Heliod vs Jhoira vs Emry vs Breya | S3E4

Deck Strategies

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  Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain

  Uses low-cost artifacts to generate card advantage and mana, aiming to polymorph a token into Tide Sprout Tyrant to generate infinite mana and draw, with backup combo lines involving Underworld Breach and Brain Freeze.

• 

  Heliod, Sun-Crowned

  Monowhite stax deck aiming to slow opponents with taxing effects and assemble a two-card combo with Heliod and Walking Ballista or Triskelion for infinite damage, with a secondary combo involving Helm of Obedience and Rest in Peace.

• 

  Breya, Etherium Shaper

  Combo-focused artifact deck generating infinite mana through artifact synergies and combos, using Breya's ability to leverage infinite mana into a win, while maintaining control over the board state.

• 

  Emry, Lurker of the Loch

  Mono-blue control deck focusing on disruption and graveyard recursion, using Emry's ability to replay artifacts from the graveyard for value and to assemble combo pieces or lock down opponents.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Jhoira's choice to imprint Fabricate on Chrome Mox early helped accelerate artifact deployment and synergy.

• 2

  Heliod's use of Aether Vial and Smothering Tithe indicated a strategy focused on mana acceleration and control through taxing effects.

• 3

  Mana Drain used by Breya to counter Smothering Tithe was a pivotal disruption, slowing Heliod's mana generation significantly.

• 4

  Emry's early play of Conjurer's Bobble facilitated cost reduction for key spells and enabled graveyard setup for recursion.

• 5

  Breya's decision to cast Ristic Study early to tax opponents' spells indicated a plan to slow the game while assembling combos.

• 6

  Jhoira's ability to draw cards off artifact triggers combined with sacrifice outlets like Chromatic Star created incremental advantage.

• 7

  The group dynamics showed a balance between aggressive combo setups and stax-like disruption, making timing and sequencing of plays crucial.

Notable Cards

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  Polymorph

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  Heliod, Sun-Crowned

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  Walking Ballista

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  Triskelion

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  Helm of Obedience

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  Rest in Peace

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  Smothering Tithe

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  Mana Drain

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  Chromatic Star

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  Lotus Petal

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  Brainstorm

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  Wheel of Fortune

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  Cursed Totem

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  Sensei's Divining Top

Summary

The game begins with a fast-paced setup from all four players, each deploying their commanders and early ramp or disruption pieces. Jhoira utilizes artifact synergy to quickly accelerate mana and draw cards, aiming for a polymorph combo involving token creatures to generate infinite mana and card draw. Heliod focuses on controlling the board with a mono-white stax build, looking to assemble a two-card combo with Heliod and Walking Ballista or Triskelion, with a backup win condition involving Helm of Obedience and Rest in Peace. Breya deploys a combo-heavy artifact deck leveraging infinite mana generation and token creation for a quick combo finish, while Emry plays a control-oriented mono-blue deck that leverages graveyard recursion to gain incremental advantage and disrupt opponents' plans. Early game interactions involved mana ramp, artifact deployment, and some disruption including a Mana Drain counterspell that prevented a key Smothering Tithe from resolving.