Joe Cherries Gets Clowned On - Decked Out EDH Gameplay Breakdown
It's about the gathering! In a special MTG community-inspired episode, Joe Cherries joins the full Decked Out team - MTGNerdGirl, VeggieWagon, and AirballMTG. Four fun and flavorful decklists were chosen from a submissions post on the Decked Out Twitter, and the pod sat down to see what exactly you all are playing out there!
Rodolf Angel-Vamps
Not all angels are acute! Joe Cherries pilots a list from PurpleRogue57 stacked full of Angels, Vampires, and life gain. Even though Joe is not very big on Vampire Nighthawk and similar cards, they may be the key to winning when they juice up Rodolf's ability to reanimate. The deck has multiple angles of attack with cards like Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose and Sheoldred, Whispering One. Will Joe's inevitable gain and drain strategy get them across the finish line, or is the angle all wrong?
Magus Lucea Kane Big X
Airball is extra excited to cast big spells with b101nf0matr's Magus Lucea Kane list. It leans heavily into her Psychic Stimulus ability to copy X spells and abilities. The archetype has a surprising amount of support with the aid of Unbound Flourishing and Nexos. Since many X spells involve +1/+1 counters, there's also a suite of counter synergy, like All Will Be One and The Ozolith. Can Airball exterminate the competition, or will he just run into his ex?
Vazi Politics
A highly thematic Treasure deck from TheOtherTracy falls into NerdGirl's hands. The goal is to make deals with opponents to give them Treasures while building up a pile of your own, later cashing in on effects like Marionette Master and Rain of Riches. Some initiative cards, like Caves of Chaos Adventurer, add another layer to the negotiations. Will NerdGirl wheel and deal her way to success, or is no one investing in gold?
Blinky Pachyderms
The wackiest theme of the group, Veggie is playing a list from wullagaru featuring everyone's favorite creature type: pachyderms? Using Roon's flicker ability, the strategy is to recur the powerful enter-the-battlefield effects of Rhinos, Hippos, and Elephants. Multiple triggers of Keruga, the Macrosage or Conclave Sledge-Captain can present a huge swing in momentum, and fun inclusions like Loxodon Lifechanter can take opponents off-guard. Can Veggie ride these hefty creatures to victory, or will he be left in the dust?
How It All Went Down
Wheels of a Clown - The Early Game
NerdGirl jumps out of the gate with Magda, Brazen Outlaw enchanted with Sticky Fingers and quickly amasses some Treasures. Joe drops Righteous Valkyrie to set up for massive life gain, but fails to find more Angels or Clerics to fuel it. Veggie bides his time and gets Emiel the Blessed out. Airball finally takes the first leap by casting his commander Magus Lucea Kane followed by a seven-mana Clown Car. A board full of 1/1 Clowns and huge Vehicles is no joke!
Wheeling and Dealing - The Mid Game
The table looks to be at the mercy of Airball's Clowns when he casts Spinning Wheel Kick to eliminate all the other creatures on the board. However, NerdGirl finds the answer by removing the central target of the wheel kicks... or, she would have, if Veggie hadn't immediately countered her removal. He also flickers his creatures out of harm's way, but eats a big attack from Airball in the process. Clowns deal out damage around the table as the other players struggle to hold on.
Wheels of an Angel - The Late Game
NerdGirl manages to build enough Treasures to cast Rise of the Dark Realms to bring back, among many others, Marionette Master and Magda. Airball is an easy target to eliminate, stopping the reign of Clowns. Joe is forced to drop a Planar Cleansing to reset the board, so NerdGirl takes the opportunity to sacrifice all her Treasures to kill Veggie and drop Joe's life total. The resilience of Joe's deck shines through as they rebuild quickly using Rodolf's ability, then drain out NerdGirl with Liesa, Shroud of Dusk after her unlucky attempt at Reckless Endeavor. Joe and Rodolf win!
By the Numbers
Clowns - 7
Deals Negotiated - 2
Betrayals - 1
Vampire Nighthawks - 2
Deaths at Instant Speed - 2
Make sure to watch the full episode on Decked Out so Veggie can register for threat assessment classes.
