S2 Episode 5: Xerox Taigam vs Kess High Tide vs Kess Taking Turns vs Inalla Reanimator cEDH Gameplay

Commanders featured in this Gameplay Reviewed & Verified

Deck & Commander Strategies

Taigam, Ojutai Master
Leverages a suite of cantrips to smooth draws and assemble infinite or extended extra turn combos using spells like Time Warp and Manipulation, aiming to win either through combat damage with tokens generated from Monastery Mentor or via artifact combos involving Dramatic Reversal and Ice-Fang Coatl.
Kess, Dissident Mage (High Tide)
Combines High Tide effects with Isochron Scepter and Dramatic Reversal to generate infinite mana and storm count, with the Flux Reservoir as a primary win condition by drawing massive numbers of cards and storming off.
Kess, Dissident Mage (Taking Turns)
Focuses on extra turn spells paired with Isochron Scepter and Final Fortune, using Sundial of the Infinite to negate the loss condition from Final Fortune, enabling infinite turns to draw cards, generate mana, and eventually win through overwhelming board advantage or combo finishers.
Inalla, Archmage Ritualist
A reanimator deck that utilizes Inalla's ability to create token copies of Wizards and combos involving Wanderwine Prophets for infinite token generation, aiming to overwhelm opponents with board presence and value from reanimation.

Gameplay Insights

1
Using Cavern of Souls to make Taigam uncounterable was critical in preserving key combo pieces against heavy counterspell decks.
2
The combination of Isochron Scepter imprinting Dramatic Reversal enabled players to generate infinite mana and storm counts, heavily pressuring opponents to find disruption early.
3
Sundial of the Infinite was a clever tech to avoid losing the game after casting Final Fortune repeatedly, allowing infinite extra turns safely.
4
Windfall was used by the Inalla deck to refill the hand and dig for reanimation targets, though it was less impactful without early mana ramp.
5
Players prioritized protecting their combo pieces with counterspells like Swan Song and Flusterstorm, highlighting the importance of interaction in a high-powered multiplayer pod.
6
Lightning Greaves on Taigam provided vital protection from targeted removal, allowing the deck to execute its combo lines with fewer interruptions.

Notable Cards

Isochron Scepter
Dramatic Reversal
Final Fortune
Sundial of the Infinite
Monastery Mentor
Lightning Greaves
Mana Crypt
Imperial Seal
Wanderwine Prophets
Necromancy
Animate Dead

Gameplay Summary

The game opened with Luke piloting a Xerox Taigam, Ojutai Master deck focused on chaining cantrips and extra turn spells to dig through the deck and generate infinite turn combos.

His primary win conditions involved either attacking with a buffed board or leveraging artifacts like Ice-Fang Coatl and Dramatic Reversal combos to overwhelm opponents.

Meanwhile, Sigi and Cameron both played versions of Kess, Dissident Mage decks—one emphasizing a High Tide storm combo centered on Isochron Scepter, Dramatic Reversal, and the Flux Reservoir for infinite mana and storm count, and the other focused on Taking Turns combos with Isochron Scepter and Final Fortune combined with Sundial of the Infinite to take infinite turns without losing the game.

Dan piloted an Inalla, Archmage Ritualist reanimator deck that aimed to utilize reanimation spells and the Wanderwine Prophets combo to generate infinite tokens and value. Early turns were marked by aggressive mana acceleration and setup plays like Mana Crypt, Imperial Seal, and fetch lands enabling quick access to combo pieces.

Multiple players deployed interaction such as Swan Song, Flusterstorm, and counterspells to disrupt each other's plans.

Notably, Sigi's Kess High Tide attempted to assemble infinite mana and storm count quickly through Isochron Scepter and Dramatic Reversal, while Cameron's Kess Taking Turns sought to chain extra turns safely using Sundial of the Infinite to avoid the loss condition from Final Fortune.

Luke's Taigam deck pressured the table with Monastery Mentor and protective artifacts like Lightning Greaves, while Dan's Inalla deck aimed to reanimate key combo creatures but struggled to find mana ramp early on. The game revolved around tight resource management, careful sequencing of extra turn spells, and protecting combo engines from disruption.

The interplay between multiple infinite turn combos created tension, as players had to balance between defense and offense.

The key turning points involved successfully resolving Isochron Scepter with Dramatic Reversal or Final Fortune, and the usage of protective cards like Cavern of Souls and Lightning Greaves to safeguard critical creatures.

Ultimately, the winner hinged on who could assemble their combo with adequate protection and timing before opponents could counter or disrupt it.

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