Death by a thousand cuts! [S2G10] cEDH Gameplay - TIVIT v YURIKO v KRARK/SILAS v MALCOLM/VIAL

Deck Strategies

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  Tivit, Seller of Secrets

  Tivit’s deck focuses on generating treasure tokens and using them for mana ramp and card advantage, while protecting Tivit with cavern of souls and ward abilities to enable consistent treasure production and incremental value.

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  Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow

  Yuriko’s deck uses ninjutsu and evasive creatures to deal incremental damage, triggering commanders’ damage-based effects to exile opponents’ cards and disrupt graveyards while chipping away at life totals.

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  Krark, the Thumbless and Silas Renn, Seeker Adept

  This deck leverages artifact synergies, card draw, and randomization spells such as Gamble to dig for combo pieces quickly and capitalize on Silas Renn’s ability to recur artifacts and instants for a combo finish.

• 

  Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator and Vial Smasher the Fierce

  Malcolm and Vial Smasher deck aims for aggressive early plays with fast mana and spells, controlling the board through efficient creatures and damage-based triggers, pressuring opponents while setting up disruptive artifacts and combos.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Seth’s repeated casting of Gamble with Krark’s ability demonstrated powerful card advantage and digging for combo pieces, significantly accelerating his deck’s plan.

• 2

  John’s use of Tivit protected by cavern of souls ensured treasure tokens were generated consistently, providing both mana ramp and card draw potential.

• 3

  Yuriko’s ninjutsu allowed for repeated combat damage triggers, exiling key graveyard cards and disrupting opponents’ resources while also dealing incremental damage.

• 4

  Orcish Bowmaster was an effective removal tool, taking out key threatening creatures and maintaining board control.

• 5

  Players carefully managed damage from fast mana artifacts like Mana Vault and Mana Crypt to stay alive while maximizing their tempo.

• 6

  The interaction of treasure tokens with artifacts and commanders’ abilities created a complex resource economy critical to maintaining an edge in the midgame.

• 7

  Targeted counterspells and removal such as Mindbreak Trap and timely responses to spells were pivotal in preventing early combos and shifting board control.

Notable Cards

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  Tivit, Seller of Secrets

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  Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow

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  Krark, the Thumbless

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  Silas Renn, Seeker Adept

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  Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator

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  Vial Smasher the Fierce

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  Cavern of Souls

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  Mana Vault

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  Lotus Petal

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  Gamble

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  Demonic Tutor

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  Mana Crypt

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  City of Brass

Summary

The game began with all five players deploying their fast mana and setting up their boards cautiously. Early turns featured typical opening plays such as mana rocks, land drops, and setup of key commanders and utility creatures. John, piloting Tivit, focused on establishing an early board presence with Tivit protected by cavern of souls, while Kyle on Yuriko prepared to leverage ninjutsu and evasive creatures for incremental damage. Seth with Krark/Silas aggressively used card draw and randomization spells like Gamble to dig for key combo pieces, while Shaun on Malcolm/Vial Smasher sought to develop a tempo advantage with fast mana and efficient creatures. As the game progressed, tension escalated when Seth began chaining Gambles to generate card advantage and Seth’s Krark synergy started to take effect. John leveraged Tivit’s ability to accumulate treasure tokens, enabling mana acceleration and card advantage. A pivotal moment occurred when Yuriko started dealing consistent combat damage through ninjutsu triggers, exiling critical cards from opponents' graveyards and disrupting their game plans. Several targeted removals and counterspells, including Orcish Bowmaster and Mindbreak Trap, shaped the board state, preventing early combos and forcing players to adapt their strategies. The game’s momentum swung with Seth casting Silas Renn and utilizing Demonic Tutor to search for combo pieces, while others scrambled to maintain board control. The interactions between treasure tokens, artifact synergies, and incremental damage through commander abilities created a dynamic battlefield. The game narrative suggested mounting pressure from multiple angles, with players aiming to leverage their commander’s unique mechanics either to lock down opponents or assemble lethal combos. Though the transcript cuts off before a definitive conclusion, it’s clear the game hinged on managing resources, protecting commanders, and timing combos and stax effects to secure victory.