Studio Slam #6: Can we fix Eric? Phage vs Tetsuko vs Titania vs Ruric Thar EDH / CMDR

Deck Strategies

• 

  Titania, Protector of Argoth

  Ramp with lands and use Titania’s ability to return lands from the graveyard to the battlefield, enabling massive landfall triggers and big creature generation for a strong board presence.

• 

  Phage the Untouchable

  Leverage Phage’s lethal ability that causes loss if she deals combat damage, combined with haste and evasive abilities to attempt a quick kill, often supported by protection spells or haste enablers.

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  Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive

  Focus on giving smaller creatures unblockable or hard-to-block status to chip away at opponents’ life totals, often supported by a low-curve, evasive threat suite to maximize commander damage.

• 

  Ruric Thar, the Unbowed

  Punish players for casting noncreature spells by dealing damage, while applying pressure through aggressive attacks and using big creatures to control the board and end the game via combat damage.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Monarch status was actively contested, influencing attack and block decisions to secure card advantage and political leverage.

• 2

  Players leveraged land recursion effects, especially Titania, to maintain board presence and fuel landfall synergies.

• 3

  Phage's lethal effect kept opponents cautious, influencing blocking and combat strategies to avoid instant losses.

• 4

  Use of protection spells and counterplay like Prowling Serpopard prevented disruption of key spells and enabled smooth execution of combos.

• 5

  Tracking both regular and commander damage was critical, as commanders like Phage and Ruric Thar posed constant lethal threats.

Notable Cards

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  Veteran Explorer

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  Prowling Serpopard

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  Crimson Fleet Commodore

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  Nexus of Fate

Summary

The game started with the players developing their mana base and deploying early creatures like Veteran Explorer, setting up for their respective strategies. The board state remained relatively slow initially, with players ramping and establishing their presence. The early interaction focused on maintaining board control and jockeying for the monarch title, which passed between players multiple times, indicating active combat and political maneuvering. Key plays included the casting of powerful creatures and spells that synergized with the commanders' abilities, such as Titania's land recursion and Ruric Thar's punishing attacks. As the game progressed, the tension increased with aggressive attacks and careful blocking decisions. Notable moments included the use of cards like Bite of Fafsa and Prowling Serpopard to protect key creatures and enable damage output. The players also utilized land-sacrifice and recursion mechanics to maintain pressure and resilience. The interaction around Phage was particularly pivotal, with players wary of her lethal combo potential and haste ability. The game featured a mix of combat damage and commander damage tracking, with players trading blows while preparing for late-game board states that could decisively end the game. Strategic use of removal, combat tricks, and land recursion shaped the flow, culminating in a dynamic multiplayer standoff.