{"ops":[{"insert":"Fly me to the moon"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThis is a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Princess Yue"}},{"insert":" clone deck built around the interaction between copy effects, Yue's death trigger, and layers.\n\nThe goal is to turn creatures into Moon lands, copy opponents' creatures, and find interesting ways to use their abilities.\n\nHow the interaction works"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWhen a Clone enters as a copy of Princess Yue, it can die to the legend rule. This triggers Yue's death ability, returning the Clone to the battlefield tapped as a land named Moon. Because the Clone is entering as a new permanent, it can choose another creature to copy.\n\nDue to layers, the resulting permanent is a land named Moon instead of a creature. However, it retains the copied creature's abilities, mana cost, color, and underlying power/toughness values. Its creature subtypes are removed while it isn't a creature, but they can become relevant again if the Moon is animated.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Legendary Moons:"},{"insert":" A Clone that copies a legendary creature will become a legendary Moon. The legend rule still applies, so you can only control one legendary permanent named Moon at a time. However, you can control a legendary Moon and a regular creature copy of the same legendary creature simultaneously because they have different names.\n\nUnderstanding clones"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Clones have some unusual interactions with layers and the stack that can make them confusing to play against.\nThe most important rule is that "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"the copying choice made as a Clone enters the battlefield doesn't target or use the stack."},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Clones don't target. "},{"insert":"Clone effects can copy creatures with hexproof, shroud, ward, or protection because clones do not use the word "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"target "},{"insert":"to pick those creatures. These abilities specifically look for the word "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"target"},{"insert":" to determine if it can be a legal target."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Clones copy Layer 1."},{"insert":" This means that clones copy Layer 1 or the "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"copiable values"},{"insert":" of a card. These are the characteristics printed onto the card and changes made by other copy effects. Counters, Auras, Equipment, and most effects that modify a permanent are not copied."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Clones can copy other clones"},{"insert":". For this example you have a clone (A) copying a creature (B). If you play another clone (C) and have it enter as clone (A), it will copy (A)'s copiable values, which in this scenario would be creature (B). So Clone (C) will enter the battlefield as a copy of creature (B)."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The copying choice doesn't use the stack."},{"insert":" Once a Clone spell resolves, it enters the battlefield as the chosen creature. Opponents cannot respond to that choice by removing the creature being copied. They must remove it before the Clone spell resolves."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThese interactions are particularly important for Princess Yue because the Moon's type-changing effect isn't part of its copiable values. Other permanents copying a Moon will copy the underlying creature or permanent rather than the Moon land.\n\nWhat I enjoy about the deck"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Cloning opponents' creatures."},{"insert":" This is easily my favorite part of the deck. I enjoy navigating opposing boards, identifying the best creatures to copy, and finding ways to use their abilities as Moons."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Unusual Moon interactions."},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mirage Mirror"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vesuva"}},{"insert":" , and other copy effects create some interesting interactions with Moon lands."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Vesuva: "},{"insert":"When Vesuva enters the battlefield copying a Moon, it copies the underlying creature and not the Moon's type changing effect. This effectively lets you play a creature onto the battlefield as a land for turn."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mirage Mirror: "},{"insert":"Mirage Mirror can copy the underlying creature of a Moon or become a copy of Yue and die to the legend rule. It then returns as a Moon with Mirage Mirror's activated ability, allowing it to continue copying other permanents while remaining a land."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nHow the deck wins"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThis is primarily a combo deck. Its main win conditions involve exploiting Clone interactions, although it can also assemble combos using creatures from opponents' boards.\n\nThe rest of the deck supports these interactions through mana generation, card draw, tutoring, land recursion, and Moon rescue effects.\n\n1. Astral Dragon"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Astral Dragon"}},{"insert":" creates two 3/3 flying Dragon token copies of a target noncreature permanent when it enters the battlefield. Both tokens must initially copy the same permanent.\n\nThere are two primary ways to create an infinite combo:\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Machine God's Effigy"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"\n\nWhen Machine God's Effigy copies Astral Dragon, it becomes a noncreature artifact with Astral Dragon's abilities:\nEffigy enters as a noncreature copy of Astral Dragon."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Its ETB targets itself, creating two 3/3 Dragon copies."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Those tokens inherit Astral Dragon's ETB and can target the original Effigy."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Each trigger creates two additional Dragons, allowing the process to repeat."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThis produces infinite 3/3 flying Dragons.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Astral Dragon Moon"},{"insert":"\n\nAn Astral Dragon that becomes a Moon, or a Moon Clone copying Astral Dragon, is a noncreature permanent with Astral Dragon's ETB:\nThe Astral Dragon Moon enters the battlefield."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Its ETB targets itself."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"It creates two 3/3 flying Dragon copies with the same ETB."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Those Dragons can target the original Astral Dragon Moon, continuing the loop."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nBecause the loop generates two Astral Dragons, one of those triggers can target other noncreature permanents while maintaining the combo.\n\nThis creates infinite 3/3 Dragon copies of every other noncreature permanents, potentially producing additional win conditions through the permanents on the board or by waiting to attack.\n\n2. Gandalf, Shadow's Foe"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gandalf, Shadow's Foe"}},{"insert":"'s ETB exiles up to three target lands you control and returns them tapped. His landfall ability draws a card and puts a +1/+1 counter on Gandalf whenever a land enters under your control.\n\nWith Princess Yue on the battlefield as a creature, Gandalf, and a Moon made from a Clone:\nExile the Clone Moon using Gandalf's ETB."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The Clone returns as a copy of Princess Yue."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The legend rule causes the Clone to die, triggering Yue's ability."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The Clone returns as a Moon, this time copying Gandalf."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The Gandalf Moon's ETB targets itself and optionally up to two other lands."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The targeted lands are exiled and returned tapped. The Clone returns as Yue again, repeating the loop from step 2."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWith the original Gandalf remaining on the battlefield, choosing two additional lands each iteration generates four card-draw triggers:\nTwo from the additional lands entering under your control."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Two from the Gandalf Moon entering, triggering both its own landfall ability and the original Gandalf's."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe loop can also generate infinite landfall, creature ETB, and death triggers.\nThe draw triggers are mandatory, so you need to stop the loop before drawing from an empty library. Once you've drawn enough cards, you can cast "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Thassa's Oracle"}},{"insert":" to win.\n\n3. Wormfang Newt"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wormfang Newt"}},{"insert":" exiles a land you control when it enters the battlefield and returns that land when it leaves.\n\nA Moon copying Wormfang Newt is itself a land, allowing Newt's ETB to exile the Moon.\n\nWith Princess Yue on the battlefield as a creature and a Clone in hand:\nThe Clone enters as Princess Yue and dies to the legend rule."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Yue's death trigger returns it as a Moon copying Wormfang Newt."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Newt's ETB exiles itself because it's now a land."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Its leaves-the-battlefield trigger returns the exiled Clone."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The Clone enters as Princess Yue again and dies to the legend rule."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Yue returns it as another Wormfang Newt Moon, repeating the loop."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThis produces arbitrarily many creature ETBs, leaves-the-battlefield triggers, death triggers, leaves-the-graveyard triggers, and landfall triggers.\n\nThe loop doesn't inherently win the game, but it can use abilities from opposing creatures you've copied. Effects similar to Blood Artist, Scute Swarm, or other ETB, death, and landfall payoffs can turn it into a win condition.\n\nIt's also one of the reasons I enjoy the deck: depending on what my opponents are playing, the same loop can produce very different results and win cons. \n"}]}