Cardboard Command Ep. 12 | Feat @MattcasterMage | MTG Commander | EDH Gameplay

Deck Strategies

• 

  Karona, False God

  Utilizes multicolor ramp and diverse creature types to leverage Karona’s ability, aiming to overwhelm opponents with a broad and synergistic board presence.

• 

  Zaxara, the Exemplary

  Focuses on casting multiple instant and sorcery spells to generate +1/+1 counters and value, using dragon synergies and Hadana’s Climb to grow creatures and control the board.

• 

  Zurzoth, Chaos Rider

  Generates value through casting spells and spreading +1/+1 counters, while recurring creatures from the graveyard to maintain pressure and board presence.

• 

  The Ur-Dragon

  Ramp-heavy dragon tribal deck aiming to cast powerful dragons quickly and overwhelm opponents with large creatures and impactful dragon abilities.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  The use of Hadana's Climb to constantly grow Findhorn Elves and transform it into a more threatening form demonstrated effective incremental advantage.

• 2

  Casting Jessika’s Will to exile and play multiple cards in one turn showcased a powerful value engine that can swing momentum decisively.

• 3

  Beast Within was used strategically to neutralize a key threat, highlighting the importance of targeted removal in maintaining board control.

• 4

  Players leveraged commander synergies and ramp to accelerate their game plans, with particular emphasis on dragon tribal synergies and spell casting triggers.

• 5

  Political interactions and combat damage were used tactically to balance aggression and defense among the multiplayer dynamic.

Notable Cards

• 

  Runaway Steam-Kin

• 

  Hadana's Climb // Winged Temple of Orazca

• 

  Zurzoth, Chaos Rider

• 

  Orb of Dragonkind

• 

  Beast Within

• 

  Skullclamp

Summary

The game started with players developing their boards through early ramp and minor creatures, such as Findhorn Elves and Runaway Steam-Kin, setting a foundation for their strategies. Early interactions featured combat and incremental growth of creatures, with players leveraging their commanders’ synergies and ramp to accelerate their game plans. Notably, the Zurzoth player began generating value by casting spells that triggered counters and board presence, while the Zaxara player focused on boosting dragon spells and utilizing Hadana's Climb to transform creatures and gain advantage. Midgame saw pivotal plays like casting Zurzoth to capitalize on spell casts and the use of powerful cards such as Jessika’s Will to exile cards from the top of the library and cast them immediately, expanding options dramatically. The Ur-Dragon’s player employed ramp artifacts like Orb of Dragonkind to accelerate mana production, aiming to bring out high-impact dragons. Political interactions and targeted removal, including Beast Within, shaped the board state, but the game’s tension remained as players prepared for potential big finishers. The gameplay emphasized synergy, incremental advantage, and tactical combat, with dragons and spell recursion standing out as central themes driving towards dominance.