ROUND 1 FIGHT! Street Fighter Showdown | The Worst Possible Commander Show #32 MTG Friendly EDH

Deck Strategies

• Chun Li

  Utilizes multi-kicker to exile instant cards from the graveyard and copies them on attack, aiming to chain extra turns and control spells to dominate the game.

• Zangief, The Red Cyclone

  A Voltron-style deck forcing blocks with indestructible commander, dealing excess damage to trigger opponents sacrificing permanents, and using equipment and enchantments to increase damage output.

• Guile, Sonic Soldier

  Charges counters on the commander to deal direct damage or gain lifelink and indestructibility, supported by mana rocks to cast powerful spells for damage and card draw.

• 

  Maarika, Brutal Gladiator

  Not explicitly detailed in the transcript, but likely focused on aggressive combat and board control aligning with the gladiator theme.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Chun Li's ability to exile and copy instants on attack creates a powerful engine for repeated spellcasting, especially with combo pieces like Mystical Tutor and Nexus of Fate enabling extra turns.

• 2

  Zangief's forced block mechanic combined with indestructibility and damage-based sacrifice triggers pressures opponents into unfavorable trades and permanent losses.

• 3

  Players used utility lands like Arena to simulate fight-like combat phases, enhancing the thematic experience while influencing board state interactions.

• 4

  Mana ramp and artifact/enchantment support were crucial for enabling early commander deployment and activating abilities that rely on casting spells or having creatures enter the battlefield.

• 5

  The interplay of triggered abilities from commanders and supporting cards shaped the pacing of the game, with players balancing aggression and control to maintain board presence.

Notable Cards

• 

  Nexus of Fate

• 

  Mystical Tutor

• 

  Rancor

• 

  Azorius Signet

• 

  Season of Growth

• 

  Arena

Summary

The game started with players developing their mana bases and setting up their strategies around their Street Fighter-themed commanders. Early turns were focused on ramping mana, playing key lands, and casting utility artifacts and enchantments that synergized with each commander's abilities. Notably, there was an emphasis on cards that interacted with creatures entering the battlefield and spells targeting creatures, setting up potential combos and value engines. As the game progressed, players began deploying their commanders and supporting cards to push their respective win conditions. One player aimed to leverage Chun Li's multi-kicker ability to exile and copy powerful instant spells like Nexus of Fate for extra turns, while another focused on Zangief's aggressive Voltron-style play with forced blocks, indestructibility, and sacrifice triggers to disrupt opponents. Another player utilized Guile's charge counters to deal damage or gain defensive buffs, with a backup plan of a direct damage spell to close out games. The battlefield became a dynamic arena of combat-focused interactions, with players applying pressure through combat damage, forced sacrifices, and incremental value from spells and creature tokens. The turning points involved resolving key enchantments and artifacts that enhanced commanders' effectiveness and the timing of commander attacks invoking powerful triggered abilities.