Kess vs 5c Niv-Mizzet | Round 5 | HH 021322 | Duel Commander thumbnail Blurred backdrop thumbnail
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Kess vs 5c Niv-Mizzet | Round 5 | HH 021322 | Duel Commander

Duel Commander PH


Commanders featured in this Gameplay Reviewed & Verified

Decklists

Deck & Commander Strategies

  • Kess, Dissident Mage

    Kess, Dissident Mage

    A control and spell recursion deck that aims to disrupt opponents with counterspells and removal while casting powerful spells from the graveyard multiple times to generate value and maintain board control.

  • Niv-Mizzet Reborn

    Niv-Mizzet Reborn

    A multicolor midrange strategy that leverages Niv-Mizzet's ability to draw into and deploy diverse creatures from different colors, generating card advantage and pressure through a varied board presence to win through overwhelming threats.

Gameplay Insights

  • 1

    The game featured careful resource management and timing of spells from the graveyard by Kess to maintain control and pressure.

  • 2

    Niv-Mizzet Reborn's ability to generate card advantage by deploying multiple colors of creatures proved pivotal in maintaining tempo.

  • 3

    Key counterspells and removal spells were crucial in swinging board control during critical turns.

Notable Cards

  • Kess, Dissident Mage

    Kess, Dissident Mage

  • Niv-Mizzet Reborn

    Niv-Mizzet Reborn

Gameplay Summary

The game featured a classic duel between Kess, Dissident Mage and Niv-Mizzet Reborn, showcasing a battle of control and card advantage.

Niv-Mizzet Reborn leveraged its ability to draw into and deploy multicolor creatures from multiple colors, building a diverse board presence and pressuring Kess early on.

Meanwhile, Kess focused on casting spells from the graveyard and maintaining control over the board through disruption and recursion.

The match progressed with both players jockeying for tempo, with Kess aiming to reuse powerful spells to keep Niv-Mizzet's creatures in check and generate value, while Niv-Mizzet’s player worked to overwhelm Kess with a variety of threats and card draw engines.

As the game unfolded, key turning points included well-timed counterspells and removal that shifted board control, ultimately determining the pace of the duel.

The win condition for both players hinged on leveraging their commanders' strengths: Kess through spell recursion and control, and Niv-Mizzet through assembling a critical mass of multicolor threats and card advantage to close out the game.

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