
This partner pairing focuses on building counters on Pako to create a large, aggressive threat while using Haldan’s spells to generate card advantage and control the board, pressuring opponents with a fast, aggressive tempo.
Kotis, the Fangkeeper
Leverages sacrifice and token generation mechanics to maintain board presence and disrupt opponents’ resources, aiming to grind out value and control the battlefield.
Kess, Dissident Mage
Utilizes a Grixis control shell with efficient spells, tutors like Imperial Seal, and card draw engines such as Rhystic Study to control the game and find answers to key threats, aiming for a combo or controlling win.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
The early deployment of multiple mana acceleration artifacts like Soul Ring and Chrome Mox was crucial to enabling fast, impactful plays and spells.
- 2
Pako’s rapid growth and aggression forced opponents into a defensive posture, highlighting the importance of early threat management in cEDH.
- 3
Using Rhystic Study triggers to draw extra cards and pay additional costs on opponents’ spells was a key element in resource control and card advantage.
- 4
Removal spells timed with Rhystic triggers, such as Cut Down on Chromox, effectively disrupted opponents’ tempo and board state.
- 5
Tutors like Imperial Seal were used strategically to find specific answers to high-priority threats, demonstrating precise deck manipulation under pressure.
Notable Cards
Pako, Arcane Retriever
Rhystic Study
Imperial Seal
Cut Down
Chrome Mox
Summary
The game kicked off with aggressive early plays, including turn one mana acceleration and key artifact drops like Soul Ring and Chrome Mox, setting the stage for high-powered interactions. Pako, Arcane Retriever quickly established a threatening board presence, growing with counters and pressuring opponents, notably targeting the player with Grixis colors. This aggressive stance forced others to react defensively. Meanwhile, Kess, Dissident Mage navigated mana constraints while trying to assemble disruptive spells and card draw engines like Rhystic Study. Despite the pressure from Pako and the dog-themed aggression, players sought to stabilize through incremental value and control spells. A pivotal moment occurred when Chromox entered the battlefield, prompting a key removal spell, Cut Down, assisted by Rhystic triggers, to eliminate threats and disrupt tempo. The interaction showcased the importance of resource denial and efficient removal in cEDH gameplay. Players juggled hand size, life totals, and board control, with Imperial Seal and other tutors being used to find critical answers, specifically to deal with Pako's growing menace. The game highlighted the fast pace and tight resource management typical in cEDH, with the win condition revolving around leveraging powerful creatures and combos while maintaining disruption to prevent opponents from gaining overwhelming advantage.