{"ops":[{"insert":"Follow the bouncing bird... how fast can we go infinite and see the whole library? \n\nThe deck has two main infinite-mana combos:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Isochron Scepter + Dramatic Reversal"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Valley Floodcaller + Retraction Helix/Banishing Knack + a mana-positive artifact"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nBoth combos lead to casting BIG BIRD to draw the deck. \n\nBuilt so that interaction and combo pieces overlap. Bounce spells can protect Wan, reset him, answer opposing permanents, or become part of the combo. Artifact tutors can find either combo pieces or the mana needed to make those pieces work. Plays draw-go control until the explosive ending. \n\nINSTANT SPEED BIRD"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Avoid danger and summoning sickness by casting on your opponent's end step. Doesn't have to be the combo turn if you just need to refill your hand and dig for answers; the bounce package allows you to reset him when you need to, and he can be a large vigilant beater on the board until you're ready to push. \n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"THE BASIC COMBOS "},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Isochron Scepter + Dramatic Reversal"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"A staple of artifact decks. \nYou need:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Isochron Scepter"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Dramatic Reversal"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"At least "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"3 mana from nonland permanents"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Imprint Dramatic Reversal on Scepter.\nTap your mana rocks for at least three mana, then activate Scepter for two.\nDramatic Reversal untaps all of your nonland permanents, including your mana rocks and Scepter.\nYou are now back where you started with one extra mana.\nRepeat.\n\nThe important mana rocks"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"the following rocks can perform the combo on their own:\nMana Vault"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Grim Monolith"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Basalt Monolith"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Thran Dynamo"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nHowever, it's also important to track down a way to make blue mana for casting BIRD and the finishers, especially if you're pushing early and don't have many actual lands. \nThese are:\nChrome Mox"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Arcane Signet"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Fellwar Stone (sometimes, uh oh)"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Bender's Waterskin (underrated card in general for decks that play on other people's turns imo)"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Phial of Galadriel (the extra draw from an empty hand is also occasionally relevant)"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Decanter of Endless Water (how do I hold onto all these damn cards I'm drawing!?)"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThese will give you infinite blue mana and infinite storm.\n\nValley Floodcaller"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Valley Floodcaller"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Retraction Helix or Banishing Knack"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"A mana-positive artifact"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nBecause an owl is in fact a bird, the Floodcaller combo also works with WST if you want to get some extra style points. The basic idea is that Wan gets an ability that lets him bounce a permanent.\nFor example, with Sol Ring:\nTap sol ring for 2 mana."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Tap Wan to return Sol Ring to your hand."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Recast Sol Ring for one mana."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Casting the noncreature spell triggers Valley Floodcaller."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Floodcaller untaps Wan."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You have gained one mana and are otherwise in the starting position."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Repeat."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Every loop gives you another mana and another spell cast. Once you have infinite colorless, you can start bouncing the colored mana rocks like arcane signet, using them to make infinite blue mana for the bird and the finishers. \n\nTHE BOUNCE PACKAGE"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Much more than removal. It: \n\nprotects Wan (still not that big a deal if he gets removed tbh, we want those ETB triggers) and also our important mana rocks since i've focused on nonland permanent bounce rather than just creatures."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Digs by resetting him to hand for another cast"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Remove an opposing token permanently, take out mana rocks to slow their play early, or a big permanent to delay their tempo and force them to replay it if they really want it."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Enable the Floodcaller combo"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThat makes cards such as:\nBoomerang"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Chain of Vapor"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Snap"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Otawara, Soaring City"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Withdraw"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Words of Wind"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Retraction Helix"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Banishing Knack"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"much more valuable than they might look in a normal mono-blue deck. "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Don't spend these spells automatically. "},{"insert":"Sometimes the correct play is to leave a Boomerang in your hand because it is effectively another piece of protection for your commander.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"There is no cyclonic rift in this deck because it cannot target bird. "},{"insert":"\nWithout that flexibility, it doesn't really cut the mustard despite being a generically powerful card. \n\nWINNING "},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Once you've generated infinite mana, we filter that through the bird, baby. \nCast WST, X = twice your library size, allowing him to draw the whole deck. \nFrom there you can assemble whichever finish is safest. \nThassa's Oracle"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Thoracle is straightforward, safe, and boring. Useful in true competitive games, but come on, we can do better. \n\nJace, Wielder of Mysteries"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Now we're talkin. Who says planeswalkers are trash? Watch me win with one. \n\nBrain Freeze"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Both major combos produce infinite storm, so Brain Freeze mills the table. This is actually my preferred \"style points\" win, but giving people a chance to act on their upkeep/before drawing can be a little precarious at these high levels of play, so it can make me a bit nervous to do this one. I guess you can use whatever remaining bounce spells are in the deck if you really want to go for this and make it that much harder to respond. \n\nFINDING THE PIECES"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"TOOT TOOT. \n\nArtifact tutors"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Fabricate"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Whir of Invention"},{"insert":" are the broadest artifact tutors, grabbing Scepter or various mana rocks.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Tribute Mage"},{"insert":" is especially useful because Isochron Scepter costs two, as does arcane signet for colored mana if you have scepter in hand already.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Trinket Mage"},{"insert":" finds Sol Ring or Mana Vault to go mana positive on untap from the Dramatic Scepter combo.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Trophy Mage"},{"insert":" is here to ensure we can get that colored mana from a 3 mana rock. \n*"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Disclaimer"},{"insert":"*"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"You could probably get away with cutting the Trophy Mage if you're looking for max efficiency. I just thought it was amusing to have the whole cycle in here but finally recently cut the Transit Mage who wasn't doing much especially after Eternity Elevator got cut. I guess he could still have found the One Ring, but honestly there's enough card draw I'm not sure The One Ring is even needed either, unless things have gone terribly awry and you're trying to keep digging under the protection effect. I also never had any six mana artifacts so didn't have Treasure Mage, and once you're missing two they're just here to do the job as opposed to being funny."},{"insert":" \n*edit* I replaced the One Ring with Padeem, it felt like protecting my artifacts was more valuable than a turn off \n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Urza's Saga"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Inventors' Fair"},{"insert":" are tutors for important pieces on a land. Imagine that. More like Inventor's Unfair. \n\nSpell tutors"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"We're looking for Dramatic Reversal most of the time, but I have honestly used these spell tutors to find an "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"artifact "},{"insert":"tutor many times since there are no creature tutors and the Floodcaller line is definitely plan B. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Spellseeker "},{"insert":"tracks down Reversal or Muddle the Mixture.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mystical Tutor"},{"insert":" can grab any tutor to finish things out if you already have Reversal in hand. \n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Solve the Equation"},{"insert":" does the same, but for more mana. Boo, hiss. \n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Muddle the Mixture"},{"insert":" is flexibility manifest, grabbing either Reversal OR the Scepter. What a bargain! Or heck, it can even be the counterspell it masquerades as! Now that's a good card. \n\n\nCARD ADVANTAGE"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"It goes fast, but no need to rush things. Not only does Bird himself do burst draw quite well, but we have some classic annoying blue player draw engines in Mystic Remora, Rystic Study, and The One Ring. \n\nParadoxical Outcome is also a bit of a \"pull in case of emergencies\" ripcord card draw card - if someone tries to blow up all our rocks, that's bad. Very bad, in fact. So we instant speed get them alllllll back to hand, drawing an extra card for each one to punish our opponents for daring to try and destroy our stuff. This kind of durability is honestly very tilting for opponents and pretty funny to me. Don't be afraid to bounce your rocks, this is a reason to be judicious about spending the bounce spells as removal. \n\nWHICH COMBO?"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"As I mentioned, Floodcaller is a plan B with the Scepter line much more consistent. The Floodcaller line becomes more attractive when:\nWan is already on the battlefield"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Floodcaller is available"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"you have Helix or Banishing Knack"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"you have a mana-positive artifact"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"opponents are prepared for Scepter"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The two combos also create different kinds of problems for opponents. If everyone is watching for Scepter, the Floodcaller line can come out of nowhere.\n\nMulligans"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You don't need a complete combo in your opening hand.\nA strong opening hand usually contains some combination of:\nfast mana"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"card selection"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"a tutor"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"card advantage"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"interaction"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"a combo piece"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The combo pieces are perhaps least important and a hand that has some fast mana, a tutor, some interaction and card draw can be much better than a hand containing for example, Floodcaller and Helix but no mana rocks or tutors. or even having Scepter but no rocks or tutors. There are so many ways to track down the key pieces that the development actually becomes a bit more... well, key. It's a weird ouroboros but suffice it to say you don't HAVE to mulligan, you GET to mulligan for a hand that actually functions.\n\nTIPS AND TRICKS: A MAGAZINE FOR GAMERS"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Don't cast Wan just because you can."},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"If you don't need him yet, keep him available. Creates the smol bean illusion. Honestly though because he is ultimately coming out with infinite mana available, he can make a weirdly good chump blocker in the most pinchy of pinches. \nDon't automatically use your bounce spells as removal."},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Ask yourself whether that card is more valuable as protection or combo infrastructure.\nDon't fight over every piece of interaction aimed at Wan."},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"As far as actual counters go, I'd save them for the spell that actually threatens the combo.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"}]}