Queen Marchesa vs Firesong & Sunspeaker vs Hallar vs Neheb EDH / CMDR game play

Deck Strategies

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  Queen Marchesa

  Control-oriented deck leveraging the monarch mechanic to gain card advantage while using removal and disruption to maintain board control and outvalue opponents.

• 

  Neheb, the Eternal

  Aggressive red deck focused on generating large amounts of mana through damage dealing and then using that mana to cast powerful spells and creatures.

• 

  Firesong and Sunspeaker

  Life-gain and burn synergy deck that uses damage dealing spells to trigger life gain, stabilizing the board and turning burn into a powerful resource.

• 

  Hallar, the Firefletcher

  Creature-based deck focused on kicking spells to generate +1/+1 counters on creatures and dealing incremental damage to all opponents through combat and triggered abilities.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Eric’s use of Hallar’s ability combined with creatures entering the battlefield with counters allowed for steady incremental damage to all opponents, pushing the game pace aggressively.

• 2

  Joe’s timing of Merciless Eviction to clear creatures was pivotal in resetting the board and maintaining control as Queen Marchesa, enabling him to stay in the monarch position.

• 3

  Liz’s decision to play Glacial Chasm and Burning Earth was a defensive measure that effectively slowed down opponents' aggression, though it limited her own tempo and board presence.

• 4

  John’s repeated activation of Weathered Wayfarer to fetch key lands, including Ancient Tomb, accelerated his mana development, enabling powerful burn spells like Bonfire of the Damned to swing the board state.

• 5

  The interaction between John’s burn spells and Eric’s creatures underscored the importance of balancing aggression with board presence, as Eric had to navigate damage from multiple sources while applying pressure.

• 6

  Joe’s use of Kiosk Warp on his own Everlasting Torment to shuffle it back and reveal a better card demonstrated resourcefulness in managing his graveyard and hand for maximum value.

Notable Cards

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  Explorer's Scope

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  Forsaken Sanctuary

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  Weathered Wayfarer

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  Tectonic Edge

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  Merciless Eviction

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  Vicious Shadows

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  Darksteel Plate

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  Glacial Chasm

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  Burning Earth

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  Bonfire of the Damned

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  Skullwinder

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  Jaya's Immolating Inferno

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  Ancient Animus

Summary

The game featured four diverse commanders, each with distinct strategies shaping the board state. Early turns saw slow ramping and establishment of mana bases, with Liz playing a red-focused deck that punished opponents for having non-basic lands, while Joe's Queen Marchesa deck aimed to control the board and leverage the monarch mechanic. John piloted Firesong and Sunspeaker, focusing on life gain synergy and burn spells, and Eric's Hallar deck centered on building creatures with +1/+1 counters and dealing incremental damage. Key turning points included Eric's aggressive use of Hallar’s ability alongside creatures like Skullwinder and Castelar, who amassed counters and dealt repeated damage to opponents. Joe’s Queen Marchesa secured the monarch status, allowing him to draw extra cards and maintain control, while John deployed burn spells such as Fiery Confluence and Bonfire of the Damned to clear threats and gain life. Liz struggled with land drops but mitigated this by punishing opponents with cards like Burning Earth and Glacial Chasm, effectively slowing down their progress. The game saw several board wipes, including Joe’s Merciless Eviction targeting creatures to reset the board. As the game progressed, aggressive damage from Hallar’s counters and Eric’s creatures pressured opponents, while Queen Marchesa's control elements and John’s burn spells kept the board in flux. Liz's damage prevention strategies staved off early elimination but limited her offensive presence. The interplay of burn, control, and creature aggression defined the dynamic tension of the game, with players jockeying for advantage through incremental life swings, board wipes, and combat damage.