(Final Showdown | Art By: Izzy)

Welcome back to the finale of the March Magic Madness. Unfortunately, the tournament had to be delayed due to a massive unforeseen Dragonstorm that opened up in the skies above Strixhaven StadiumStrixhaven Stadium. Nevertheless, we will play on and what a final we have for everyone out there. Isn't that right?

Arena RectorArena Rector: That is indeed right. I am so pumped up for this finale, and I think any of the four remaining teams could take home the trophy. What do you say we stop dragging it out and get down and meet our final four teams?

I think that is an excellent idea. Let's get into it and meet the teams.

Scoring:

• Color Multipliers
  • Colorless 1.6x
  • Mono 1.5x
  • Two-color 1.4x
  • Three-color 1.3x
  • Four-color 1.2x
  • Five Color 1.1x
• Deck Count < or > 15 Thousand
  • > 15 Thousand 15.1x
  • < 15 Thousand 14.9x
• Original Print Date
  • Over five years ago, 5.9x
  • Printed in 202, 5.5x
  • Printed less than five years ago, 5.1x
• Was it a "Design Mistake"
  • Yes 6.9x
  • No 7x
• Game Changer
  • Yes 2.5x
  • No 7x
• Salt Score <, > or = 1.2
  • < 1.2 avg. Salt score 2.1x
  • > 1.2 avg. Salt score 1.9x
  • = 1.2 avg. Salt score 2x
• Basketball scores are made with a generator to align with the "math" used.

Final Four.

Wedge Region vs. Guild Region

(2) Yuriko, the Tiger's ShadowYuriko, the Tiger's Shadow vs. (13) Urza, Lord High ArtificerUrza, Lord High Artificer

The Ninjas, the highest-ranked team left in the tournament and the winners of the Wedge Region, are led by Yuriko, the Tiger's ShadowYuriko, the Tiger's Shadow. They have cakewalked through this tournament so far, with no match being close. It's safe to say that they're the strongest team left in the tournament and the one to beat, led by an all-star lineup featuring

And a strong bench squad with Nashi, Moon Sage's ScionNashi, Moon Sage's Scion, and newcomer Changeling OutcastChangeling Outcast. This team has tricks that will make their opponents sick, they have moves that will bring out the a chorus of boos, and their leader is a design mistake that makes their enemies quake, but don't let any of this give you too much confidence, sports fans, because the winners from the Guild Region led by Urza, Lord High ArtificerUrza, Lord High Artificer are not planning to roll over.

The High Artificers have had as dominant of a tournament as their opponents, making this match-up a battle of behemoths rather than a lopsided affair. Seeds mean nothing this late in the tournament, and Urza and the High Artificers plan to make people remember that. No team in the tournament knows the ins and outs of the rules like the High Artificers. Who would have ever thought about tapping their Howling MineHowling Mine and Winter OrbWinter Orb? Or when they ran their -cost lineup featuring

Their unsung hero of the tournament Simulacrum SynthesizerSimulacrum Synthesizer showed what a new card can do. It gave extra reach to this team that it did not have in years past and pulled its weight and then some in the tournament. So, with all this out of the way, let's see how this game goes.

End of First Quarter: Ninjas 25 - High Artificers 18.

End of Second Quarter: Ninjas 55 - High Artificers 56.

End of Third Quarter: Ninjas 77 - High Artificers 69.

Final: Ninjas 103 - High Artificers 98.

It was a fantastic battle all the way through, and after the second quarter, it looked like the High Artificers would take this one home. However, a well-timed CommandeerCommandeer and a perfectly cast Curtains' CallCurtains' Call brought down the proverbial curtain on Urza and his High Artificers. Punching their way to the Finals of the March Magic Madness tournament is

Shards Region vs. Blind Eternities Region

(8) Ghyrson Starn, KelermorphGhyrson Starn, Kelermorph vs. (13) Kinnan, Bonder ProdigyKinnan, Bonder Prodigy

The one and only Universes Beyond commander Ghyrson Starn leads the Kelermorphs out of the Shards Region. Their path was not as easy as Yuriko's or Urza's, but they dispatched all their opponents fairly. The Kelermorphs play with a fast and furious gameplan, embodying the "death by a thousand cuts" style of victory. The key to their victory is often Flame FusilladeFlame Fusillade, which makes every player on their team lethal. Every match, the Kelermorphs try to make their opponents Fear, Fire, Foes!Fear, Fire, Foes! and turn every Playful ShovePlayful Shove punch above their weight.

As the only Universes Beyond representative, it was unsurprising that they came into this game with an all-UB lineup.

Kinnan and the Prodigies had the most challenging path to the Final Four. This team knows close games and tough battles, but they can close out with one big flip every time, but since big flips are the name of the game for the Prodigies, they come in as the biggest lineup left in the tournament.

Often, in close games, the Prodigies had to rely on their Praetorial Powerhouses of Vorinclex, Voice of HungerVorinclex, Voice of Hunger and Jin-Gitaxias, Core AugurJin-Gitaxias, Core Augur. Big Flips = Big Victories for the Prodigies, but how will they stack up against this undersized but fiercely fast lineup fielded by the Kelermorphs? Let's find out.

End of First Quarter: Kelermorphs 22 - Prodigies 16.

End of Second Quarter: Kelermorphs 49 - Prodigies 35.

End of Third Quarter: Kelermorphs 88 - Prodigies 59.

Final: Kelermorphs 122 - Prodigies 89.

In the end, no matter how big the Prodigies went with their lineup, they eventually fell to the quick gun gaming of the Kelermorphs. They were in control from the start of the game, and with early and often pinging of their opponents set up pieces, the Final is now set with our second entry.

Championship

The stage is set, and the combatants are ready to go. The first combatant is the most dominant team from the entire tournament. They are a design mistake and one of the most incredible creatures around. You won't see them until it is too late as they strike from the shadows, and the moment you think you have pinned them down, you will learn that it was too late. We welcome Yuriko, the Tiger's ShadowYuriko, the Tiger's Shadow from the Wedge Region.

From the Shards Region, we have the creature that might not put the UB in Universes Beyond, but they do put damage into an opponent's face. We welcome Ghyrson Starn, KelermorphGhyrson Starn, Kelermorph.

Nanjas versus Kelermorphs. UB (blue-black) versus UB (universes beyond). This one is a battle for the ages. This one is for all the marbles. Let's get into the game and break it down.

First Quarter

The first quarter was a tight battle. Yuriko and the Ninjas got on the battlefield early with GingerbruteGingerbrute and Triton ShorestalkerTriton Shorestalker. Setting up for a commander ninjutsu play, the following turn, the Kelermorphs countered ElectrolyzeElectrolyze. Seeing that the game's speed favored the Kelermorphs, the Ninjas decided to deploy a slower strategy near the end of the first quarter.

End of First Quarter: Ninjas 22 - Kelermorphs 23.

Second Quarter

With a slower strategy in mind, the Ninjas decided it was time for a bit of a secret weapon: the dual threat of Ninja planeswalkers in Kaito, Bane of NightmaresKaito, Bane of Nightmares and Kaito ShizukiKaito Shizuki. With a way to get a steady stream on ninjas and an emblem giving some breathing room to the constant single-digit damages being thrown their way, the ninjas were setting up for a big second quarter.

The Kelermorphs were not going to take this sitting down, and with some chaining of card-damage-based card draw, like Flick a CoinFlick a Coin and Needle DropNeedle Drop, they found their way into a well-timed FlatlineFlatline... or so they thought. While it is risky, Yuriko met Ghyrson with An Offer You Can't RefuseAn Offer You Can't Refuse to save their board before the half.

End of Second Quarter: Ninjas 45 - Kelermorphs 40.

Third Quarter

While unable to stop the constant barrage of one damage being thrown at their small creatures, the Ninjas decided that they would be at least able to get value out of the onslaught of spells being thrown at them. The duo of Mystic RemoraMystic Remora and Rhystic StudyRhystic Study slowed down the Kelermorphs to a grinding halt. Not out of the game thoroughly, thanks to Quicksilver DaggerQuicksilver Dagger and ManabarbsManabarbs, the Kelermorphs knew that this game was slipping away.

End of Third Quarter: Ninjas 70 - Kelermorphs 62.

Fourth Quarter

As a last-ditch play, the Kelermorphs pulled out a bit of a strange strategy in playing CharismaCharisma. The plan was to stall and try to hit a last-second play with the help of Thousand-Year StormThousand-Year Storm and the chaining together of enough game changers, like Jeska's WillJeska's Will and Underworld BreachUnderworld Breach, to claim victory. Unfortunately for them, the plan was all for naught.

Yuriko knew what they had to do to lead their team to victory. Thanks to all the resources they had gathered across the game, one more attack gave them the Yuriko triggers they needed to close it out. They found some of their game changers in Demonic TutorDemonic Tutor and Chrome MoxChrome Mox. While it was not the flashy finish that they wanted, they were able to establish a well-known game-winning play with Thassa's OracleThassa's Oracle + Tainted PactTainted Pact. This sealed the deal for the ninjas as they claimed the hardest-fought victory of their tournament to date.

Final: Ninjas 100 - Kelermorphs 93.

Winner and Champion

Congratulations to your winner and this year's March Magic Madness champions Yuriko, the Tiger's ShadowYuriko, the Tiger's Shadow and the Ninjas! From all of us here at the Strixhaven StadiumStrixhaven Stadium and on behalf of the Arena RectorArena Rector, we want to thank you for a great tournament season.

We hope to see you next year to find out if Yuriko will be defending their crown or if someone from a new universe can step up to the challenge.

As always, I've been Nic, and you can find me here on EDHrec. Don't forget to look at all the other fantastic content here and everywhere from the many great minds behind EDHrec.