{"ops":[{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"Deck Philosophy"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"I have always loved alternate win conditions in Magic, and "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Laboratory Maniac"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" is my favorite of all of these. It's fair, readable, and disruptable. This makes it so satisfying to pull off the win with it. Because I love this card so much, this deck is designed to win with it and nothing else. While you certainly can win with damage, I don't play this way unless "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Laboratory Maniac"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" is exiled away. I like to tell people this when I play the deck, which sometimes helps me get to a board state that I can actually defend sense it is most vulnerable early."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"Deck Building"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"This deck is made with several deck-building restrictions in mind. It is made with power and aesthetics in mind. Many cards are here because they are very strong, while many are here for some aesthetic or sentimental reason, and plenty of cards fulfil both. Also, there are no non-land tutors, no game changers, and no instant-win or infinite combos, as they take away from what I want this deck to be. Why "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"The Ancient One"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"? There are a couple Dimir commanders that could be used that have good self-mill, like "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Phenax, God of Deception"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":". However, I like having a lower-cost commander, and having a way to draw a card for Laboratory Maniac is very nice and a little insurance for pulling off the win."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"Gameplan"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"Mill as many cards as you can constantly. Almost every single card in the deck can be reanimated at some point, so don't worry about what gets milled; just keep an eye on it so you know. With The Ancient Ones' ability, you should almost always discard the highest mana cost, especially if it's a big creature that you can reanimate. As soon as "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Laboratory Maniac"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" is in the yard, smart players will try to exile it, so use all possible counterspells for this. Cantrips like "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Brainstorm"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Mental Note"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" early are very good for getting "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"The Ancient One"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" online. I find he is best used as a deterrent against attacks and not offensively. Additionally, any ramp you can get early will help a lot later. The deck has a fairly low curve since the biggest creatures will be reanimated and not cast, but late game, this mana will be very useful. "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Hedron Crab"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Crucible of Worlds"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" have very good synergy with any sac lands, allowing you to mill 6 every turn just by playing lands. Once you have a good creature to reanimate, get that on the battlefield as soon as possible. The two Praetors are always good to have but will get a lot of hate, so keep up interaction if you can. Maybe the best card in this whole deck is"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Psychic Frog"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" . It has synergies with almost every card in the deck. A few of the best options are anything with lots of card draw, allowing you to discard a lot of cards, buffing him up; then, if you have "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Phenax, God of Deception"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":", milling a lot of cards. Also, with "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Oskar, Rubbish Reclaimer"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":", you can cast any spell at instant speed, and "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Circular Logic"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":", which is my favorite counterspell. When you are about to win, keep "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Laboratory Maniac"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" safe as much as you can. If they counter your last draw, that's fine because there are lots of ways to draw with Flashback, Commander, and creatures, so as long as you still have, you are fine. "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Bojuka Bog"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" is the worst card for this deck sense in really can't be countered in any meaningful way. Cross your fingers you don't play against it. Most of the cards in this deck are pretty self-explanatory. You are either thinning the deck, reanimating, or protecting the game plan. When in doubt, mill mill mill."},{"insert":"\n\nBraket\nThis deck is probably somewhere between high 2 and low 3. It has all the requirements of both brackets as a well-optimised deck with aesthetic goals but no game-changers.\n\nThe sideboard has the cards I am currently considering for the deck. The Maybeboard is what I would add if I didn't have some of my restrictions.\n\n"}]}