{"ops":[{"insert":"Bring It Home Wind Drake"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Commander:"},{"insert":" Alandra, Sky Dreamer | "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Colors:"},{"insert":" Mono-Blue | "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Format:"},{"insert":" Commander | "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Bracket:"},{"insert":" [2]\nThe Commander"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Wind Drake was the very first Magic card ever opened, pulled from a Tempest pack, and this deck exists to celebrate that moment. The tribute goes deep enough that every 2/2 drake token the deck generates is actually drawn from a side deck consisting of every printing of Wind Drake ever made, shuffled up and ready to be pulled whenever "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Alandra"},{"insert":" or "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Talrand"},{"insert":" does their thing. It's one of the most personal decks in the collection and the kind of build that only makes sense when you know the story behind it. Welcome to the Wind Drake fan club.\nHow to Win"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This is less of an aggro deck and more of a creature based combo deck that happens to win through combat. The gameplan is generating a drake or two per turn cycle by triggering your draw two effects consistently, then hitting the fifth card drawn in a turn to pop "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Alandra's"},{"insert":" ability and go hard at alpha striking one or two players before they can respond. Knowing when you're safe to make a drake versus when to hold up interaction is the most important skill the deck asks of its pilot. You are essentially a combo deck that wins through air damage.\nThe engine runs on two parallel tracks. The draw two enablers like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Thirst for Knowledge"},{"insert":" in all four printings, "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Quick Study"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Arcane Denial"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The Unagi of Kyoshi Island"},{"insert":", the three draw lands, and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Riptide Laboratory"},{"insert":" keeping your wizard commander safe all keep the drake production consistent. The draw five payoffs of "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Unctus, Grand Metatect"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Keep Watch"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Windfall"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Flow of Knowledge"},{"insert":", and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Whirlpool Drake"},{"insert":" are what generate your explosive turns and push toward lethal. "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Kindred Discovery"},{"insert":" is probably the single best card in the deck given how many drakes you're putting into play and attacking with, drawing cards off every token that enters and attacks.\nNotable Cards"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Talrand, Sky Summoner"},{"insert":" is the backup commander in everything but name, making wind drakes off instants and sorceries and keeping your board stocked even when "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Alandra"},{"insert":" isn't on the field. "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Archmage Emeritus"},{"insert":" keeps you topped up on gas by drawing off every instant and sorcery you cast, which in a deck this spell dense is a significant advantage. "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Fade Away"},{"insert":" is the spiciest card in the deck, capable of being an incredible board wipe and mana sink turn where you go all out tapping people down, sacrifice your lands to keep your drakes safe, and completely reset the board in your favor. "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Loyal Drake"},{"insert":" deserves a special callout as the in-deck mascot, triggering the draw two, curving perfectly into your commander, and being objectively a better Wind Drake than Wind Drake itself.\nPiloting the Deck"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The early game is about hitting four mana reliably and starting your draw engine. A turn three rock accelerates you ahead of curve and if you don't have anything more productive to do dropping a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Howling Mine"},{"insert":" early generates goodwill at the table while setting up your draw chains. Hold your interaction to protect yourself rather than using it proactively since you are essentially a combo deck and every piece of interaction you spend reactively is one you aren't spending to protect your win. Once the draw engine is running start counting toward your fifth draw trigger each turn and hold your big draw five spells for turns where you can immediately capitalize on the drake production.\nWeaknesses"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Decks that board wipe consistently are the toughest matchup since the entire win condition is built on accumulating a board of drakes. Repeated removal targeting "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Alandra"},{"insert":" also slows the engine significantly since she's the primary payoff for hitting the fifth draw. Aggressive decks can occasionally be outpaced or blocked at opportune moments since your drakes are decent blockers, but the deck isn't built to race so those games require careful timing of when to block and when to swing.\nOpening Hand"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You need a reliable path to four mana. A few rocks can help you get there on turn three but if you have something more productive like a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Howling Mine"},{"insert":" to play early that's fine too. The deck has enough draw density that you'll start chaining draws quickly once the engine is online so prioritize hands that hit your early land drops and go to six to find them if needed.\nMaybeboard"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The maybeboard contains cards being tested for future inclusion. The reality fracture "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Jace"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Teferi"},{"insert":" are both high on the list for when they release as both feel like they would help with card selection and keeping the draw engine running smoothly.\n"}]}