{"ops":[{"insert":"~~Group by Categories (multiple); many cards fill 3+ roles~~\n\nA Shirei deck with a twist: debuff your own creatures for additional value.\n\nThis plays like a normal Shirei deck in that your primary goal is to get a few creatures with 1 power out, find a sacrifice outlet for them, and then repeatedly sacrifice and get value from this on every player's second main phase (preferably, right before they move to their end step). Where this list differs is that it's got a secondary emphasis on 2-power creatures, which can be recurred with Shirei when combined with effects like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Heartless Summoning"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Night of Souls' Betrayal"}},{"insert":". While this requires us to exclude some Shirei staples or risk having our auras kill them (such as "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Blood Artist"},{"insert":"), it makes for what I find to be a more interesting playstyle with higher peaks.\n\nThe most powerful 2-power option is of course "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gray Merchant of Asphodel"}},{"insert":", which, if it can be sacrificed and reenter on every turn, should end a game within 1-2 turn cycles. But this can also get great value from cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ravenous Chupacabra"}},{"insert":" removing up to 4 problem creatures per turn cycle, or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Solemn Simulacrum"}},{"insert":" ramping and drawing 4 times per turn cycle - in addition to any benefits you are reaping from the actual sacrifice itself. Having a -1/-1 aura in play also protects several 2-power combo pieces such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ayara, First of Locthwain"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Yawgmoth, Thran Physician"}},{"insert":" from removal as Shirei will bring them back.\n\nThe main combo pieces are the four -1/-1 auras ("},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Heartless Summoning"}},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":";"},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Night of Souls' Betrayal"}},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":";"},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Geth, Thane of Contracts"}},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":";"},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kaervek, the Spiteful"}},{"insert":") but the deck has several other effects which will work in a pinch to place -1/-1 counters on key targets. Often these are best placed on your own creatures rather than opponents' until your engine is moving and you no longer need to further debuff anything on your board, at which point they can be turned into additional removal.\n\nThe goal is, first, to outvalue your opponents with enduring creatures that constantly return value and card draw while acting as chump blockers, second, to keep key creatures off your opponents' boards with careful spot removal, and third, to continue sacrificing until you win with one of several effects that pings opponents on creature death such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Syr Konrad, the Grim"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Arnyn, Deathbloom Botanist"}},{"insert":".\n\nAlternately, the deck can effectively lock opponents out of playing creatures altogether with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grave Pact"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dictate of Erebos"}},{"insert":". With the prevalence of -1/-1 effects we run, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Maha, Its Feathers Night"}},{"insert":" is an alternate lock either with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Night of Souls' Betrayal"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kaervek, the Spiteful"}},{"insert":", or a sufficient threshold of ways to place -1/-1 counters on opposing creatures.\n"}]}