Deck & Commander Strategies
Yisan, the Wanderer Bard
A toolbox deck that uses Yisan’s ability to fetch specific creatures for disruption, combo pieces, or silver bullets to adapt to the board state and assemble game-winning combos.
Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy
Focuses on resolving Kinnan to generate infinite mana by exploiting mana dorks, then deploying large creatures or combo pieces to close out the game quickly.
Tymna the Weaver and Kraum, Ludevic's Opus
Known as Blue Farm, this deck grinds card advantage through its commanders and efficient draw spells, aiming to win with synergistic combos and combat damage.
Thrasios, Triton Hero and Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh
Seeks to assemble infinite mana combos using Polymorph to cheat big threats onto the battlefield and win immediately, supported by strong ramp and card draw.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
The early establishment of multiple draw engines (Mystic Remora and Rhystic Study) created a taxing environment that required players to carefully manage their mana and spellcasting to avoid losing card advantage.
- 2
Jay’s use of Yisan to tutor key utility creatures like Collector Ouphe and Allosaurus Shepherd demonstrated the power of versatile creature tutors in disrupting artifact and enchantment strategies.
- 3
Kevin’s Consecrated Sphinx quickly escalated card advantage, forcing opponents to prioritize interaction and removal to prevent being overwhelmed.
- 4
Travis’s timely use of Chain of Vapor to bounce Craterhoof Behemoth during an alpha strike showcased effective reactive play to neutralize a lethal threat and maintain board control.
- 5
Force of Will countering Chord of Calling highlighted the importance of free counterspells in protecting combo disruption and preventing opponents from resolving powerful tutors.
- 6
The interplay of multiple Rhystic Study triggers enabled players to draw significant cards but also created pressure to respond to opponents’ plays swiftly, influencing the pacing and sequencing of spells.
Notable Cards
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Mystic Remora
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Rhystic Study
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Mana Crypt
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Manglehorn
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Allosaurus Shepherd
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Chord of Calling
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Force of Will
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Circle of Dreams Druid
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Temur Sabertooth
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Craterhoof Behemoth
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Chain of Vapor
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Consecrated Sphinx
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Seedborn Muse
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Lightning Greaves
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Incubation Druid
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Gitaxian Probe
Gameplay Summary
The game began with all players establishing their mana bases and early draw engines, including Mystic Remora and Rhystic Study, which set a high-stakes environment for resource management and interaction.
Zach, piloting Tymna and Kraum, focused on generating card advantage and using compact combos, while Jay on Yisan utilized a toolbox approach, fetching key creatures to disrupt opponents and assemble win conditions.
Travis with Thrasios and Rograkh aimed to assemble infinite mana combos with Polymorph, while Kevin on Kinnan sought to generate infinite mana and deploy powerful creatures to win.
Early plays saw aggressive disruption such as Manglehorn and Collector Ouphe targeting key artifacts, and interaction like Chain of Vapor to bounce Craterhoof Behemoth and prevent lethal attacks. Midgame, Kevin established a strong board presence with Consecrated Sphinx, significantly increasing his card draw and board advantage.
Jay leveraged Yisan’s ability to tutor powerful creatures like Temur Sabertooth and Craterhoof Behemoth to push for a large alpha strike, though it was thwarted by Travis’s timely Chain of Vapor.
The multiple ongoing draw engines and tax effects created a tense atmosphere where players had to carefully navigate Rhystic Study and Mystic Remora triggers.
The game’s critical moments centered around managing these draw engines, counterplay to combo attempts, and sequencing of tutors and threats.
The interactions involving tutors, protective responses like Force of Will, and artifact destruction showcased the high-level competitive play and strategic depth of the match.
