{"ops":[{"insert":"I was in the mood to brew"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":" something "},{"insert":"with"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scion of Halaster"}},{"insert":", and went with a Golgari Reanimator theme to start out. Now I sit here with this strange land-reanimator landfall-based Voltron idea with a cycling filter engine that plays way smoother, faster, and deadlier than I imagined it would when I started brewing.\n\n\nThis deck plays like a very rampy Voltron deck, but instead of equipment or enchantments, we pump up "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Erinis, Gloom Stalker"}},{"insert":" by way of landfall triggers, activated by her ability to recur lands from the graveyard, which often results in a flash-finish with mass-recursion cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aftermath Analyst"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Splendid Reclamation"}},{"insert":".\n\nWe make sure that Erinis always has a target for her ability by filtering land cards from the deck with"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scion of Halaster"}},{"insert":", which has the added benefit of ensuring our hand stays topped up with valuable cards, without missing our land drops. The deck heavily features cards with Cycling, in order to get the value from Scion of Halaster on our opponents turns as well as our own. I almost dismissed this filtering mechanic in the beginning, as I thought it would be too convoluted, but after playing a fair few games, it feels faster and more efficient than I initially had guessed.\n\nVoltron seemed like the most natural archetype, considering how Erinis has to attack to have any value. Although our opponents are discouraged from blocking due to her deathtouch, the best defense is often a strong offense, and so it makes perfect sense to let Erinis become the main threat of the deck. To keep her safe, the deck runs plenty of both protection and evasion in the form of cards like"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gaea's Gift"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Biosynthic Burst"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Agonasaur Rex"}},{"insert":", and the incredibly valuable "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sylvan Safekeeper"}},{"insert":", to name a few. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mossborn Hydra"}},{"insert":" acts as a replacement threat, a contingency, if needed. It has begun a turn as a 2/2, and gone on to knock out a lifegain player that same turn after casting "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Splendid Reclamation"}},{"insert":".\n\nThrough cycling and optimizing our hand with Scion of Halaster, the deck doesn't rely as heavily on card draw as other decks might, but there are still a few powerhouses in the draw department, such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Gitrog Monster"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Monument to Endurance"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Braids, Arisen Nightmare"}},{"insert":", which all synergize with both the land recursion and the cycling themes. I might swap in some more draw in the form of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Infiltration Lens"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mask of Memory"}},{"insert":" if need be, but for now the deck runs nicely without an abundance of draw effects.\n\nThere's a lot of land recursion in the deck, but it also runs some creature/permanent recursion as well, in case Erinis gets hard-targeted and we want to reduce the Commander Tax. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Quest for the Necropolis"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Soul Stair Expedition"}},{"insert":" are cheap and easy to stack up, but I also include "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Badlands Revival"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Diregraf Rebirth"}},{"insert":" for utility, just to be safe. They are more expensive, but this deck does not struggle with ramp, and one if not both of those can be swapped for other cards, depending on how your pod plays.\n\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Some of my favorite cards and combinations in the deck:"},{"insert":"\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"-"},{"insert":"\t"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Squandered Resources"}},{"insert":" + "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Splendid Reclamation"}},{"insert":" /"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aftermath Analyst"}},{"insert":" /"},{"insert":{"card-link":"World Shaper"}},{"insert":" for a landfall trigger extravaganza. Pairs well with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tormod, the Desecrator"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Retreat to Hagra"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mossborn Hydra"}},{"insert":", to name a few.\n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"-"},{"insert":"\t"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mightform Harmonizer"}},{"insert":" will ensure a win by commander damage "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"very"},{"insert":" quickly if my opponents can't get past my protection spells quick enough.\n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"-"},{"insert":"\tLands like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Evolving Wilds"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Terramorphic Expanse"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Verdant Catacombs"}},{"insert":", and similar sac lands become huge value engines with Erinis on the board.\n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"-"},{"insert":"\t"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Realms Uncharted"}},{"insert":" has no drawback in this deck, which I think is neat.\n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"- "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sylvan Safekeeper"}},{"insert":" is fantastic, and the supposed \"cost\" is more often than not just a beneficial engine piece.\n\nI have taken "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Archfiend of Ifnir"}},{"insert":" out of the deck, not because it didn't fit, but because it does its job almost too well, and I didn't like how oppressive it was. You can easily become the big bad at the table with this deck, and my personal preference is to allow my opponents to still mount a defense. If your pod is okay being a bit more ruthless, then add the Archfiend back in.\n\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Some quick piloting pointers:"},{"insert":"\n\nWhen piloting the deck, look to mulligan for enough lands to get both Scion of Halaster and Erinis out, as well as some cards with Cycling. Any opening hand with a sac land like Verdant Catacombs or Evolving Wilds together with some cycling effects will let you skyrocket in ramp and card filtering. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"(Preferably you'll want some protection and landfall effects as well, but as long as you can cycle cards reliably, you'll be able to build the hand you need without relying on having everything in your opening hand.)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Don't overcommit to the board - it is often enough to have just one or two synergy pieces out alongside Erinis, and it's easier to slip past threat detection or to recover from removal if you allow yourself to keep some backup engine pieces in your hand. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Always aim to have some protection on hand, and if you don't, you can always attempt to Cycle+Scion on an opponents turn in response to removal, in the hopes of finding something."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This deck can play fast with a relatively small board, and keeping answers and backups in hand is often the strongest play. Keep your mana up for cycling on your opponents turns, to trigger Scion of Halaster as much as possible, which will keep your graveyard topped up on lands and you hand well-stocked with valuable cards."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"If your pod plays a lot of go-wide style decks, consider swapping out "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Multani, Yavimaya's Avatar"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Diregraf Rebirth"}},{"insert":" for something like a"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rampaging Baloths"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zendikar's Roil"}},{"insert":" to have more blockers."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"}]}