Deck & Commander Strategies
Saheeli, Sublime Artificer
Cast noncreature spells to produce servo artifact creature tokens, then use Saheeli's ability to transform artifacts or creatures to generate token copies and overwhelm opponents with a servo army.
Nahiri, Storm of Stone
Provide first strike to creatures and reduce equip costs to enable efficient equipment-based combat, while using her damage ability to control opposing creatures, focusing on incremental board control.
Samut, Tyrant Smasher
Leverage haste granted to all creatures for swift aggression, enhancing attackers with +2/+1 and additional haste, aiming to close out the game quickly through powerful combat turns.
Vraska, Swarm's Eminence
Generate 1/1 assassin tokens with deathtouch whenever creatures deal damage, then use those tokens to destroy opposing planeswalkers, applying constant pressure and disrupting opponents' game plans.
Gameplay Insights
- 1
Vraska's ability to create deathtouch assassins that can destroy planeswalkers turned out to be a game-changing threat, forcing opponents to prioritize removal or defensive plays to protect their commanders.
- 2
Samut's haste synergy allowed for aggressive combat phases that pressured opponents to respond quickly or risk losing significant life total.
- 3
Saheeli's token generation through noncreature spells provided a flexible and resilient board presence, enabling both offense and defense.
- 4
Nahiri acted as a control-oriented commander providing first strike buffs and damage-based removal, attempting to stabilize the board rather than overwhelm quickly.
- 5
Players had to carefully navigate around board wipes and planeswalker removal, as the constant threat of assassins and aggressive creatures created a high-tension environment.
Notable Cards
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Goblin Arsonist
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Mind Stone
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Lightning Bolt
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Gilded Pinions
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Crashing Drawbridge
Gameplay Summary
The game featured four planeswalker commanders each showcasing distinct strategies centered around their unique abilities.
Early turns involved ramp and board development, with players establishing their mana bases and deploying key enchantments and creatures to set up for mid-game pressure.
Vraska, Swarm's Eminence quickly became a significant threat by generating assassin tokens with deathtouch, creating constant pressure on opposing planeswalkers and forcing the table to respond.
Meanwhile, Samut, Tyrant Smasher applied aggressive tempo with her haste-granting ability, pushing damage swiftly.
Saheeli, Sublime Artificer focused on building a servo token army from casting noncreature spells, leveraging artifact synergies to flood the board.
Nahiri, Storm of Stone contributed utility and incremental first strike buffs, aiming for control and precision damage, though was noted as the less aggressive of the four commanders. A pivotal moment came when Vraska's assassin tokens repeatedly chipped away at planeswalkers, disrupting many players’ plans and forcing defensive plays.
The interplay between aggressive haste creatures and token generation created dynamic board states, with players needing to balance offense and removal carefully.
The game’s tension escalated as players navigated around Vraska's ability to dismantle planeswalkers while Saheeli and Samut pushed for board dominance.
Ultimately, the match was a showcase of planeswalker-centric strategies leveraging synergy between tokens, haste, and deathtouch creatures to control the board and whittle opponents down, culminating in an intense finish that highlighted the power and versatility of planeswalkers as commanders in Pauper EDH.
