Rule 0 Commanders | EP. 18 | Ormacar vs Dreadmaw and Storm Crow vs Gimli and Legolas vs Kenrith

Decklists

Deck & Commander Strategies

Ormacar, Relic Wraith
Utilizes the precious mechanic and artifact synergies with Thousand Moons Smithy to create and grow gnome tokens that deal incremental damage and close out the game.
Legolas and Gimli, Counter of Kills
Focuses on punishing opponents when other creatures die by dealing damage via Gimli and accumulating counters to grow creatures, leveraging a Lord of the Rings theme.
Kenrith, the Returned King
Built around five companions with strict deckbuilding restrictions, emphasizing activated abilities on creatures and permanents, aiming to control the board and use versatile activated effects.
Colossal Dreadmaw and Stormcrow
Simic ramp and big creatures deck that also includes group hug effects to draw cards and ramp mana, while deploying large, impactful creatures to dominate combat.

Gameplay Insights

1
The use of group scry and draw effects like Svala, Explorer Returned and Commune with the Brew helped accelerate mana and card advantage for multiple players simultaneously, supporting various deck strategies.
2
Gimli's damage trigger on opponents when another creature dies created a deterrent against unnecessary creature removal, influencing players' combat and removal decisions.
3
The Ormacar player leveraged artifact token creation and growth mechanics to steadily increase board presence and damage output, focusing on incremental advantage rather than immediate aggression.
4
Kenrith's deck showcased the strategic complexity of managing multiple companions with restrictive deckbuilding rules, requiring careful activation of abilities and board development.
5
The Simic player balanced aggressive big creatures with supportive group hug elements, creating a dynamic where the board state could shift quickly due to combat or spells but also maintained sustainability through card draw.

Notable Cards

Thousand Moons Smithy // Barracks of the Thousand
Colossal Dreadmaw
Gimli, Counter of Kills
Legolas, Counter of Kills
Nimrodel Watcher

Gameplay Summary

The game unfolded with each player leveraging unique and thematic decks built around unconventional commanders and companions, reflecting a Rule 0 Commander format with altered rules.

Early turns were focused on ramping mana and establishing board presence, with players casting a variety of synergistic creatures and artifacts.

The Ormacar deck focused on generating and growing gnome tokens through artifact synergies, while the Legolas and Gimli deck capitalized on creatures dying to trigger damage and counters.

Kenrith's deck featured five companions and a restrictive deckbuilding approach, emphasizing activated abilities and color demands.

The Simic player wielding Colossal Dreadmaw and Stormcrow aimed for big creatures and Simic-style ramp and control, while also using group hug effects to support all players.

Significant plays included group scry and draw effects that boosted board development and life totals, as well as the casting of powerful creatures with combat-triggered abilities that enhanced their board state.

The interplay between fight spells, combat damage triggers, and artifact token generation shaped the midgame strategy.

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