EP: 20 Plargg v Athreos v Fangorn v Sauron

Deck Strategies

• 

  Plargg and Nassari

  Exiling cards from the top of libraries each upkeep and casting up to two spells from the exiled pile without paying their mana costs to gain tempo and card advantage.

• 

  Athreos, God of Passage

  Recurring creatures from the graveyard by forcing opponents to pay life or return creatures to hand, creating a persistent board presence and taxing opponents' life totals.

• 

  Fangorn, Tree Shepherd

  Building a treefolk tribal deck that benefits from vigilance and doubling attack power, ramping mana with lands and green spells to overwhelm opponents with wide, powerful boards.

• 

  Sauron, the Dark Lord

  Leveraging Orc tribal synergy to pressure opponents with combat damage triggers, drawing cards through the Ring Tempts ability, and maintaining board control with ward and sacrifice mechanics.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Plargg's ability to cast two spells for free from exile creates strong early tempo and forces opponents to respond quickly.

• 2

  Athreos' recurring creature mechanic pressures opponents to either lose creatures or pay life repeatedly, creating a taxing resource drain.

• 3

  Moria Marauder's double strike and ability to exile cards on combat damage provides both aggressive board presence and card advantage.

• 4

  Mana ramp and fixing, such as with Endless Atlas and Ruby Medallion, enable players to cast key spells earlier, accelerating their game plans.

• 5

  Fangorn's tribal synergy rewards wide board states and vigilance, doubling attack damage and posing a lethal threat if left unchecked.

• 6

  Players carefully balance aggression with resource development, indicating a midrange approach to combat and board control rather than all-out early aggression.

Notable Cards

• 

  Moria Marauder

• 

  Lightning Greaves

• 

  Arcane Signet

• 

  Endless Atlas

• 

  Foreboding Ruins

• 

  Sunken Hollow

• 

  Fate Unraveler

• 

  Ruby Medallion

Summary

The game features four distinct Commander decks vying for control and dominance. Early turns involve developing mana bases and establishing board presence, with key plays including Plargg and Nassari's exile-and-cast mechanic enabling free spells from exile, Athreos leveraging his ability to return creatures from the graveyard unless opponents pay life, Fangorn focusing on treefolk tribal synergy with aggressive board presence, and Sauron utilizing Orc tribal aggression and card draw through the Ring Tempts mechanic. Plargg's ability to cast spells for free off exile cards gives him early tempo, while Athreos pressures opponents with recurring creatures and life payment demands. Fangorn tries to build a wide board of treefolk with vigilance and double strike support, and Sauron improves his deck’s mana and threats to maintain pressure. Key turning points include the arrival of Athreos on the battlefield, increasing the threat of recurring creatures, and Moria Marauder's double strike ability that triggers exile and potential card advantage. Players carefully manage their resources, with strategic land plays and mana ramp setting the pace. The game is marked by incremental board development and tactical trades, with the win condition hinging on leveraging tribal synergies and card advantage to outlast opponents, particularly through Athreos’ and Plargg’s unique mechanics.