Ratchet vs. Atraxa - Duel Commander - EDH│MTG│bitzelberg

Deck Strategies

• 

  Ratchet, Field Medic // Ratchet, Rescue Racer

  An aggressive midrange deck that focuses on deploying creatures and vehicles early to apply pressure, benefit from artifact synergies, and generate card advantage through Ratchet's flip ability. It aims to close out the game quickly before control decks can stabilize.

• 

  Atraxa, Grand Unifier

  A control and value deck leveraging Dream Trawler for lifelink and vigilance to stabilize the board, combined with efficient card draw, removal spells, and counterspells to maintain tempo and prevent opponents from executing their plans. The deck wins by outgrinding opponents and securing the late game.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Ratchet's early aggressive plays with creatures and vehicles put initial pressure but were met with efficient removal and blockers from Atraxa.

• 2

  Atraxa's ability to recast Dream Trawler cheaply and protect it with counterspells and removal turned the tide of the game decisively.

• 3

  The use of tactical blockers and protection spells like giving protection from white to key creatures helped Atraxa survive early aggression.

• 4

  Ratchet's midgame attempts to force through damage were hampered by Atraxa's control elements, including hand disruption and counterspells.

• 5

  A well-timed Dream Trawler plus support from planeswalkers and lifelink effects secured the victory for Atraxa despite Ratchet's initial tempo advantage.

Notable Cards

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  Ratchet, Field Medic // Ratchet, Rescue Racer

• 

  Atraxa, Grand Unifier

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  Dream Trawler

• 

  Smuggler's Copter

• 

  Benevolent Bodyguard

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  Demonic Tutor

• 

  Force of Will

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  Solitude

• 

  Counterspell

Summary

The game featured a duel between an aggressive Ratchet, Field Medic deck and a control-oriented Atraxa, Grand Unifier deck. Ratchet's deck focused on early board presence and incremental damage, leveraging creatures like Smuggler's Copter and Benevolent Bodyguard to apply pressure. Atraxa responded with a controlling strategy centered around Dream Trawler, using its vigilance and lifelink to stabilize and slowly gain advantage. Key moments included Ratchet attempting to push damage early and use artifact synergy, while Atraxa utilized powerful card draw, counterspells, and removal to maintain board control. The breakthrough occurred when Atraxa managed to establish Dream Trawler on the battlefield and protect it, gradually turning the game in its favor through card advantage and resilience. Despite Ratchet's aggressive efforts, Atraxa's control tools and Dream Trawler's lifelink proved decisive, culminating in a win for Atraxa. The game demonstrated the classic tension between aggression and control, with the latter prevailing due to superior card quality and timing.