Ertai vs. Vivi - CDF 2025 - Day 1 - R5 - Duel Commander│MTG│bitzelberg

Deck Strategies

• 

  Ertai Resurrected

  A control-reanimator deck aiming to disrupt opponents with counterspells and targeted removal while building a board presence through reanimated creatures and tokens to close out the game.

• 

  Vivi Ornitier

  A tempo-control or storm-variant deck focused on card draw, digging for combos, and leveraging wizard synergies to generate value and control the board before executing a combo or overwhelming the opponent.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Ertai's decision to hold Go for the Throat for key threats rather than using it immediately on Veldilian Click allowed for flexible responses to Vivi's plays.

• 2

  Repeated casting of Vivi commander and bouncing by Ertai’s spells showed an effective tempo disruption strategy.

• 3

  Dress Down was used strategically to neutralize potential blockers or defenders, allowing Ertai to maintain board pressure.

• 4

  The exchange of counterspells during critical spells like Fact or Fiction highlighted the high-stakes control battle shaping the game.

• 5

  Token generation and prowess triggers from spells like Pyroclasm helped Ertai sustain board presence and push lethal damage despite counterspell resistance.

Notable Cards

• 

  Go for the Throat

• 

  Dress Down

• 

  Laboratory Maniac

• 

  Stormscale Scion

• 

  Change the Equation

• 

  Unholy Heat

• 

  Pyroclasm

Summary

The game featured a duel between Ertai Resurrected and Vivi Ornitier, highlighting a tense control-versus-combo dynamic. Ertai Resurrected's deck leveraged reanimation and disruption, applying steady pressure with creatures like Stormscale Scions and tokens, while maintaining counterspell backup to protect key plays. Vivi Ornitier's deck appeared to be a tempo-control or storm-variant deck, utilizing card draw and interaction to dig for combo pieces and maintain board presence. Early exchanges involved several counterspell interactions, with Ertai using spells like Go for the Throat and Wash Away to manage threats and counter Vivi's attempts to establish a foothold. A pivotal moment occurred when Vivi tried to cast their commander multiple times, seeking to generate value and dig deeper into their deck, but was repeatedly pressured by removal and counterspells from Ertai. The presence of cards like Dress Down and Laboratory Maniac added layers of complexity, but Ertai's steady board development and token generation eventually overwhelmed Vivi. The final board state saw Ertai presenting lethal damage through tokens and creatures, with Vivi struggling to find a crucial counter or removal. Ertai's ability to maintain tempo and capitalize on board presence while disrupting Vivi's game plan led to a decisive victory.