DnD - Volo, Acererak, Gretchen, Inferno - #EDH Gameplay Ep 66

Deck Strategies

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  Volo, Guide to Monsters

  Focuses on cloning creatures and doubling enter-the-battlefield triggers to generate card advantage and control key opposing creatures, disrupting opponents’ plans while building a resilient board.

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  Acererak the Archlich

  Utilizes dungeon venturing to generate incremental advantages and combos, aiming to achieve infinite mana to repeatedly cast Acererak and win by overwhelming opponents with value and damage.

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  Gretchen Titchwillow

  Ramp and artifact synergy to generate infinite mana, enabling draws of the entire library and winning through powerful finishers like Finale of Devastation or Walking Ballista.

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  Inferno of the Star Mounts

  Combines infinite mana with a sacrifice outlet to cast and pump Inferno infinitely, dealing lethal damage through repeated combat damage and sacrificing it to clear threats.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Volo's cloning of key creatures like Opposition Agent and Gilded Drake allowed Hélder to steal and control important opponents’ resources, disrupting their strategies.

• 2

  Baal’s repeated venturing with Acererak through dungeons generated steady incremental value and life drain, maintaining pressure throughout the game.

• 3

  Leite’s use of Semblance Anvil with Reiterate and Jeska’s Will illustrated a classic infinite mana combo setup, though it required careful timing and specific cards to execute.

• 4

  David’s strategic use of artifact ramp and interaction, including Mana Drain and Force of Negation, helped protect his combo while preparing for a powerful finish.

• 5

  Hélder’s attempted Palinchron infinite mana combo was thwarted by a well-timed Force of Will, demonstrating the critical importance of interaction in combo-heavy metas.

• 6

  The interaction between multiple mana acceleration sources and combo enablers created a complex board state requiring precise sequencing and timing from all players.

• 7

  Combat phases were used both offensively and defensively, with players applying pressure and trading creatures to manage board state and disrupt opponents’ tempo.

Notable Cards

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  Mana Crypt

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  Lotus Cobra

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  Opposition Agent

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  Clever Impersonator

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  Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath

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  Palinchron

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  Acererak the Archlich

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  Tezzeret the Seeker

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  Skullclamp

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  Cyclonic Rift

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  Force of Negation

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  Force of Will

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  Vigean Graftmage

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  Arcane Signet

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  Mana Drain

Summary

The game featured four Dungeons & Dragons-themed EDH decks, each piloted by players aiming to achieve infinite mana combos and dominate the table. Hélder's Volo deck focused on cloning creatures and generating value through doubling triggers, using cards like Gilded Drake and Uro to draw cards and control key creatures like Opposition Agent. Baal's Acererak deck aimed to venture through dungeons repeatedly with Acererak to generate incremental advantages and ultimate combo potential, while also leveraging mana artifacts and interaction to disrupt opponents. David’s Gretchen deck centered around ramp, artifact synergy, and drawing his entire deck with infinite mana to win through Finale of Devastation or Walking Ballista. Leite’s Inferno deck sought infinite mana and a sacrifice outlet to repeatedly cast and sacrifice Inferno of the Star Mounts, growing it large enough to take out opponents in one hit. Early turns saw heavy mana acceleration with multiple Mana Crypts, Lotus Cobra, and ramp artifacts allowing quick deployment of commanders and threats. Key plays included Hélder cloning powerful creatures with Volo and Clever Impersonator to control opponents’ resources, Baal venturing deep into dungeons with Acererak to draw cards and trigger life drain effects, and Leite equipping Inferno with Skullclamp to pressure opponents aggressively. A pivotal moment was Hélder’s attempt to generate infinite mana with Palinchron, which was countered by a Force of Will, stalling his combo attempts. The game featured multiple combat exchanges and strategic use of interaction spells like Force of Negation and Cyclonic Rift to protect combos and disrupt opponents. Baal repeatedly ventured through dungeons with Acererak, applying steady pressure, while David maintained artifact-based ramp and card draw to prepare for a big finale. Despite explosive starts and combo attempts, the game remained a tense battle of incremental advantages and resource denial. Players leveraged their commanders’ unique abilities to generate value and control the board. The final stages saw Hélder digging for answers with Gretchen activations and casting key creatures to stay in the game, while Baal and Leite continued applying pressure with their ongoing combos. The gameplay highlighted the complex interplay of D&D mechanics with classic EDH combo strategies, emphasizing timing, disruption, and maximizing value from new legendary creatures and artifacts.