We Only Play Uncommons | Commander Clash S12E07

Deck Strategies

• 

  Gilanra, Caller of Wirewood

  Cast high-cost uncommon bombs to draw cards and outvalue opponents, using Gilanra and Halana's abilities to generate card advantage and pressure.

• 

  Dina, Soul Steeper

  A Golgari aristocrats deck leveraging sacrifice outlets and life drain effects to slowly drain opponents' life totals while maintaining board presence.

• 

  Tatyova, Benthic Druid

  Gain life and draw cards whenever lands enter the battlefield, ramping into value plays and maintaining card advantage through incremental land drops.

• 

  Zada, Hedron Grinder

  Go-wide token strategy with targeted pump spells and cantrips to draw cards, aiming to storm off with Zada’s ability to buff all creatures and close out the game quickly.

• 

  Halana, Kessig Ranger

  Partner with Gilanra to support casting big spells and drawing cards, enhancing aggressive and value-driven plays with synergy from limited uncommon finishers.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Mana development was a key early hurdle due to the deck restriction, emphasizing the importance of efficient ramp creatures like Skyshroud Ranger.

• 2

  Players exploited uncommon sacrifice outlets and aristocrats synergies to generate incremental advantage in the absence of common board wipes.

• 3

  Zada’s deck demonstrated a feast-or-famine dynamic, where drawing and casting multiple pump spells in a turn could dramatically shift board state.

• 4

  The synergy between Gilanra and Halana allowed for card draw on casting high-cost spells, highlighting how uncommon cards can still support powerful draw engines.

• 5

  The lack of typical rare or mythic board wipes made combat and incremental life-drain effects crucial to controlling the board and winning.

• 6

  Players had to carefully balance resource expenditure and board development given the slower mana curve from uncommon-only cards.

Notable Cards

• 

  Gilanra, Caller of Wirewood

• 

  Halana, Kessig Ranger

• 

  Dina, Soul Steeper

• 

  Tatyova, Benthic Druid

• 

  Zada, Hedron Grinder

• 

  Skyshroud Ranger

Summary

The game featured five players each piloting decks built exclusively from cards printed at common or uncommon rarity, showcasing the surprising power level possible within these constraints. Early turns involved setting up mana bases and deploying key creatures to establish board presence. Gilanra, Caller of Wirewood paired with Halana, Kessig Ranger focused on casting high-cost limited uncommon bombs to draw cards and finish the game. Dina, Soul Steeper led a Golgari aristocrats build leveraging sacrifice outlets and life drain effects to chip away at opponents' life totals. Tatyova, Benthic Druid aimed to gain incremental card advantage and life through land drops, while Zada, Hedron Grinder sought to assemble a go-wide token strategy boosted by targeted pump spells and card draws. The game’s tempo was slow initially due to mana development challenges inherent in the restricted card pool, but shifted as players began to leverage their synergies. Key moments included players maximizing unusual sacrifice combos, and Zada attempting to storm off with multiple pump spells. The absence of typical board wipes due to rarity restrictions made creature combat and incremental value engines critical for control. The match’s outcome hinged on each deck’s ability to capitalize on unique uncommon synergies and efficient resource management.