Deck & Commander Strategies
Pako, Arcane Retriever & Haldan, Avid Arcanist
Uses a combo centered around Divergent Transformations and Leveler alongside Fastest Oracle to win at instant speed, supported by efficient mana ramp and aggressive attacks to generate value and pressure opponents.
Magda, Brazen Outlaw
A mono-red dwarf tribal deck focused on treasure generation and sacrifice synergies, aiming to amass treasures quickly to enable powerful activations and finish the game with overwhelming damage and board presence.
Atraxa, Praetors' Voice
Leverages a mono-blue infect and combo build using Walking Ballista and Hilliard Sun Crown to create a combo kill with proliferate and infinite counters, while controlling the board through interaction and tempo plays.
Myrel, Shield of Argive
Mono-white control and protection deck that uses Grand Abolisher effects and token production to lock opponents out of casting spells during critical phases, focusing on controlling the board and denying opponent responses.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
The early deployment of Opposition Agent effectively stymies Pako's instant-speed combo by taxing tutors and preventing fast win conditions.
- 2
Magda's treasure generation and vehicle crew tactics create constant pressure, forcing opponents to respond carefully and disrupting their tempo.
- 3
Blind Obedience proves pivotal for board control, enabling key creature taps and preventing blockers, which allows Magda to connect multiple times with a large vehicle.
- 4
Pako's decision to hold off on winning immediately and instead focus on interaction and board development is influenced heavily by hate cards like Thorn of Amethyst and Opposition Agent.
- 5
The interplay of instant-speed removal and combo activation stacks during Magda's treasure sacrifices showcases the complex timing decisions required in cEDH gameplay.
- 6
Silence effects from the mono-white player effectively shut down Pako's key plays temporarily, demonstrating the importance of timing and resource management in high-level matches.
Notable Cards
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Divergent Transformations
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Leveler
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Thorn of Amethyst
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Opposition Agent
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Dockside Extortionist
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Blind Obedience
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Path to Exile
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Walking Ballista
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Clock of Omens
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Mana Crypt
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Arcane Signet
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Cavern of Souls
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Swords to Plowshares
Gameplay Summary
The game begins with a fast-paced early setup from Pako and Haldan's deck, aiming for an instant-speed win through a Divergent Transformations combo with Leveler and the classic Fastest Oracle.
Early turns see aggressive mana ramp and development, with Pako attacking regularly to generate value and pressure.
Magda, playing a treasure-centric mono-red dwarf tribal deck, quickly accumulates treasures and sets up a threatening board state capable of winning once ten treasures are reached.
Atraxa's player builds a monoblue infect and combo-oriented board with Walking Ballista and Hilliard Sun Crown, aiming for a combo kill, while Myrel, the mono-white Grand Abolisher commander, focuses on control and board presence with protection effects and token generation. A key turning point occurs when Pako's instant-speed win is delayed by Thorn of Amethyst and the early play of Opposition Agent by another player, preventing fast combo execution.
Magda's treasure generation and aggressive attacks keep the table under pressure, forcing responses.
There is a tense sequence involving Magda's multiple treasure sacrifices and activations, met with well-timed removal and disruption, including Path to Exile and Opposition Agent steals.
The game transitions into a longer, more interaction-heavy midgame where players jockey for advantage, with Pako trying to maintain pressure and draw into combo pieces while navigating hate cards and board wipes.
The presence of silence effects and protection abilities from the mono-white deck further complicate immediate win attempts, setting the stage for a drawn-out, tactical battle.