Alright guys, gather 'round! Today, we're diving deep into the wicked world of competitive Commander (cEDH) with a deck that's as chaotic as it is powerful: Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools, and Vial Smasher the Fierce. This pairing isn't just a random selection; it's a calculated concoction designed to disrupt, control, and ultimately dominate the battlefield. This guide will walk you through the ins and outs of piloting this dynamic duo, from understanding their individual strengths to mastering the synergies that make them a formidable force in any cEDH pod.

Why Tevesh Szat and Vial Smasher?

So, why these two as your commanders? Let's break it down. Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools, is a card advantage engine and a political powerhouse. He generates creature tokens that can be sacrificed for card draw, allowing you to maintain a steady stream of resources. He can also steal loyalty counters from other planeswalkers, disrupting your opponents' strategies and fueling your own. Vial Smasher the Fierce, on the other hand, is a source of consistent damage. Her ability triggers whenever you cast your first spell each turn, dealing random damage to an opponent. This might seem unreliable, but in a format like cEDH where games are often decided by small margins, that consistent damage adds up quickly.

Together, they offer a unique blend of card advantage, control, and consistent damage that few other commander pairings can match. Tevesh Szat ensures you have the cards you need to execute your game plan, while Vial Smasher whittles down your opponents' life totals. This combination allows you to play a proactive game, pressuring your opponents while simultaneously setting up your own win conditions. Plus, the black and red color identity gives you access to some of the most powerful removal, tutors, and interaction spells in the format, making this deck incredibly versatile and adaptable to different meta-games.

Deck Strategy

The primary strategy of this deck revolves around controlling the board, generating value, and eventually assembling a game-winning combo. You'll want to start by establishing a strong mana base and disrupting your opponents' early plays with targeted removal and counterspells. Once you have a stable board presence, you can start using Tevesh Szat to generate card advantage and pressure your opponents' planeswalkers. Vial Smasher will passively deal damage each turn, slowly chipping away at their life totals.

The deck's win conditions typically involve assembling a two-card combo or leveraging a powerful stax piece to lock your opponents out of the game. Some common combos include:

• Worldgorger Dragon + Animate Dead: This combo generates infinite mana, which can be used to cast a game-winning spell like Torment of Hailfire or Exsanguinate.
• Underworld Breach + Lion's Eye Diamond + Brain Freeze: This combo mills your opponents' entire libraries, effectively winning the game.
• Dockside Extortionist + Temur Sabertooth/Emiel the Blessed: This combo generates infinite treasures, which can be used to cast a game-winning spell.

In addition to these combos, the deck can also win through attrition. By controlling the board, generating value, and slowly dealing damage with Vial Smasher, you can eventually grind your opponents out of the game. This strategy is particularly effective against decks that rely on specific combos or strategies to win.

Key Cards and Interactions

To pilot this deck effectively, you need to understand the key cards and interactions that make it tick. Here are some of the most important cards in the deck:

• Demonic Tutor and other Tutors: These cards allow you to find the combo pieces or stax pieces you need to win the game.
• Counterspell and other Countermagic: These cards protect your combos and disrupt your opponents' strategies.
• ** efficient Removal Spells:** These cards remove problematic creatures and permanents, allowing you to maintain control of the board.
• Fast Mana Rocks: These cards accelerate your mana development, allowing you to cast your commanders and other powerful spells earlier in the game.
• Stax Pieces: These cards slow down your opponents and disrupt their strategies. Examples include Drannith Magistrate, Rule of Law effects, and Winter Orb.

Understanding the synergies between these cards is crucial to your success. For example, using Demonic Tutor to find a stax piece like Drannith Magistrate can shut down your opponents' ability to cast spells from their graveyards or exile, giving you a significant advantage. Similarly, using Counterspell to protect your combo from disruption can ensure that you win the game.

Sample Decklist

While decklists can vary depending on your local meta and personal preferences, here's a sample decklist to get you started:

Commander: Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools / Vial Smasher the Fierce

// Mana Base
1x Blood Crypt
1x Bloodstained Mire
1x City of Brass
1x Command Tower
1x Exotic Orchard
1x Mana Confluence
1x Marsh Flats
1x Misty Rainforest
1x Polluted Delta
1x Scalding Tarn
1x Underground Sea
1x Volcanic Island
1x Watery Grave
4x Fetchlands
4x Dual Lands
4x Shock Lands

// Ramp
1x Chrome Mox
1x Jeweled Lotus
1x Mana Crypt
1x Mana Vault
1x Mox Diamond
1x Sol Ring
1x Arcane Signet
1x Fellwar Stone
1x Talisman of Dominance
1x Talisman of Indulgence

// Tutors
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Imperial Seal
1x Wishclaw Talisman
1x Grim Tutor
1x Burning Wish

// Draw/Value
1x Rhystic Study
1x Mystic Remora
1x Dark Confidant
1x Esper Sentinel
1x Ad Nauseam
1x Peer into the Abyss

// Interaction
1x Counterspell
1x Force of Will
1x Force of Negation
1x Fierce Guardianship
1x Pact of Negation
1x Swan Song
1x Deflecting Swat
1x Pyroblast
1x Red Elemental Blast
1x Assassin's Trophy
1x Anguished Unmaking
1x Deadly Rollick
1x Opposition Agent

// Combo Pieces
1x Worldgorger Dragon
1x Animate Dead
1x Underworld Breach
1x Lion's Eye Diamond
1x Brain Freeze
1x Dockside Extortionist
1x Temur Sabertooth
1x Emiel the Blessed

// Stax Pieces
1x Drannith Magistrate
1x Rule of Law
1x Winter Orb

// Other
1x Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
1x Dauthi Voidwalker

This decklist is just a starting point, feel free to adjust it based on your budget, playstyle, and local meta. For instance, if you are facing lot of creature-heavy decks, you may wish to include more board wipes such as Toxic Deluge or Damnation.

Gameplay Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks to help you pilot this deck like a pro:

• Mulligan aggressively: You need to find a hand with mana acceleration, card draw, or interaction. Don't be afraid to mulligan down to five or even four cards if necessary.
• Prioritize your targets: Focus on disrupting the players who are most likely to win the game. Don't waste your resources on players who are behind.
• Use Tevesh Szat wisely: Don't just blindly generate tokens. Think about when you need the card draw and when you need to protect him. You can also use his -3 ability to disrupt your opponents' planeswalkers.
• Be patient: This deck is not always the fastest to win, but it is very resilient. Don't get discouraged if you fall behind early. Just keep generating value and controlling the board, and eventually you'll find an opportunity to win.
• Know your meta: Understand the decks that you're likely to face and adjust your strategy accordingly. If you're facing a lot of combo decks, prioritize interaction. If you're facing a lot of control decks, prioritize card advantage.

Budget Considerations

Competitive Commander decks can be expensive, but there are ways to build this deck on a budget. Here are some tips:

• Start with the core: Focus on acquiring the essential combo pieces, tutors, and interaction spells. You can upgrade the mana base and other non-essential cards later.
• Consider alternatives: There are often cheaper alternatives to the most expensive cards. For example, you can use a cheaper fetchland or a different mana rock.
• Proxy expensive cards: If you're playing with friends, consider proxying the most expensive cards. This will allow you to test the deck and see if you like it before investing in the full build.

Conclusion

The Tevesh Szat and Vial Smasher commander deck is a powerful and versatile option for competitive Commander. It offers a unique blend of card advantage, control, and consistent damage that can be difficult for opponents to deal with. With careful planning and skillful execution, you can pilot this deck to victory in even the most competitive environments. So, grab your cards, shuffle up, and get ready to unleash the doom of fools and the fury of Vial Smasher upon your unsuspecting opponents!

Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you play this deck, the better you'll become at understanding its nuances and mastering its strategies. Good luck, and have fun crushing your opponents!