{"ops":[{"insert":"Arcades the Strategist - Br. 3 - A beginner's guide"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"CONTROL - TOUGHNESS MATTERS"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"MAIN INFO"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"PREMISE:"},{"insert":" Wins late through counterspells, removal, and card advantage. Boosts creatures' toughness and enables them to deal combat damage equal to their toughness instead of power, often using defenders to attack.\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"STRENGTHS:"},{"insert":" Infinite/fast mana, heavy interaction, commander synergy.\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"WEAKNESSES:"},{"insert":" Lack of tutors. Very few two-card combos.\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"GAME CHANGERS:"},{"insert":" 3 (Seedborne Muse, Rhystic Study, Smothering Tithe)\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"AV. MANA VALUE:"},{"insert":" 2.8\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"PRED. WIN TURN:"},{"insert":" 7 (med-slow)\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"BRACKET REASON:"},{"insert":" With 3 fast mana sources, 1 tutor, and 1 two-card combo, the deck can threaten wins in the mid-game.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"OPENING HAND:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"KEEP:"},{"insert":" 3 lands + 1 ramp (or 4 lands), 1 counterspell, 2 engine cards.\nEngine cards worth holding: Wall of Blossoms, Wall of Omens, Weathered Sentinels, Teyo Geometric Tactician, Crashing Drawbridge."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"AVOID:"},{"insert":" Cards with mana cost 4 or higher (slow ramp), 5 lands or 2 ramps (cheap commander).\nExceptions: The Pride of Hull Clade (usually enters costing 2 or 3 mana)."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"GAME FLOW:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"EARLY GAME:"},{"insert":" Play lands, cast ramps, cast commander as soon as possible. The deck revolves around the commander (draw + combat enabler).\nAvoid actions that will make you someone's or the table's enemy, save your counterspells, and avoid removal. The early game is dedicated to securing your mana, so you can play more aggressively in the mid to late-game."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"MID-GAME:"},{"insert":" Keep ramping but not as much as in the early game. Cast defenders to draw due to Arcades' ability, keeping your hand full. Set up a board for the end game.\nTime to show what the deck can do. Start interacting with opponents using counterspells, removal, and protection. Cast 1 game changer, if possible."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"LATE-GAME:"},{"insert":" Cast creatures with high toughness, and swing for game. Focus on one player at a time, unless your board is big enough to attack all at once (that's somewhat unlikely).\nCast finishers such as The Walls of Ba Sing Se, The Pride of Hull Clade, and Tree of Redemption. Have Tetsuo Umezawa on the battlefield, so your creatures don't get blocked. Combo with Akroma's Will for a game-ending threat."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Save your counterspells to ensure those cards resolve and enter the battlefield."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Save some protection (Fog, Heroic Intervention, Clever Concealment), so you don't get targeted by the remaining players."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"COMBOS:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"TWO-CARD INFINITES:"},{"insert":" Axebane Guardian + High Alert (Requires at least 5 creatures with defender)\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"IMPORTANT INFO:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Very easy deck to play. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Most cards added are self-explanatory. For those who aren't, look below:"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Jeskai Barricade: Protection. Creature with flash that can return the commander to the hand, bypassing commander taxes."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Eerie Interlude: Protection. Saves your creatures from board wipes."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Plea for Power: Political card best for late-game. Gives you either cards needed to replenish your hand, or an extra turn needed to eliminate another opponent."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Authority of the Consuls: Card that slows down the game, keeping aggressive decks on your pace."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Seedborne Muse: Utility card best used to untap your lands and mana dorks/rocks, so you have the mana needed to interact on your opponents' turns."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"General advice: Keep your hand full, keep your removal cards to use them at the correct time, protect your commander and your creatures, don't divide your damage."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Be wary of the fact that you have almost no tutors. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"However, there are almost no cards worth tutoring, since there is plenty of redundancy, and your wincon is not combo-related (it's actually just big raw damage)."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"On the other hand, you have plenty of card draw, protection, disruption, removal, and synergetic cards."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Good luck!"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"}]}