{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"~Power Level~"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\t\t\tBracket 2. This deck will fall behind against high B3 and above decks. It's fairly slow and can run into issues against super optimized decks. Also, this is a very much a \"let's see if this deck is possible (but still good)\" rather than \"let's make this deck super good and optimized toward the commander.\"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"~What is this?~"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\t\t\tI wanted to make a deck with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Yue, the Moon Spirit"}},{"insert":" purely because I thought she was pretty cool and interesting, but I didn't want to break the bank doing so. Most of the extra turn cards are quite expensive (money-wise), and I wanted to try some shenanigans that you wouldn't often see in mono-blue. We're taking advantage of the fact that waterbending taps artifacts. So which artifacts can we tap and still get full value out of them? Equipments! Thus voltron Yue was born. After, it became a bit of a budgeting and value challenge; which equipments can provide the most value at a cheap (money) cost that synergize with Yue's ability to cast high cost noncreature spells? \n\t\t\tJust stacking a lot of +X/+X equipment didn't work that well, so the deck was pivoted toward card draw and trying to get high cost noncreature spells. Ofc, there still are some high damage equipments in here to pump Yue as well, but otherwise most of the artifacts are geared toward drawing cards or making waterbending 5 easier. The other cool thing with Yue is that you get to cast a lot of high cost enchantments for a low fee, something that can be hard to do in mono-blue. So what are we left with as a deck? Basically we have a voltron Yue as a semi-enchantress. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"~What is the game plan?~"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\t\t\tPlay artifacts early, get the ramp and untap creatures out if you can (try to have at least one untap creature), and get Yue out asap. Start waterbending with Yue soon if you got good high mv spells in hand. Once you get going and have more equipment (through copies usually), you can start using the untap creatures to waterbend twice every round. From there, it should be a bit clearer which route you may have to go to win, but it's also pretty touch-and-go as the game develops. You're aiming for a lot of draw and playing valuable enchantments! If that fails, you can still find value out of swinging with voltron Yue or making creatures through "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shark Typhoon"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hermes, Overseer of Elpis"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Mechanist, Aerial Artisan"}},{"insert":". \n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"How do I win?"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"There are multiple ways you can win:\nThe most straight forward way is killing with commander damage via Yue. This can pretty easily be done with just "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blackblade Reforged"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Brass Knuckles"}},{"insert":", and"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Eldrazi Conscription"}},{"insert":"(bonus if you can copy Blackblade or Eldrazi Con. using "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Masterwork of Ingenuity"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Storm of Saruman"}},{"insert":"). "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Another win-con is "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shark Typhoon"}},{"insert":", which can get you a lot of flying sharks, some of which are quite high in power due to Yue waterbending out high mv spells. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Alternatively, decking yourself is another way to win, granted that you have "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Laboratory Maniac"}},{"insert":"and some ways to protect him and draw a lot of cards (mostly this strategy works thanks to "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Robe of the Archmagi"}},{"insert":", but also just stacking various card draw engines). "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rite of Replication"}},{"insert":" is very game dependent on what creatures you and your opponents have on the board, but is able to win you the game in certain cases! You can waterbend it out with Yue during an opponent's end step, pay the additional cost on cast, and have these creatures ready to attack on your turn! Good creatures to copy from your board are: "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grand Architect"}},{"insert":" (gives +6/+6 to all your other creatures, can make your colorless creatures blue, and greatly helps cast and equip equipments), "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Benevolent River Spirit"}},{"insert":" (just a lot of medium-powered flyers with ward and scry 2 etb), and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Laboratory Maniac"}},{"insert":" (to greatly increase the chances of it staying on the board and in response to targeted removal). "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"When to Waterbend:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\t\t\tWaterbend is an activated ability in which you can instant cast. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Yue, the Moon Spirit"}},{"insert":" has vigilance, so waterbending anytime after declaring her as an attacker is fine. However, ideally you'd want to waterbend in the end step of the player before you. This allows for less time for people to react/interact and also keep Yue as a blocker. Also keep in mind that you don't always have to waterbend a high mv spell; there are cases in which you may lack the mana to cast a counter spell or removal aura (e.g. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Frogify"}},{"insert":") and you choose to waterbend that spell to make it either instant speed or to bypass your lack of mana! Most of the untap creatures allow you to untap a permanent, meaning that you are able to untap a land if necessary. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"~Strengths~"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Low threat levels"},{"insert":": You probably won't be the big target at the table. There are also not a ton of interaction spells, so people won't have it out for you for just playing blue (hopefully).\t\t"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Power in noncreatures"},{"insert":": Much of your power is in artifacts or enchantments, which are less interacted with than creatures; furthermore, creature boardwipes aren't such a big deal for you. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Flying"},{"insert":": All of the creatures you will be attacking with have flying, which is advantageous. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Surprise!"},{"insert":": You're able to go from 0-100 pretty quickly, which can catch people by surprise."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Minimum interaction alternative wincon"},{"insert":": Decking yourself to win is a great way to "},{"attributes":{"strike":true},"insert":"lose friends"},{"insert":" win without interacting with seemingly untouchable players with big creatures or strong defensive utilities. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"~Weaknesses~"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Card draw"},{"insert":": Despite a lot of card draw, this deck does have issues with getting draw up and rolling. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Low ramp"},{"insert":": Ramp is also quite low, so the early rounds will be slow. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Removal"},{"insert":": You are vulnerable to removal if you don't get hexproof and it will take a while to reequip Yue. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Benevolent River Spirit"}},{"insert":" can be used as a bu voltron creature. Artifact and enchantment removal/hate will cripple you. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Low protection/defense"},{"insert":": While there are sources of hexproof, Yue is still pretty vulnerable. Additionally, you will lack blockers to defend yourself from damage. This can be slightly mitigated with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lulu, Stern Guardian"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hermes, Overseer of Elpis"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Mechanist, Aerial Artisan"}},{"insert":", but won't absolve you from the problem. For specific situations, you may also use one of the untap creatures to tap an opponent's creature (e.g. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Niblis of the Breath"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kelpie Guide"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"North Pole Patrol"}},{"insert":"), although these tend to have an additional cost/conditions."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Self-sabotage"},{"insert":": There is a danger of decking yourself if you don't have "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Laboratory Maniac"}},{"insert":" yet or can't protect him. There is one sorcery to use in case this may happen, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Game Plan"}},{"insert":", but using it will change the game for everyone at the table. If you draw a lot of cards and are unlucky enough to not get a no max hand card, then you have no recursion to get back spells you discard apart from "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Game Plan"}},{"insert":". "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Budget"},{"insert":": A lot of very good (but expensive) blue spells weren't added in order to keep the budget low."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"~Budget~"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\t\t\t~25-30 euros when optimized for cheap printings. Since it's not a super giga optimized for Yue deck, I didn't want to invest too much into it. Also I think cheap budget decks are great for being forced to explore synergies and lesser known cards! \n"}]}