Mangara vs Gavi vs Zacama vs Edgar Markov [EDH/Commander, Magic The Gathering] MTG Gameplay 2020

Deck Strategies

• 

  Edgar Markov

  Aggressively flood the board with vampire tokens using Edgar’s eminence ability and leverage tribal synergies to overwhelm opponents through combat damage and lifelink.

• 

  Gavi, Nest Warden

  Utilize cycling to draw through the deck rapidly and assemble a combo that wins by drawing the entire deck and dealing damage while doing so.

• 

  Mangara, the Diplomat

  Go wide with tokens and resilient creatures to apply pressure and win through combat damage, often gaining incremental life and advantage through synergies.

• 

  Zacama, Primal Calamity

  Ramp aggressively to cast Zacama and combo with lands like Sanctum of Eternity to generate infinite mana and damage, finishing the game with overwhelming power.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  The use of Decree of Annihilation to destroy all lands was a pivotal moment that reset the game state and forced players to adapt their strategies on the fly.

• 2

  The Gavi player’s ability to cycle cards for free and generate tokens helped maintain pressure and card advantage despite the chaotic board state.

• 3

  Zacama’s pilot effectively recovered from the land wipe by using ramp spells and eventually leveraged infinite mana combos to close out the game.

• 4

  Edgar Markov’s vampire token generation combined with lifelink added significant pressure and sustainability, making him a constant threat throughout the game.

• 5

  Mangara’s go-wide token approach provided resilience and incremental life gain, which helped survive board wipes like Blasphemous Act.

Notable Cards

• 

  Decree of Annihilation

• 

  Blasphemous Act

• 

  Cyclonic Rift

• 

  Cultivate

• 

  Skyshroud Claim

• 

  Sorin, Solemn Visitor

• 

  Elixir of Immortality

Summary

The game began with each player setting up their respective strategies: Calvin with Edgar Markov's aggressive vampire tribal, Adrian cycling through his Gavi, Nest Warden deck to fuel a complex combo, Chris aiming to build a resilient go-wide token army with Mangara, the Diplomat, and Guy focused on ramping into Zacama, Primal Calamity to leverage a potent land-based combo. Early turns saw typical development with ramp, creatures, and incremental damage, but the game took a dramatic turn when the Gavi player unleashed Decree of Annihilation, wiping all lands from the battlefield. This unexpected mass land destruction forced a reset of resources and significantly impeded the usual mana development for all players. Despite the land wipe, the players adapted quickly, with Zacama's pilot using ramp spells like Cultivate and Skyshroud Claim to rebuild mana sources. Meanwhile, Edgar Markov maintained pressure with vampire tokens and lifelink synergies. The Mangara player capitalized on resilient threats and tokens to stay relevant, while the Gavi player continued cycling cards to dig for combo pieces. Key moments included a board wipe with Blasphemous Act and tactical use of artifacts and enchantments to recover tempo. The game culminated in a chaotic and entertaining finish, with Zacama's deck ultimately shining through by generating massive mana and leveraging infinite damage combos to secure victory, showcasing the deck's power even after a devastating land wipe.