{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"I put my quick notes through chatGPT for a somewhat weird but friendlier reading experience."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Captain Howler"},{"insert":" is an aggressive-tempo Brawl deck built around compounding combat damage through discard triggers, layered pressure, and explosive extra-combat finishes.\nThis deck was built "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"with the endgame already in mind"},{"insert":". Rather than playing a generic value game and hoping to assemble pressure over time, the list is tuned to push toward a closing sequence as early as turns 5–6, using repeated attack steps and stacked Howler triggers to end games suddenly.\n\nWhy Captain Howler"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nCaptain Howler was chosen for three major reasons:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"1. Izzet colors give the right tools."},{"insert":"\n Red and blue offer the exact mix the deck wants: aggression, looting, burst damage, and cheap interaction.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"2. The commander scales hard."},{"insert":"\n Howler rewards what the deck already wants to do—attack, discard, and keep cards moving. The discard/draw trigger compounds into real damage surprisingly fast, and even its “floor” of 5 damage is a meaningful threat.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"3. Its body is awkward to answer efficiently."},{"insert":"\n Ward 2 plus four toughness constrains removal options and often taxes opponents just enough to preserve momentum.\n\nCore Game Plan"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThis is essentially a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"tempo-combo aggro deck"},{"insert":".\nThe deck operates on overlapping layers:\n\nPressure Through Combat-Centric Creatures"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The creature suite prioritizes threats that:\nGenerate advantage in combat"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Carry evasion or trample well"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Pressure life totals early"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Contribute to discard/rummage engines"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Many creatures blur roles, acting as both attackers and enablers.\n\nDiscard as Fuel, Not Cost"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Discard here isn’t downside—it’s propulsion.\nAttack-trigger discard, rummaging, looting, and related effects:\nFeed Howler’s damage output"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Improve card selection"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Turn on synergies"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Help see enough lands naturally that dedicated ramp is mostly unnecessary"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The deck intentionally avoids traditional ramp packages.\nOutside exceptions like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Ashling"},{"insert":" serving double duty as enabler and acceleration, the philosophy is simple:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"If the deck wants to end the game on turn 5 or 6, spending turns ramping is often slower than just advancing pressure."},{"insert":"\n\nThe Finish"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The deck’s signature kill pattern comes online around "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"turn 5 onward"},{"insert":":\nAttack with Howler → trigger discard/damage → cast effects that grant:\nAdditional combat steps"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Additional turns"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Then repeat.\nEach extra combat compounds:\nMore attacks"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"More discard triggers"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"More damage"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"More pressure on opposing interaction"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The deck often wins by turning one good attack into two or three devastating ones.\nThis is less “go wide aggro” and more "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"raid cascade"},{"insert":"—one combat snowballs into lethal.\n\nInteraction Philosophy"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The interaction suite is deliberately low to the ground.\nRather than expensive reactive spells, the deck leans heavily on "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"one-mana interaction"},{"insert":", enabling a staggered tempo curve:\nTurn 1: deploy or hold interaction"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Turn 2: develop + hold interaction"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Turn 3: advance board + hold interaction"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"and so on"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This lets the deck pressure while still contesting opposing momentum.\nThe goal isn’t to control the game.\nIt’s to "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"never lose initiative while disrupting theirs."},{"insert":"\n\nCard Advantage Philosophy"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Most “draw” in the list is tied to advancing the main engine.\nPreference goes to cards that are:\nCard-positive"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Discard enablers"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Pressure pieces"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Multiple roles in one slot"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Very few cards exist only to “draw cards.”\nThe deck values velocity over raw hand size.\n\nMulligan Heuristics"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nOn the Play"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Keep hands that establish pressure early.\nPrioritize:\nEarly creatures"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Discard enablers"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Curves that naturally lead into Howler"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You want to ask the first questions.\n\nOn the Draw"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Look for hands that can steal initiative back quickly.\nPrioritize:\nCheap interaction"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Hands that trip up early opposing development"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Plays that let you turn the corner fast"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The goal is to disrupt, then become the aggressor immediately.\n"}]}