{"ops":[{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"🐍 The Serpent Society - Pick Your Poison (No, Seriously)"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","italic":true},"insert":"Welcome to my The Serpent Society commander deck. If you enjoy suffocating your opponents' board states, forcing impossible choices, and winning through a lethal cocktail of aristocrat sacrifices and poison counters, you are in the right place. This deck is built around a low-to-the-ground, high-synergy engine designed to keep the board entirely clear of opposing threats while slowly (or very quickly) ticking up your opponents' poison counts."},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"☣️ The Game Plan"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"Our strategy is divided into three distinct phases that seamlessly bleed into one another:"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"Flood the Board:"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":" drop ultra-efficient, low-mana deathtouch, infect, and toxic creatures like "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Virulent Emissary"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":" , "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Vampire of the Dire Moon"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wasteland Viper"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"The Meat Grinder:"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":" with our Commander on the field, or enchantments like "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Grave Pact"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":", we use free sacrifice outlets ("},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Yawgmoth, Thran Physician"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":","},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Phyrexian Altar"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Ashnod's Altar"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":") to bin our own cheap creatures. This triggers a chain reaction, forcing opponents to sacrifice their prized commanders and blockers."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"The Toxic Finish:"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":" once the board is completely empty, we swing freely. We win either by traditional combat damage, aristocrat drains ("},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Sheoldred, the Apocalypse"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"), or by crossing the 10-poison-counter finish line via Infect, Toxic, and Proliferate."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"🔑 Key Synergies & Secret Tech"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"🪤 The Ward Trap (The Ultimate \"Gotcha!\")"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"The Serpent Society protects itself with a brutal Ward cost: "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","italic":true},"insert":"get 5 poison counters"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"."},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"The Combo:"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":" if an opponent desperately tries to target our Commander and attempts to pay those 5 poison counters and we have "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Roaming Throne"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":" on the battlefield (naming Human or Snake, depending on the type line), the Ward trigger happens "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","italic":true},"insert":"twice"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":". Because paying the ward cost is part of the resolution, doubling the ability forces them to take "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"10 poison counters instantly"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":" if they want to push their removal spell through. It is a literal instant kill disguised as protection. "},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"Good to know"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":": this combo does not work with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider"}},{"insert":" or with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Innkeeper's Talent"}},{"insert":" for example because eventhough we have the triggered ability, it is the opponent who puts the counters onto him or herself. This would effectively halve the amount of poison counters instead of doubling them. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Doubling Season"}},{"insert":" doesn't work either since this card only lets us put counters on permanents "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"we"},{"insert":" control.\n\nCards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Solemnity"}},{"insert":" do not work on The Serpent Society, since the cost: "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"get 5 poison counters"},{"insert":", still has to be payed to avoid ward. Removal spells that cannot be countered, like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Void Rend"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Abrupt Decay"}},{"insert":" do work against the ward cost however.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"🏹 Pingers of Doom"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"Cards like "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Viridian Longbow"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":" paired with any of our deathtouch creatures turn into repeatable, 1-mana targeted removal spells. Combine this with "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Hooded Blightfang"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","italic":true},"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"or "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Fynn, the Fangbearer"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","italic":true},"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"and every ping advances our win condition while keeping enemy creatures off the field."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"🔄 The Infinite Draw & Drain Engine"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"With Yawgmoth, Thran Physician, "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":", and Zulaport Cutthroat on the field, we unlock an infinite loop. By sacrificing a token to Yawgmoth to put a ‭‬‭‬ counter on another creature, Hapatra creates a new Snake token, while Zulaport drains our opponents and refunds the life cost. We can repeat this to draw our entire deck and drain the table to 0 life instantly."},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"Meanwhile, cards like "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Toski, Bearer of Secrets"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":" and The One Ring ensure our hand stays completely full as we aggressively control the board."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"🏆 How to Win"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"Lockdown & Swing:"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":" keep the board empty with our sacrifice loops and swing unhindered with heavy hitters like "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Unstoppable Slasher"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","italic":true},"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"or "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Sheoldred, the Apocalypse"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"The Poison Overrun:"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":" drop "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Triumph of the Hordes"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":" or let "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Fynn, the Fangbearer"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":" turn a wide board of deathtouch creatures into an immediate lethal poison assault."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"Proliferate:"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":" get a single poison counter on everyone using "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Ichor Rats"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","italic":true},"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"or "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Infectious Inquiry"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":", then sit back and tick them up to 10 using "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Bloated Contaminator"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"💡 Tip for Playing the Deck: don't be afraid to lose your small creatures early. Between Takenuma, Abandoned Mire, Aveline de Grandpré, and our massive draw power, our graveyard is just a second hand. Play aggressively, dictate the pace of the board, and let the poison do the talking!"},{"insert":"\n"}]}