Thrasios Vial
[[Thrasios, Triton Hero]] and [[Vial Smasher the Fierce]] form a versatile and adaptive cEDH pairing. The deck excels at leveraging the inherent strengths Thrasios and access to [[symbol:u]][[symbol:b]][[symbol:r]][[symbol:g]]. This deck can be built and piloted in several ways, ranging from value-based midrange strategies to fast combo executions, offering flexibility to adapt to various metas and playstyles.
Why Play Thrasios Vial Smasher?
Strengths:
Adaptability: The deck can shift between controlling the board, generating value, or going for a quick combo win.
Card Advantage: Thrasios enables card selection and ramp, ensuring access to resources throughout the game.
Access to Four Colors: Green provides ramp, blue offers interaction and card draw, black grants efficient tutors, and red supplies explosive spells and removal.
Weaknesses:
Reliance on Board Development: Many of the deck’s engines require time and setup.
Interaction Density: While interactive, the deck may struggle against heavy stax strategies or in highly disruptive pods.
Lack of Silence Effects: With no access to [[symbol:w]], this deck must protect win attempts with counterspells and good timing.
Game Plan
The deck progresses through three primary phases: ramping in the early game, adapting to the board state in the midgame, and setting up for a decisive combo finish in the late game. While the specifics can vary based on the build, the general outline remains consistent.
Early Game
The early game focuses on developing a strong mana base and deploying value engines. Key cards include fast mana sources, such as [[Sol Ring]], [[Mana Crypt]], or dorks like [[Llanowar Elves]], alongside card draw options like [[Mystic Remora]] and [[Rhystic Study]]. Ideally, Thrasios is deployed early to capitalize on its ability to sift through the deck and ramp into more resources.
Key Objectives:
Establish mana acceleration with dorks and rocks.
Set up value engines like [[Rhystic Study]], [[Mystic Remora]], or [[The One Ring]].
Deploy interaction to handle early threats.
Mid Game
This is where the deck’s adaptability shines. Depending on the board state, you can either:
Assemble Combo Pieces: Use tutors and card draw to find key combo components.
Play the Control Role: Deploy removal and counterspells to disrupt opponents’ game plans while generating incremental value with Thrasios.
Pressure Opponents: Present protected win attempts or grind value with [[Thrasios, Triton Hero]].
Key Objectives:
Assess the pod and determine whether to play aggressively or hold back.
Utilize Thrasios to maintain card advantage and dig for combo pieces.
Keep mana open for interaction to counter threats.
Late Game
By this stage, the deck is ready to pivot into a game-winning combo. With ample mana from ramp and card draw from Thrasios, the deck can easily find and execute one of its many combos.
Combos
[[Demonic Consultation]] or [[Tainted Pact]] + [[Thassa's Oracle]]
Cast [[Thassa's Oracle]] for [[symbol:u]][[symbol:u]].
While the trigger is on the stack, cast [[Demonic Consultation]] for [[symbol:b]] or [[Tainted Pact]] for [[symbol:1]][[symbol:b]] to exile your library.
Resolve [[Thassa's Oracle]]’s ability to win the game.
[[Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy]] + [[Basalt Monolith]]
Requirements: [[Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy]] in play, [[symbol:3]] to cast [[Basalt Monolith]] or the ability to tutor it into play.
Cast [[Basalt Monolith]].
Tap [[Basalt Monolith]] for [[symbol:4]].
Activate [[Basalt Monolith]]'s second ability to untap it, leaving [[symbol:1]] floating.
Repeat steps 2 - 3 to create [[symbol:infinity-c]].
[[Underworld Breach]] + [[Brain Freeze]] + [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]
Cast [[Underworld Breach]] (requires [[symbol:1]] [[symbol:r]]).
Cast [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and sacrifice it for [[symbol:u]] [[symbol:u]] [[symbol:u]].
Escape [[Brain Freeze]] targeting yourself to mill your deck.
Continue looping [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and [[Brain Freeze]] until you mill your library win with another win condition or mill your opponents out with [[Brain Freeze]].
[[Birthing Pod]] Line
Requirements: [[Vial Smasher, the Fierce]] (or any 3 mana value creature) in play, [[symbol:5]][[symbol:u]][[symbol:gp]][[symbol:gp]][[symbol:gp]]
Cast [[Birthing Pod]] [[symbol:3]][[symbol:gp]].
Have [[Vial Smasher, the Fierce]] and [[Birthing Pod]] on the battlefield.
Activate [[Birthing Pod]] by sacrificing [[Vial Smasher, the Fierce]], paying [[symbol:1]][[symbol:gp]] and searching your library for [[Vile Entomber]]. Put [[Vile Entomber]] onto the battlefield.
[[Vile Entomber]]’s ETB puts [[Fatestitcher]] into your graveyard.
Unearth [[Fatestitcher]] by paying [[symbol:u]]. Tap [[Fatestitcher]] to untap [[Birthing Pod]].
Activate [[Birthing Pod]] by sacrificing [[Vile Entomber]], paying [[symbol:1]][[symbol:gp]], and searching your library for [[Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker]]. Put [[Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker]] onto the battlefield.
Tap [[Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker]] to create a token copy of [[Fatestitcher]]. Tap the token copy to untap [[Birthing Pod]].
Repeat steps 5–6 to create infinite mana with [[Gaea's Cradle]] or infinite [[Fatestitcher]]s. Use the mana to activate [[Thrasios, Triton Hero]] and draw your deck.
Win the game with [[Thassa’s Oracle]] or another win condition.
Mulligans
The deck’s versatility makes mulligans relatively straightforward. Look for hands with:
Mana Acceleration: At least two sources of early ramp.
Draw or Value Engines: [[Mystic Remora]] or [[Rhystic Study]].
Tutors: Cards like [[Demonic Tutor]] or [[Vampiric Tutor]] to find specific pieces.
Deck Variants
Thrasios and Vial Smasher support several distinct playstyles:
Turbo Combo: Focuses on assembling and executing combos as quickly as possible. Prioritizes fast mana, cheap tutors, and efficient win conditions like [[Ad Nauseam]].
Value Midrange: Leverages Thrasios for incremental card advantage and mana ramp. Runs interaction-heavy packages to control the board and pivot into a win.
Pod/Creature-Based: Utilizes [[Birthing Pod]] or [[Prime Speaker Vannifar]] to chain creatures into winning combos. Relies on creature tutors and a diverse toolbox.
Conclusion
Thrasios and Vial Smasher form one of the most flexible and rewarding pairings in cEDH. Whether you prefer a fast-paced combo strategy, a grindy midrange approach, or a toolbox creature build, this deck offers a range of playstyles to suit any player. Mastery of this deck rewards strategic thinking and adaptability, making it a strong contender in competitive play.
References:
Fish ‘N Chips
Vile Pod
