Rhys vs Vilis vs Daretti vs Horde of Notions EDH / CMDR game play for Magic: The Gathering

Deck Strategies

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  Rhys the Redeemed

  Token generation and doubling strategy, creating an overwhelming army of creatures using effects like Parallel Lives and Divine Visitation to win through wide board presence and combat damage.

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  Vilis, Broker of Blood

  Life drain and token synergy deck that uses Bitterblossom and Blood Artist to chip away at opponents’ life totals while generating tokens and recurring threats to maintain board control.

• 

  Daretti, Scrap Savant

  Artifact-centric deck focused on sacrificing and recurring artifacts and creatures like Solemn Simulacrum and Mimikvat, leveraging value engines and artifact synergies to control the board and generate card advantage.

• 

  Horde of Notions

  Elemental tribal with cascade mechanics, using cards like Risen Reef and Maelstrom Wanderer to generate value and tokens, combining land ramp and board presence to overwhelm opponents.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Max’s use of Fauna Shaman to discard and tutor key creatures like Maelstrom Wanderer and Yarrick allowed him to sculpt his hand for maximum impact and cascade triggers.

• 2

  Ben’s repeated use of Mimikvat to steal opponents’ creatures such as Solemn Simulacrum and Mauldrifter provided him with incremental advantage and disrupted opponents’ value engines.

• 3

  Malcolm’s timing of Rhys’s token doubling ability combined with Divine Visitation enabled him to quickly generate a large board of flying angel tokens, significantly pressuring opponents.

• 4

  Nick’s use of Bitterblossom to generate faerie tokens consistently applied pressure while also fueling life drain combos with Blood Artist.

• 5

  The combination of token creation, sacrifice outlets, and recursion effects across players created a dynamic board state with constant threats and responses, highlighting the importance of timing and resource management.

Notable Cards

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  Parallel Lives

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  Divine Visitation

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  Bitterblossom

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  Blood Artist

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  Solemn Simulacrum

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  Risen Reef

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  Maelstrom Wanderer

• 

  Fauna Shaman

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  Cavalier of Thorns

• 

  Timbermare

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  Titania, Protector of Argoth

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  Sangromancer

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  Skullclamp

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  Burnished Hart

Summary

The game starts with all four players developing their mana bases and early board presence, with token generation and value creatures being a clear theme. Malcolm, playing Rhys the Redeemed, focuses on token doubling and wide board strategies, using cards like Parallel Lives and Divine Visitation to create a swarm of powerful angel tokens. Nick on Vilis, Broker of Blood, leverages life drain synergies with Bitterblossom and Blood Artist while also utilizing token creation and recursion effects. Ben, piloting Daretti, Scrap Savant, capitalizes on artifact synergies, sacrificing and recurring creatures like Solemn Simulacrum and Mimikvat for card advantage and board control. Max on Horde of Notions plays a cascade-heavy elemental tribal deck, generating value with cards like Risen Reef and Maelstrom Wanderer, alongside powerful token interactions and land plays to maintain pressure and card advantage. A key turning point occurs when Max uses Fauna Shaman to sculpt his hand and cascade into high-impact creatures like Maelstrom Wanderer and Cavalier of Thorns, enabling massive board presence and multiple triggered abilities. Ben's utilization of Mimicvat to steal opposing creatures and recurring Solemn Simulacrum keeps his board resilient and adaptable. Malcolm’s consistent token doubling with Rhys and Divine Visitation creates a formidable army, pressuring opponents. Nick’s use of Vilis to drain life and disrupt opponents with cards like Cultural Primordial and Sangromancer adds a layer of control and attrition. The game sees multiple combat phases with token swarms and strategic removal, with players leveraging their commanders’ abilities and synergy to gain incremental advantages. The play sequence ends with continued token production, board wipes, and tactical sacrifices aimed at maintaining momentum and board dominance.