ROGRAKH & TEVESH (Rafikh) vs. ACERERAK (J0hn_Do3) - LTC#9 Sunday - R5 - Duel Commander - EDH│MTG

Deck Strategies

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  Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh & Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools

  This deck aims to generate a high storm count quickly by casting multiple instants and sorceries, often leveraging mana acceleration and storm-enablers to chain spells and deal lethal damage with burn spells like Lightning Bolt.

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  Acererak the Archlich

  Acererak's deck focuses on assembling infinite or near-infinite combos involving artifacts like Relic of Legends and permanents that reduce spell costs, enabling infinite mana and life drain combos to finish the game swiftly.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Acererak's infinite life drain combo using Relic of Legends and Heartless Summoning was a major threat that required immediate disruption from Rograkh & Tevesh to prevent a quick loss.

• 2

  Rograkh & Tevesh piloted a flexible storm strategy that could pivot between early aggression or a grindier approach depending on hand composition and opponent’s setup.

• 3

  The interaction of paying extra mana and life due to Defense Grid and Jet Medallion was a critical rules point that influenced the timing and cost calculations of spells in the combo sequence.

• 4

  Rafi’s decision to cast multiple rituals and storm multipliers in sequence allowed him to reach a lethal storm count and close out the game quickly despite Acererak’s attempts at board control.

• 5

  Both players demonstrated precise sequencing and calculation under pressure, highlighting the intricate balance of mana management and timing in high-level combo Commander matches.

Notable Cards

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  Heartless Summoning

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  Relic of Legends

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  Crystal Vein

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  Jet Medallion

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  Dismember

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  Lightning Bolt

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  Seething Song

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  Flare

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  Dark Petition

Summary

The game featured a high-stakes duel between two combo-centric decks: Rograkh & Tevesh Storm versus Acererak the Archlich. Early on, Acererak established a threatening board presence with Heartless Summoning and Relic of Legends, enabling a potentially infinite life drain combo if left unchecked. Rograkh & Tevesh, piloted by Rafi, responded with key interaction such as Crystal Vein to disrupt Acererak’s setup and also developed their own storm-based combo potential. The pivotal moment came when Rafi assembled a lethal storm count using a combination of rituals, spells, and a crucial storm multiplier, culminating in a lethal Lightning Bolt sequence that ended the game despite Acererak’s attempts to stabilize with interaction spells like Dismember. The duel showcased tight resource management, with both players balancing mana acceleration and disruption to either assemble or prevent combos.