Be'lakor vs Marneus Calgar vs Anrakyr vs Lucea [EDH/Commander, Magic The Gathering Gameplay 2022]

Deck Strategies

• 

  Be'lakor, the Dark Master

  A demon tribal deck focused on deploying even-cost demons and leveraging Warstorm Surge for damage and value, supported by a powerful demon companion and synergy to overwhelm opponents.

• 

  Anrakyr the Traveller

  An artifact-centric deck utilizing milling to fill the graveyard and recurring artifact creatures or vehicles by paying life, aiming for sustained value and board presence through artifact recursion.

• 

  Marneus Calgar

  A white-based token generation and control deck that creates a board presence through creature tokens, uses sacrifice effects to disrupt opponents, and leverages the commander’s tactical abilities to stabilize and win.

• 

  Magus Lucea Kane

  A Temur ramp deck focusing on generating large amounts of mana quickly to cast high-cost spells and take advantage of X-cost abilities, aiming to dominate through powerful spells and tempo plays.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Be'lakor's strategy relied heavily on maintaining an even converted mana cost curve to maximize synergy with Warstorm Surge and the companion demon.

• 2

  Anrakyr's milling and artifact recursion created a resilient engine that pressured opponents by repeatedly bringing back threats from the graveyard at the cost of life.

• 3

  Marneus Calgar used sacrifice effects strategically to disrupt opponents' boards while developing a token army to maintain board control.

• 4

  Magus Lucea Kane leveraged ramp spells and mana rocks to increase available mana for casting big spells, with emphasis on doubling mana from the commander’s ability.

• 5

  Players balanced aggression with caution, often choosing to hold back attacks or block to avoid unnecessary losses, reflecting the value-oriented nature of the game state.

• 6

  Life payments were a significant resource management aspect, particularly for Anrakyr's recursion mechanics, demonstrating the trade-off between life and board advantage.

Notable Cards

• 

  Warstorm Surge

• 

  Snapcaster Mage

• 

  Tainted Peak

• 

  Azorius Chancery

• 

  Rakdos Signet

Summary

The game featured four players piloting thematic Warhammer 40K-inspired Commander decks, each leveraging unique mechanics reflective of their commanders. Early turns saw slow mana development with players establishing board presence through mana rocks, lands, and some early creatures. Anrakyr the Traveller's milling ability allowed artifact recursion, while Marneus Calgar focused on token generation and battlefield control. Be'lakor the Dark Master utilized a demon tribal theme with synergistic companions and value-driven plays centered on even converted mana costs. Magus Lucea Kane employed a Temur ramp and spell-based strategy aiming to generate large mana and capitalize on X-cost spells. A pivotal moment occurred when Be'lakor's player managed to deploy impactful demons and leverage Warstorm Surge triggers for incremental advantage. Meanwhile, Anrakyr's artifact recursion and milling pressured opponents by recurring threats and controlling tempo. Marneus Calgar's token army and control elements helped stabilize the board, while Magus Lucea's ramp facilitated casting high-impact spells. Despite some life payments and board wipes, the game progressed with players carefully balancing aggression and defense. The interplay of sacrifice effects, artifact recursion, and token production shaped the mid-to-late game, culminating in Be'lakor's demon tribal synergy and Anrakyr's artifact recursion as key win-condition drivers.