QUEST FOR THE JANKLORD Episode 5 | Jank EDH Commander Gameplay

Deck Strategies

• 

  Feather, the Redeemed

  Leverages instant and sorcery spells to generate repeated combat triggers and value, aiming to control the board and chip away at opponents through combat advantage.

• 

  Ashiok, Dream Render

  Focuses on disruption through exiling opponents’ graveyards and hands while accumulating card advantage and controlling the board with removal spells.

• 

  Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner

  Builds up an army with the amass mechanic and uses Kiora’s ability to untap key permanents for repeated value and pressure.

• 

  Nicol Bolas, Dragon-God

  Utilizes powerful control elements and planeswalker abilities to dominate the game through removal, card advantage, and imposing threats.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Ashiok’s use of graveyard and hand exile significantly disrupted opponents’ strategies, slowing down their tempo.

• 2

  Kiara’s amass mechanic and ability to untap permanents allowed for steady board growth and defensive plays.

• 3

  Players were cautious about attacking due to the presence of multiple board control elements and potential removal.

• 4

  The use of Pains Reward to bid life for card advantage exemplified high-risk, high-reward play to gain momentum.

• 5

  Feather’s synergy with instants and sorceries provided key combat tricks that helped maintain board presence.

• 6

  The meta’s jank nature forced players to focus on incremental value and defense rather than outright aggression.

Notable Cards

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  Spark Reaper

• 

  Locust Miser

• 

  Feather, the Redeemed

• 

  Ashiok, Dream Render

• 

  Nicol Bolas, Dragon-God

• 

  Tamiyo's Epiphany

Summary

The game started with each player assembling their board from highly budgeted and janky card pools, featuring commanders Feather, the Redeemed, Ashiok, Dream Render, Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner, and Nicol Bolas, Dragon-God. Early turns involved developing mana bases and casting creatures such as Spark Reaper, Eternal Sky Lord, and various token generators. Players engaged in incremental board development, with Kiara using her ability to untap permanents and amass counters, while Ashiok leveraged strong removal and card advantage through spells like Pains Reward to draw extra cards at the cost of life. Strategic passes and cautious attacks were the norm as nobody wanted to overextend against the potentially game-ending threats on the board. Midgame saw key plays including the casting of powerful creatures like Eternal Sky Lord with amass counters, and Nicol Bolas, Dragon-God’s presence looming as a threat. Ashiok's exile effects disrupted opponents’ graveyards and hands, while Feather’s synergy with instants and sorceries provided tactical combat tricks. The game’s tension built as players maneuvered around the board state, opting for targeted removal and defensive plays rather than aggressive swings, aware that the meta of the game was jank-heavy and victory would come through exploiting synergies or out-valuing opponents with card draw and tempo plays. The use of cards that reduced maximum hand sizes and creatures that complicated combat further slowed the pace, setting up a strategic grind rather than a quick finish. The eventual win condition seemed to revolve around controlling the board and winning through either overwhelming creature presence or incremental card advantage.