{"ops":[{"insert":"Heliod Soul Sisters"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Summary"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Bracket: "},{"insert":"2-3 (see playability section)\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Archetypes: "},{"insert":"Life gain, +1/+1 counters, weenies\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Commander Dependence: "},{"insert":"Mid-High\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Gameplan: "},{"insert":"use a lot of small life gain effects to make small creatures into big creatures\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Infinite Combos: "},{"insert":"None\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Logistical Concerns:"},{"insert":" Lots of +1/+1 counters and occasional fiddlyness resulting from that, some tokens.\n\nOverview"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Arguably my current signature deck, this is a grindy creature heavy "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Heliod, Sun-Crowned"}},{"insert":" +1/+1 counter/life gain deck with a few subthemes including cheap/small creatures, reanimator and benefiting from your opponents doing things. \n\nShort Version"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Early Game"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Play out your cheap creatures, prioritizing hitting land drops and then having ways to gain life, Ideally a soul sister."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Play Heliod as soon as possible,"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"There is an exception to this. If you have no repeatable lifegain lined up, play draw engines or tutors first to dig for one."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Mid game"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Use Heliod to start building up your board"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Keep fuelling and setting up your card draw and life gain engines"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Late game"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Once you have creatures are big enough, start swinging to force blocks and do damage"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Use recursion to bounce back from board wipes or get further ahead"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Use one sided wipes, evasion or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aetherflux Reservoir"}},{"insert":" to push through lethal damage."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nGameplan"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The primary win condition is to trigger Heliod and similar cards as much as possible to make tiny creatures into big creatures and win through combat damage. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aetherflux Reservoir"}},{"insert":" and commander damage act as backup win conditions.\n\nThe deck primarily gains life through "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Soul's Attendant"}},{"insert":" effects in addition to lifelinkers and other cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Linden, the Steadfast Queen"}},{"insert":" . Since Heliod is our main payoff for life gain, the goal is quantity over quality for life gain events to maximise counters. these form the core engine of the deck. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cleric Class"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Voice of the Blessed"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Exemplar of Light"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Archangel of Thune"}},{"insert":" provide some redundancy. Ideally we don't want to have to activate Heliods ability unless we have mana to spare or we're trying to hit a particular threshold for something like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ajani, Strength of the Pride"}},{"insert":" . \n\nFor Heliod's counters, the priority is roughly\nTriggering "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dusk Legion Duelist"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Whiskervale Forerunner"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Spreading out counters to try make our creatures more difficult to remove, big enough blockers to discourage attacks and so that they benefit from "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bulwark Ox"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Metastatic Evangel"}},{"insert":" and so on."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Getting "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Voice of the Blessed"}},{"insert":" to 10 counters"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Getting "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Esper Sentinel"}},{"insert":" to about 5 power, that's typically when people stop considering paying."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Making big beaters/blockers"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThere's some nuance to choosing how many creatures to make big, which ones and how big to make them. One of the goals is to misdirect away from our lifegain/counter engine. You want your opponents focused on a problem they need to deal with now, not the problem a turn or two from now. As such you generally don't want to load up Heliod or the life gain/draw engines too much (with some exceptions like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Auriok Champion"}},{"insert":" ,"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Linden, the Steadfast Queen"}},{"insert":" or if you're pivoting to knocking someone out with Heliod). Beyond that you need to balance evasion, triggering on attack triggers , keeping creatures alive and so on. \n\nMaking lifelinkers big is usually a solid choice. while it's still one trigger per hit, there are a couple of cards that care about life total and it means you can shrug off some hits other decks wouldn't. This isn't a deck that's particularly zealous about having a high life total. Even then though keep commander damage in mind.\n\nDraw"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This deck touches on many of whites main themes (life gain, counters, weenies, attacking) allowing it to take advantage of most of whites repeatable card draw engines. Because the deck is so low to the ground restocking the hand is really important to keep the deck flowing. \n\nWhere possible try to trigger as many of the draw engines as you can. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Instant speed token generators/flash creatures can be used to trigger some of the draw engines on opponents turns."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Sometimes it's worth holding back a small creature spell to guarantee you can trigger draw engines on the next turn. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nAdditionally "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gloryheath Lynx"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scholar of New Horizons"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Weathered Wayfarer"}},{"insert":" all allow you to hit land drops every turn which why the deck runs a slightly lower land count. it's usually correct to use these cards at least often enough to avoid missing a land drop.\n\nSubthemes"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWeenie Toolbox"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The deck contains a number of creatures with a Mana Value of 1 which acts as a tool box for "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ranger-Captain of Eos"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Starfield Shepherd"}},{"insert":"and the more flexible "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Recruiter of the Guard"}},{"insert":". \n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Soul Warden"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Soul's Attendant"}},{"insert":" parts of the decks core life gain engines. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Guide of Souls"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Spectrum Sentinel"}},{"insert":" are options but usually only preferable if you need the flying or protection (Recruiter can also grab "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Auriok Champion"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Suture Priest"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Distinguished Conjurer"}},{"insert":" , the last one allowing you to reuse recruiter next turn)"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Esper Sentinel"}},{"insert":" for card draw. (Recruiter can also grab "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dusk Legion Duelist"}},{"insert":" ) "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Deftblade Elite"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hopeful Initiate"}},{"insert":" for removal (recruiter can grab "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Solitude"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Witch Enchanter // Witch-Blessed Meadow"}},{"insert":" )"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Alseid of Life's Bounty"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mother of Runes"}},{"insert":" provide protection and evasion (Recruiter can grab "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bulwark Ox"}},{"insert":" )"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ocelot Pride"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Serra Ascendant"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Speaker of the Heavens"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Basri, Tomorrow's Champion"}},{"insert":" all give you bodies."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Weathered Wayfarer"}},{"insert":" for tutoring out lands (recruiter can grab "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Witch Enchanter // Witch-Blessed Meadow"}},{"insert":" in a pinch as well as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scholar of New Horizons"}},{"insert":" ). Wayfarers main targets are"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lotus Field"}},{"insert":" Sacs lands to reanimate and helps keep the land count below your opponents."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myriad Landscape"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Windswept Heath"}},{"insert":" Can be recurred to ramp"},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx"}},{"insert":" a ridiculous bit of mana generation in this deck. "},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Emeria, the Sky Ruin"}},{"insert":" late game recursion engine"},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"War Room"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Minas Tirith"}},{"insert":" Card draw"},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire"}},{"insert":" removal and can be recurred"},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nReanimator"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The deck includes a reanimation package where each of the reanimation pieces can also be grabbed by at least a couple of the other pieces. Combined with a number of incidental sac and discard effects in the deck, this can ramp or generate card advantage mid game or allow the deck to bounce back quickly from late game board wipes. Looping Bulwark Ox and Ranger captain of Eos is a particularly powerful line.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mistveil Plains"}},{"insert":" is included as a low opportunity cost way for the deck to recycle instants, sorceries or tutor targets and it can be grabbed by "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Charitable Levy"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scholar of New Horizons"}},{"insert":" \n\nBenefitting from Opponents"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This is relatively incidental, most of the cards that fall under this umbrella reward you when opponents take game actions that are hard for them to avoid as opposed to forcing those game actions (with the exceptions of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Loran of the Third Path"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Path to Exile"}},{"insert":" ). This has a couple of consequences though. Firstly the deck scales somewhat with the pod. Second, it forces you to pay attention to what your opponents are doing.\n\nWeaknesses"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Anything that turns off ETBs, life gain or counters severely limits the deck and needs to be dealt with asap, either with removal or, if you're sufficiently set up, throwing everything at the responsible player to try knock them out. Graveyard hate and mass exile can severely limit the reanimator package but sufficient card draw can overcome that. \n\nHeliod himself is relatively important to the game plan but indestructible and the devotion requirement make him difficult to remove and the deck has some protection and redundancy on top of that.\n\nPlayability"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Non games are rare. requires you to pay attention during opponents turns. There's a small amount of token generators and a lot of +1/+1 counters. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Archangel of Thune"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Metastatic Evangel"}},{"insert":" can occasionally slow turns down by doing a cathar's crusade impression.\n\nWhile the deck fulfils"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":" all "},{"insert":"of the conditions of a bracket 2 deck (no game changers, telegraphed wins and typically doesn't win before turn 8 although that can vary, especially since the deck scales with your opponents), it's strong and consistent enough that it's usually better suited for typical bracket 3 games . I would strongly recommend disclosing that in pre game discussions if you decide to present it as a 2.\n\nIndividual Cards"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"While the aim is usually to avoid making Heliod the most obviously scary thing on the board, a 5/5+ indestructible creature is useful. he can help safely trigger cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Horn of the Mark"}},{"insert":" and is a fantastic blocker."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Cycling "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Basri, Tomorrow's Champion"}},{"insert":" has some niche uses, there are a couple of cats and he can be reanimated."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Solitude"}},{"insert":" has alot of small synergies in the deck, you can evoke and flicker it with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Distinguished Conjurer"}},{"insert":" , cast it from the graveyard on another players turn with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Case of the Uneaten Feast"}},{"insert":" or evoke and reanimate it with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Celestine, the Living Saint"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Guardian Scalelord"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Almost always warp "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Starfield Shepherd"}},{"insert":" and if you think you're going to miss a land drop, get a plains."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Warping "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Haliya, Guided by Light"}},{"insert":" usually depends on how much mana you have, triggering her draw is the main concern when sequencing her. Her last ability is "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"not"},{"insert":" an intervening if so if an"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ocelot Pride"}},{"insert":" triggering at the same time lets you hit 3 life, you get the card."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scholar of New Horizons"}},{"insert":" you can always put the land into your hand if you need a land play that turn."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nMisc Notes"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Honestly the main reason the deck runs 0 game changers is because I don't think the deck particularly wants any of them, It's low to the ground and hungrier for cards then mana so "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Smothering Tithe"}},{"insert":" doesn't quite make sense. At the same time it doesn't really want to have to hold up mana making "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Clever Concealment"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Flare of Fortitude"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bulwark Ox"}},{"insert":" better options then "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Teferi's Protection"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"true"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" \n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\n"}]}