Orvar vs Lathril vs Lier vs Purphoros [EDH/Commander, MTG Gameplay 2022]

Deck Strategies

• 

  Lier, Disciple of the Drowned

  A storm and flashback deck that focuses on casting multiple spells quickly, casting spells from the graveyard, and generating card advantage to overwhelm opponents.

• 

  Lathril, Blade of the Elves

  An elf tribal midrange deck that ramps aggressively, creates tokens, and uses elf synergy to maintain board presence and apply pressure through combat damage.

• 

  Purphoros, God of the Forge

  A mono-red token and group slug deck that generates numerous creatures to trigger Purphoros’s damage effect, steadily draining opponents’ life totals.

• 

  Orvar, the All-Form

  A mono-blue flicker and spellstorm deck that aims to cast numerous instant and sorcery spells, leveraging Orvar’s ability to copy and reuse spells for powerful combos.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  The interaction between Regal Force’s massive card draw and Force of Vigor’s enchantment removal created a dynamic tension between ramp and disruption.

• 2

  Purphoros’s ability to steadily drain opponents through token generation provided a fast clock that pressured other players to respond quickly.

• 3

  Orvar’s flicker and spell-copying mechanics allowed for repeated spell casting, enhancing the storm potential and control elements of the game.

• 4

  Lathril’s elf tribal synergy enabled quick board development that contributed both to offense and mana ramp.

• 5

  Careful resource management, including lands and treasures generated via Wild Growth and other ramp spells, was crucial to enabling the high mana costs of key spells and combos.

Notable Cards

• 

  Regal Force

• 

  Force of Vigor

• 

  Dark Ritual

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  Elvish Guidance

• 

  Chrome Mox

• 

  Wild Growth

• 

  Council of the Absolute

Summary

The game featured four distinct commanders with contrasting strategies, creating an interactive and fast-paced environment. Early turns set the stage with ramp and board presence, notably with Lathril deploying elves quickly and Purphoros establishing a steady influx of creatures to trigger life loss effects on opponents. The Orvar player attempted to build a storm-like sequence with multiple spell casts and flicker effects, aiming for a high-impact combo utilizing the enchantment synergy. Lier's deck utilized flashback and storm mechanics, drawing and casting numerous spells to overwhelm opponents. Key turning points included a significant Regal Force activation drawing a massive card advantage, followed by a Force of Vigor disrupting important enchantments, and Purphoros leveraging token creatures to steadily chip away at life totals. The game’s pace accelerated with recursive plays and mass card draws, but ultimately the aggressive damage output from Purphoros and the elves, combined with spell synergy from Orvar and Lier, created multiple threats that pressured opponents simultaneously. The game showcased intense interaction centered on resource management, spell recursion, and incremental damage strategies.