TTJ: Gavin Verhey v Cassius Marsh v Light v Nicholas | MTG Commander Gameplay episode 7

Deck Strategies

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  Zndrsplt, Eye of Wisdom and Okaun, Eye of Chaos

  A coin-flip themed deck leveraging chance-based effects to generate value and combos, aiming to capitalize on successful flips for powerful board states and win conditions.

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  Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow

  A ninja tribal deck that uses ninjutsu to sneak creatures in and trigger damage on opponents through combat damage with evasive ninjas, focusing on stealth and incremental damage.

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  Narset, Enlightened Master

  A spellslinger deck focusing on casting multiple noncreature spells per turn to generate extra combat steps or card advantage, aiming to control the game and combo finish.

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  Niv-Mizzet, Parun

  A control and combo deck that uses Niv-Mizzet's ability to draw cards and deal damage, often combining with instants and sorceries to ping opponents and protect key pieces.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Early mana acceleration with Jeweled Lotus and Lion's Eye Diamond set the stage for explosive early plays.

• 2

  Muddle the Mixture was used effectively to tutor for combo pieces, showcasing tight deck synergy.

• 3

  Counterspells played a critical role in protecting key spells and disrupting opponents' combos, highlighting the importance of interaction in this multiplayer game.

• 4

  Yuriko’s ninjutsu triggers pressured opponents stealthily, forcing them to respond to incremental but consistent damage.

• 5

  The coin-flip mechanic created unpredictable but rewarding gameplay moments, influencing players' decisions and board states.

Notable Cards

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  Jeweled Lotus

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  Lion's Eye Diamond

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  Muddle the Mixture

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  Aether Barrier

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  Baleful Strix

Summary

The game began with each player setting up their mana bases and early plays, with notable ramp spells like Jeweled Lotus and Lion's Eye Diamond coming down early. Gavin Verhey piloted a coin-flip themed deck led by Zndrsplt, Eye of Wisdom and Okaun, Eye of Chaos, aiming to leverage chance-based effects to gain advantage and finish with explosive combos. Light Humphries' Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow deck focused on ninja synergies and dealing damage through ninjutsu triggers, pressuring opponents stealthily. Nicholas Saenz played Narset, Enlightened Master, seeking to control the game with spells and generate value through extra combat steps or spells cast from the command zone. Cassius Marsh was on Niv-Mizzet, Parun, utilizing card draw and ping damage to whittle down opponents, while also having access to reactive control elements. Early turns saw the players jockeying for position with mana acceleration and protective spells, while trying to disrupt others' plans. The game featured strategic plays such as Muddle the Mixture tutoring for key combo pieces, and counterspells protecting critical spells. Narset's player attempted to execute a turn three lead with a classic combo finish but faced disruption. Yuriko's stealth damage and Niv-Mizzet's incremental damage and card advantage created tension on the board. Gavin's coin-flip deck sought to maximize chaos and reward, with the coin flip mechanic influencing key decisions. The game’s momentum shifted multiple times due to well-timed interaction and board presence. The win condition revolved around either comboing out through coin flips and spell sequences, or winning through incremental damage and evasive combat triggers.