{"ops":[{"insert":"Saga-centered voltron deck featuring"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Garnet, Princess of Alexandria"}},{"insert":" . The deck features support for Garnet and her enchantments, allowong her to consistently attack and loop sagas for powerful effects.\n\nTutors also allow you to search for enchantments/sagas that can benefit you in different circumstances, granting:\n- Ramp ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Summon: Fenrir"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Weatherseed Treaty"}},{"insert":" )\n- Removal ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Summon: Ixion"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Summon: Yojimbo"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Legend of Yangchen // Avatar Yangchen"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Princess Takes Flight"}},{"insert":" , among others)\n- Card draw ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Legend of Kyoshi // Avatar Kyoshi"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Esper Origins // Summon: Esper Maduin"}},{"insert":" )\n- Protection ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Almost Perfect"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shield of the Oversoul"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tale of Tinúviel"}},{"insert":" , etc.) \n- Evasion ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Summon: Primal Garuda"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dion, Bahamut's Dominant // Bahamut, Warden of Light"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shield of the Oversoul"}},{"insert":" )\n - Additional +1/+1 counters ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Level Up"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The First Iroan Games"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Origin of the Hulk"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Summon: Magus Sisters"}},{"insert":" )\n- Recursion ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tale of Tinúviel"}},{"insert":" )\n- Generating tokens for blockers ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Summon: Fat Chocobo"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Origin of the Hulk"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Summon: Knights of Round"}},{"insert":" , etc.)\n\nThis is a very fun deck option for players who are open to a combat-oriented voltron playstyle, but also enjoy the flexibility of steering the course of the game with the various sagas.\n\n---\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Positioning Garnet"},{"insert":"\nThe primary win condition for this deck is to both outlast other opponents using Garnet's lifelink, and eventually claim the win via commander damage. In pursuit of that goal, the key strategy is to set up scenarios in which Garnet can attack every turn, even if she gets blocked. This can be accomplished several means, like giving her flying, indestructible, or enough power to hit over early game creatures. Notably, the +1/+1 counters from rewinding sagas are added to Garnet upon attacking, so if at least one saga is available when she starts attacking, then she can scale beyond 2/2 immediately.\n\nGranting unblockable to Garnet, especially once she has some counters, can finish games pretty quickly, but doing this will put a target on your back. Having some protection on Garnet first would help her finish games. \n\nTwo key auras for Garnet are "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Level Up"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Almost Perfect"}},{"insert":" . When paired with evasion and/or protection, these cards give Garnet the sheer power to potentially 1 or 2 shot opponents. They also serve as decent comeback mechanics in the event Garnet is removed from the field.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Positioning the sagas"},{"insert":"\nMany, but not all, of the sagas have a first step that should be looped. This makes it crucial that Garnet safely attacks on the turn the saga enters.\n\nSome sagas can also be used in a somewhat political fashion. For instance, in 3+ player games, removal sagas can be used as bargaining chips. Opponents B and C may be reluctant to remove "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Summon: Ixion"}},{"insert":" once it has exiled a problematic board piece from opponent A, since the removal of Ixion would return the creature from exile. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Legend of Yangchen // Avatar Yangchen"}},{"insert":" also forces opponents to target each other.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Ramp"},{"insert":"\nDrawing/tutoring "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Summon: Fenrir"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Weatherseed Treaty"}},{"insert":" in the early game provides a great advantage as garnet can attack to loop the ramping stage of the saga.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Removal"},{"insert":"\nThere are a number of sagas that remove permanent (usually creatures) in certain circumstances. When playing a saga, double check whether the exile has any conditions attached.\n\nThis deck also features the potential for several asymmetric boardwipes. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Damning Verdict"}},{"insert":" spares your saga creatures as long as they have lore counters on them, so consider using this in your first main phase before the lore counters are removed. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ultima"}},{"insert":" is especially useful if Garnet is indestructible or if you do not have creatures on the board, but first consider if any of the sagas on the board are also creatures.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Counterplay examples"},{"insert":"\nIn cases where +1/+1 counters are negated or punished by an opponent (like with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blightbeetle"}},{"insert":" ), "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Almost Perfect"}},{"insert":" becomes the primary win con since it can enchant Garnet to become base 9/10 indestructible creature. If Almost Perfect is on Garnet, +1/+1 counter negation/punishment often hurts the other opponents more than it hurts Garnet. \n\nIf Garnet is removed, the sagas will progress. However, this deck features a couple options to renew sagas:\n1. Recursion once the saga is sacrificed, using cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tragic Poet"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Yuna, Hope of Spira"}},{"insert":" \n2. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nesting Grounds"}},{"insert":", which can move a lore counter from a saga to a non-saga permanent\n3. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Clash of the Eikons"}},{"insert":" , a sorcery that can add or remove a lore counter\n\nClash of the Eikons's third option, fighting target creature, is also worth considering if you are already in a strong position. For 1 green mana, Garnet can fight a creature, eliminating a threat or potential blocker, and you gain some more life in the process via Garnet's lifelink.\n\nWhen manipulating lore counters, remember that the saga steps are triggered by the addition of a lore counter, not their removal. This can be used to artificially trigger several steps of a saga in 1 turn.\n\nDecks that can proliferate counters can add lore counters to sagas, interrupting Garnet's core loop. In these instances, it is typically best to leave each saga cycling between 0-1 lore counters. If, by the end of your turn, the saga has 0 counters, the cycle cannot be interrupted via profileration on an opponent's turn.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Useful nonbasic lands"},{"insert":"\nUnfortunately the saga ramp cards search for basic lands, but there are some helpful nonbasic lands in this deck as well. \n\nThe aforementioned "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nesting Grounds"}},{"insert":" can move lore counters around.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hall of Heliod's Generosity"}},{"insert":" offers a reliable way to retrieve enchantments from the grave, and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ishgard, the Holy See // Faith & Grief"}},{"insert":" can retrieve an artifact or enchantment\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rogue's Passage"}},{"insert":" is incredibly powerful in this deck since it is a consistent way to make Garnet unblockable.\n\n---\n\nThis has been a very fun deck to build, enjoy!\n\n"}]}