Hounding Mald - Pet Deck EDH Gameplay Breakdown - Decked Out
Everyone has decks and commanders that they love or have always wanted to build. In the latest episode of Decked Out, the full team of MTGNerdGirl, AirballMTG, and VeggieWagon invite internet funny-man Maldhound to shuffle up some pet decks, new and old.
Visit From Mizzet
Maldhound heard "pet deck" and thought it meant "physically pet every card in your deck." His Niv-Mizzet, Parun build leans heavily into drawing cards at instant speed with a whopping 23 instants. This means access to a toolbox of answers, like Counterflux and Burn Down the House, while racking up damage from Guttersnipe, Kessig Flamebreather, and Niv's own ability.
In case of emergency, there's a Curiosity in the deck for the two-card combo, and a sneaky Fateful Showdown can end a player out of nowhere. Izzet finally Mald's time for a win, or will he blink and Mizzet?
I Could Never Be Blim
Airball's signature deck, Blim, Comedic Genius returns to the table to dish out the worst permanents you've ever seen. The perfect game includes giving away Demonic Pact or Archfiend of the Dross for instant eliminations, but he'll settle for massive downsides on cards like Phyrexian Etchings and Forbidden Crypt.
Airball also gets to play some of the most specific cards you've ever seen, e.g., Despotic Scepter and Fateful Handoff. Can Airball find the perfect gift for everyone at the table, or will his jokes fall flat?
Rocco's Tempting Life
Veggie's favorite creation, a Rocco, Cabaretti Caterer deck, also makes its second appearance on the show after causing disaster in Decked Out's very first episode. As a self-imposed rule, he will always tutor for Tempting Wurm as soon as possible, allowing his opponents to cash in on any good permanents in their hands.
The deck has received some significant upgrades from recent sets. Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth brought Taunt from the Rampart and Call for Aid, two different ways to turn the tables on opponents that get too greedy. Teyo, Geometric Tactician has three relevant abilities, protecting Veggie from attackers and helping to refill hands and make alliances. Will Veggie hug his opponents to death, or will no one embrace the Wurm?
Elf Care
NerdGirl gets her first shot at a deck she's always wanted to build. Lathril's powerful text paired with NerdGirl's nostalgic Elf collection makes for a deadly combo. Along with Elven classics like Priest of Titania and Timberwatch Elf, she gets to welcome newer cards like Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler and Leaf-Crowned Visionary.
Elves gonna Elf: the gameplan is simply to overrun the table with creatures and effects from Beastmaster Ascension or Craterhoof Behemoth. Can NerdGirl get the Elf ball rolling, or has Magic changed so much since I was a kid those were the good ol' days no Fortnite planeswalker Alchemy serialized power creep play booster grumble grumble
How It All Went Down
Tempting Audience - The Early Game
Veggie's deck does exactly what it says on the tin. Rocco tutors for Tempting Wurm early on, but the table gets a big surprise. NerdGirl only drops Ezuri, Renegade Leader and Nadier, Agent of the Duskenel, Maldhound capitalizes with Archmage Emeritus and Najal, the Storm Runner, and Airball offloads a Captive Audience on Mald.
With an already fast clock on the table, Mald casts a Midnight Clock, which Veggie quickly copies with Sculpting Steel. NerdGirl's Wirewood Symbiote churns out good value and free blocks.
Inelfitable - The Mid Game
Despite profiting more from the free permanents, Airball and Mald start to fall behind NerdGirl as the Elfball grows. Airball ships an Oath of Lim-Dûl to NerdGirl's battlefield, but she has plenty of disposable permanents to stay healthy.
A pending Lathril activation kicks the three boys into survival mode as they go digging for answers. Maldhound gets Niv-Mizzet, Parun down, but Veggie neutralizes it immediately with Touch the Spirit Realm. He then casts Master Warcraft, declares no blocks for NerdGirl, and eliminates the Elf threat in a single swing.
Blame It On Arena - The End Game
Maldhound now faces the Zombie armies created from Captive Audience, and as the new recipient of the Oath of Lim-Dûl, he finally succumbs to the pressure and is knocked out by Zombies. Airball casts Colfenor's Plans to look for anything useful, but instead donates it to Veggie, limiting him to one spell per turn.
Veggie's one spell, however, is Word of Seizing. He steals Blim, swings to put Airball to one life, and re-gifts him a Phyrexian Arena that had been given to him earlier in the game. With a lethal upkeep trigger, Airball digs at instant speed for an out... and finds nothing. Wurm victory!
By the Numbers
Free permanents: 7
Donated permanents: 6
Lathril activations: 1
Actions in upkeep with triggers on the stack: 20
Watch the full Decked Out episode here so Veggie can Wurm his way into another win.
