Anything Goes | Commander Clash S11 E1

Deck Strategies

• 

  Valentin, Dean of the Vein

  Aggressive Golgari skeleton tribal deck that leverages regeneration and pump effects to overwhelm opponents, with a focus on holding equipment like Dowsing Dagger to enhance board presence.

• 

  Xanathar, Guild Kingpin

  A disruptive control deck aiming to lock opponents out of casting spells during the upkeep while utilizing the ability to cast spells from the top of other players’ libraries, generating card advantage and control.

• 

  Riku of Two Reflections

  Value-oriented Simic deck focusing on copying spells and creatures to maximize incremental advantage and card draw, avoiding infinite combos for a more casual, synergy-based gameplay.

• 

  Carth the Lion

  Golgari planeswalker deck that accelerates planeswalker ultimates and exploits their abilities to control the board and generate consistent value, despite the vulnerability of planeswalkers in multiplayer.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Valentin’s choice to pay mana to regenerate a one-drop skeleton highlights the deck’s focus on maintaining a resilient board presence despite the apparent inefficiency.

• 2

  Xanathar’s ability to choose a player each upkeep to prevent spellcasting and to cast spells from the top of their library created tension and forced opponents to adapt their strategies.

• 3

  Philip’s Riku deck avoided infinite combos, encouraging a more value-driven, less disruptive game plan that aimed at steady card advantage.

• 4

  Seth’s Carth deck tried to mitigate planeswalkers' inherent fragility in Commander by increasing the effectiveness of their abilities and speeding up ultimates, a notable strategic adaptation.

Notable Cards

• 

  Dowsing Dagger // Lost Vale

• 

  Skeletal Swarming

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  Xanathar, Guild Kingpin

• 

  Carth the Lion

Summary

The game began with each player establishing their board and early game plans, showcasing a diverse set of commanders and strategies. Valentin led a Golgari skeleton tribal deck featuring Valentin, Dean of the Vein to hold Dowsing Dagger, focusing on regenerating skeletons and creating an aggressive swarm. Crim piloted a control-oriented Xanathar, Guild Kingpin deck aiming to disrupt opponents by limiting their spellcasting while taking advantage of casting spells from the top of their libraries. Philip, new to Commander, played Riku of Two Reflections, emphasizing value by copying spells and creatures to draw cards and generate incremental advantage. Seth ran Carth the Lion, a Golgari planeswalker-centric deck that sought to accelerate planeswalker ultimates and maintain board presence through synergies and value generation.