{"ops":[{"insert":"Pia Nalaar, Consul of Revival"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Foreword"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Pia Nalaar, Consul of Revival"}},{"insert":" is a mid-range powerhouse, able to slowly out-value her opponents with tokens that are deceptively small and a game plan that is deceptively strong. This deck is my current list for Bracket 3 Pia Nalaar played each week at my LGS for Commander Night. It has had a lot of success, due to opponents underestimating her strengths, and her low mana cost and deck curve. It is one of my favorite decks I have ever built, and I hope that you find it to be a blast to play as well. This deck will consistently kill a player if left somewhat alone and wins through combat damage.\n\nOverview"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Impulse Draw (Exile the Top Card of your Library)"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"DO NOT PLAY YOUR LAND DROPS UNTIL YOU'VE IMPULSE DRAWN. THIS IS THE MOST CONSISTENT WAY TO MAKE A THOPTER."},{"insert":"\nThis deck plays a 99 of mostly impulse draw to power Pia Nalaar's second ability. I've found that repeatable exile effects with no caveats (i.e. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Visions of Phyrexia"}},{"insert":" ) are typically 4 CMC, meaning that your turns 1-3 should either be consisting of ramp or individual draw spells ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wrenn's Resolve"}},{"insert":") to make sure Pia Nalaar has enough resources to go off at turn 3 or 4. I prioritized putting a great amount of interaction (mostly white), to advance your board state while also shutting down opponent's value/combo pieces. Spells such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Swords to Plowshares"}},{"insert":" are almost always playable when exiled, and other cards such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Requisition Raid"}},{"insert":" will also pump your board while you do it. There is a focus on flexibility and value in the spell choices, which leads me to the next topic of the deck's contents.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Tokens (Thopters)"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Yes, we play a lot of thopters. These bastards are very strong at killing players, as most commander players (with the exception of Dragon or Bird Tribal) are not running massive amounts of flyers. Even so, you can use the removal suite to destroy most flyers so that your thopters are clear to attack. Pia Nalaar does the wonderful effect of providing the thopters with haste, meaning that your opponents are unable to keep pace with your growing board unless they decide to swing back into you or wipe the board.\n\nWe discourage retaliation by playing more spells in our second main phase to create more thopters (and use cards triggers such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Laelia, the Blade Reforged"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cait Sith, Fortune Teller"}},{"insert":" ) while buffing with a decent amount of anthems in our 99. The redundancy also allows us to pass on a card, if we decide that it is too expensive to afford at the time. Additionally, effects such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shared Animosity"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Starlight Spectacular"}},{"insert":" will often result in a player kill when played, meaning that opponents have very few turns to react once we decide to start swinging for more than 4-5 damage.\n\nDeck Breakdown"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Impulse Engines (Unconditional)"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wild Wasteland"}},{"insert":" - 3 CMC 2 card impulse engine that uses only one red pip? An amazing card, probably the best impulse engine in the deck, you will have more than enough card selection late game to worry about the lack of cards in hand.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cait Sith, Fortune Teller"}},{"insert":" - 4 CMC impulse engine that scries 1, then buffs a creature (probably a thopter). It also receives any buffs to artifact creatures, meaning that if you felt like running "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Alibou, Ancient Witness"}},{"insert":", it's more useful. Also, it counts towards Metalcraft ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dispatch"}},{"insert":" )\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Charred Foyer // Warped Space"}},{"insert":" - On rate impulse engine (4 CMC) that you can invest into to play one of your spells for free (GOOD WITH UNTIL YOUR NEXT TURN EFFECTS + INSTANTS).\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Visions of Phyrexia"}},{"insert":" - Unconditional on rate impulse engine (4 CMC) that if you choose not to play something, you could get a powerstone token, which is okay in the deck.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Advanced Reconstruction"}},{"insert":" - Unconditional on rate impulse engine (4 CMC) that also lets you reuse spells. Needs more testing, but seems very playable.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Outpost Siege"}},{"insert":" - Unconditional on rate impulse engine (4 CMC). You will almost never choose Dragons.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tavern Brawler"}},{"insert":" - Almost unconditional 3 CMC impulse engine that needs your commander out on the battlefield. A great card, because it also acts like a Cait Sith, but costs 1 less and doesn't scry.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Share the Spoils"}},{"insert":" - 2 CMC impulse engine. This thing is nuts, but if you feed into it too much, you risk giving away your interaction to other players. I recommend using other engines' card pools first before you take from this to avoid giving your opponents a card you wanted. (Also sometimes you get a great card).\n\nImpulse Engine (Conditional)"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Laelia, the Blade Reforged"}},{"insert":" - This card gets big very fast, and is also a conditional impulse engine at 3 CMC. Excellent card in this deck.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Neyali, Suns' Vanguard"}},{"insert":" - This card when combined with an anthem effect will chuck opponents while also providing good card selection as you don't need to play that card that turn. Since you will most likely be swinging with thopters each turn, as long as this card is alive, you will have a second hand's worth of cards.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grenzo, Havoc Raiser"}},{"insert":" - Do not underestimate this card. Swing with a lot of thopters and you will be playing a lot of cards from exile. Notably can goad problematic creatures.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Commander Liara Portyr"}},{"insert":" - Haven't played this card much yet, but is an above rate engine that reduces the cost of your spells.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rose, Cutthroat Raider"}},{"insert":" - Creates Junk tokens so that you can control when you want to impulse draw, while also creating red mana (which is important for snowballing).\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Professional Face-Breaker"}},{"insert":" - Generates treasure, yes. But it also allows you to dig one or two cards deeper each turn by sacrificing them, which is sometimes very useful.\n\nImpulse (One-Use)"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Jeska's Will"}},{"insert":" - I don't think I need to say anything about this card. It's already a good card, you're looking for an impulse engine (most use red pips) and a land drop with this card.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wrenn's Resolve"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Reckless Impulse"}},{"insert":" - These do the same thing and they do it at the best rate. Note that it says \"until the end of your next turn\". This is important because there are a few impulse draw spells that only let you play until the end of current turn.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rob the Archives"}},{"insert":" - This is an example of that sort of spell, but this will let you look at 4 cards if you sacrifice a thopter.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Opera Love Song"}},{"insert":" - PLAY THIS ON AN OPPONENT'S TURN. It's pretty much another copy of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wrenn's Resolve"}},{"insert":".\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Light Up the Stage"}},{"insert":" - People will not block a thopter early game. This is a 1 CMC "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wrenn's Resolve"}},{"insert":" .\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hex Magic"}},{"insert":" - This card seems way too strong in this deck to be bad. It's above rate for an impulse draw spell, but you get to know exactly what you're going to play next turn, and you get a fresh hand. I think with certain hands, this card will be explosive on turn 3 into 4.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"You Find Some Prisoners"}},{"insert":" - You'd be surprised at what you find in people's decks. At worse you just exiled 3 cards from someone's deck, at best you get to cast a second "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sol Ring"}},{"insert":" or a removal spell. Oh, and it can destroy an artifact.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ensnared by the Mara"}},{"insert":" - I have no clue why people choose the first option, but they will. And then they will give you a free spell to trigger Pia Nalaar.\n\nAnthems"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shared Animosity"}},{"insert":" - Play this card at the right time and you will win. Play it normally and you will kill a player.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Starlight Spectacular"}},{"insert":" - Wow, this card is amazing. It's a pain to calculate, but it puts in similar numbers to "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shared Animosity"}},{"insert":" but also buffs the toughness, so the creatures can live trades. Remember to put Pia Nalaar at the front of the line, as you most likely will not be attacking with her.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer"}},{"insert":" - I used to not believe in this card (it was used in the 99 sometimes in Winota), but dear god it will kill people. Notably also buffs itself and Pia Nalaar.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Intangible Virtue"}},{"insert":" - Buffs only your token thopters, but gives them vigilance (very important). Incredible at stalling out the game until you win.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Stridehangar Automaton"}},{"insert":" - It sounds too good to be true. An anthem that makes more thopters?\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Warleader's Call"}},{"insert":" - An anthem that (notably) also buffs Pia Nalaar. It also pings everyone each time you make a thopter, which I don't normally like running personally as it makes the deck seem like it's popping off more than it is, but if you like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Impact Tremors"}},{"insert":"-like effects, then this card is for you.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Caretaker's Talent"}},{"insert":" - Draws you cards, makes a thopter, and then buffs your board. Excellent if you have few options on your turn/have a Powerstone token.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Patchwork Banner"}},{"insert":" - Anthem that generates mana. Effective and simple.\n\nUtility"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Skullclamp"}},{"insert":" - Kill a thopter, draw two cards.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Land Tax"}},{"insert":" - Thin your deck, make the impulses more smooth.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lightning Greaves"}},{"insert":" - Try to keep Pia Nalaar alive if possible. The deck needs Pia Nalaar to win, do not be afraid to recast her over and over.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tenuous Truce"}},{"insert":" - 2 mana spell that can draw you a lot of cards if someone doesn't hit you. In a 4 player pod, this may draw you 3 or more cards. Pick the person that you don't want to hit you, or pick the one that you think won't be able to combo off.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grasp of Fate"}},{"insert":" - "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Banishing Light"}},{"insert":" that hits two other permanents. Removes pesky enchantments and artifacts as well.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Delayed Blast Fireball"}},{"insert":" - One sided board wipe that if you can impulse it will deal 5 damage instead. A brilliant card in this deck.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sheltered by Ghosts"}},{"insert":" - Unconditional removal that also protects your commander. At below rate.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dawn's Truce"}},{"insert":" - Protect your enchantments and artifacts. You need them.\n\nExcluded Cards"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fateful Tempest"}},{"insert":" - Sounds okay until you realize that people will usually choose to have you mill a card and deal 2 damage rather than let you impulse more than one card.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Delney, Streetwise Lookout"}},{"insert":" - Pretty much just a token doubler in this deck, as the anthems prevent the thopters from getting the bonus, and then the inate flying also makes it borderline useless.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Akroma's Will"}},{"insert":" - Not a good card to impulse, doesn't really do much for the deck unless you're already winning.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Windbrisk Heights"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Spinerock Knoll"}},{"insert":" - These cards sound really great, but unless you're already hitting people with thopters, you have no way to play the exiled card. Also they come in tapped, so I don't think that it works well with the aggressive nature of this deck.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Junktown"}},{"insert":" - I don't think I've ever cracked it, so I'm removing it.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Alibou, Ancient Witness"}},{"insert":" - Pia Nalaar grants haste, and I don't think that the bottom effect is worth it in this deck, but it might make the impulse draws more consistent due to the scry. TL:DR is that I don't want to pay 5 mana for something that I don't think will end the game or impulse me cards.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Reckless Fireweaver"}},{"insert":" - These sort of effects I avoid because it puts the heat on me earlier, but if you can handle that sort of stuff, you should consider putting these effects in your deck to lower life totals.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Urabrask, Heretic Praetor"}},{"insert":" - I ran this for a bit, but it's just an impulse engine at above rate, that gets removed because people get annoyed you're doing the thing to them. Probably is great in combination with a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Drannith Magistrate"}},{"insert":".\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Master Trinketeer"}},{"insert":" - Finally took this card out, I don't ever create Servos and there are better anthem options, though it might return because it is also a 3/2.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lightning Bolt"}},{"insert":" - In my pod, I currently face a lot of 4 toughness commanders, so I prefer not to run this at the moment.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hour of Reckoning"}},{"insert":" - This doesn't really seem that good, it's too expensive and you can rebuild after a board wipe faster than your opponents. Why tap down your thopters to pay for it, when you're going to be swinging with them?\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wild-Magic Sorcerer"}},{"insert":" - Too expensive win-more card.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Monastery Raid"}},{"insert":" - You have to convince someone to let you pay above rate to exile a bunch of cards, not good.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ignite the Future"}},{"insert":" - Weird rate for an impulse spell, but it looks at 3 instead of 2, and then if you use its flashback ability, you get to play them for free.\n"}]}