{"ops":[{"insert":"This is my second ever constructed deck. I wanted to test how salty I could make a Bracket 2 deck, but in a way that is almost entirely defensive. This is that result. It's very likely unoptimized.\n\nFirst of all: a warning."},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Every player you use this deck against will target you. You will be the biggest threat on the field for over 90% of your games with this deck. Pull this out only every once in a while when you feel like being a goblin.\n\nAdditionally, all of what you see here very much hinges on Lands and Artifacts that boost your mana gain. If you can't draw lands within at least the first three turns, go ahead and scoop because you will be too far behind, unless you can find a way to make it all work in your favor.\n\nThe (Nonviolent) Win-Con"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"One of the most direct win-cons in this deck is"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Azor's Elocutors"}},{"insert":" . At the beginning of your upkeep, drop a filibuster counter on Elocutors, then if you have five or more, you win the game. There are cards in this deck that proliferate, like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Metastatic Evangel"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Unbounded Potential"}},{"insert":" , but the most effective proliferator in this deck is probably going to be "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Expansion Algorithm"}},{"insert":" , which makes Azor's Elocutors a late-play win-con if you want a sudden and unexpected win; however, you're going to need the lands. Alternatively, if you can get them on the field as early as turn 3, using "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Pearl Medallion"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sapphire Medallion"}},{"insert":", you've got plenty of counterspells and creatures that heavily limit your opponents' interrupts. The Medallions will help for a late-play win, but again, you need those lands.\n\nFor a speed-up, get "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Urza Assembles the Titans"}},{"insert":" onto the field to play "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Teferi, Time Raveler"}},{"insert":" for free from hand or to potentially get him into your hand. Before the third Saga step, land "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ichormoon Gauntlet"}},{"insert":" on the field to force your opponents' hands, then deny their interrupts with any of the counterspells. Get your two proliferation activations from Teferi, then defend until your next upkeep if you have enough counters on the Elocutors.\n\nThe Alternate (Nonviolent) Win-Con"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Approach of the Second Sun"}},{"insert":" is another way to win this game, and pairs well with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Jin-Gitaxias // The Great Synthesis"}},{"insert":" , which is itself an excellent boardwipe and reintegration of your own cards onto the field. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Windfall"}},{"insert":" also exists in this deck, but the only reason I'm listing it here is because, if you plan on playing Bracket 2, it is "},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"color":"#f06666","bold":true},"insert":"not viable"},{"insert":" for this win-con—Windfall exists to push other cards into your hand for other win-cons. You can use it to potentially bring Approach into your hand for the first activation, "},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"color":"#ff9900","bold":true},"insert":"but that's it"},{"insert":". Focus on getting Jin-Gitaxias to the field "},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"before"},{"insert":" Approach's first activation, then guard him with your life until the last turn before he transforms, then play Approach for its first activation. On your next turn, draw, transform Jin into Great Synthesis, draw seven cards, then play Approach again to end the game.\n\nThe (Violent) Win-Con"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Emrakul, the Promised End"}},{"insert":" . If you don't have the mana to bring him to the field, that's why you've got "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Elspeth Conquers Death"}},{"insert":". There are cards in the deck that will force discards, which is where you want Emrakul to be in order for Elspeth to capitalize. Not only do you bring him to the field, he also gets a +1/+1 counter, boosting his damage potential. Put "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Swiftfoot Boots"}},{"insert":" on him for haste and swing away. If someone attempts to counter his arrival, again, you have plenty of counterspells to play on the stack, most notably "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dovin's Veto"}},{"insert":" , This can all be said for all of the stronger creatures in the deck, as well. If you can keep "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hushbringer"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grand Abolisher"}},{"insert":" , and/or other cards on the field that prevents spells from being played, that's added protection.\n\nMake everything your opponents do INCREDIBLY expensive."},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Propaganda"}},{"insert":" . "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sphere of Safety"}},{"insert":" . "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Elspeth Conquers Death"}},{"insert":" . "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aura of Silence"}},{"insert":" . "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ghostly Prison"}},{"insert":" ."},{"insert":{"card-link":"God-Pharaoh's Statue"}},{"insert":" . "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Norn's Annex"}},{"insert":" . And a lot more.\n\nYour health? Untouched."},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Absolute Virtue"}},{"insert":" is your Commander for a reason. Pair your board with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Absolute Grace"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Absolute Law"}},{"insert":" for even more coverage against your opponents. It's not full protection from everything, but it doesn't need to be.\n\nUh-oh—your win-cons have been decimated and sent to the graveyard."},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Bath Song"}},{"insert":" will take all your cards and shuffle them from the graveyard back into your deck, and you get a little mana boost. Granted, it's not a perfect solution, as you'll have to get those cards again, but it's better than nothing. This Saga is also a good way to get Emrakul into your graveyard—you just have to get Elspeth's Saga to trigger fully before the end of Bath to make sure you capitalize properly.\n\nBoardwiped? No."},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Guardian of Faith"}},{"insert":" can be flashed onto the field in response to a boardwipe. Phase out all your creatures and let everyone else's fields get decimated, then bring your army back at the end step, counters and all. Alternatively, if you don't care about counters/don't have Azor's Elocutors on the field in the first place, you also have "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Eerie Interlude"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Faith's Reward"}},{"insert":" as backups.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#ff9900"},"insert":"Alright—now, let's have some fun."},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I've included some cards in here that I thought were really funny, but also seem to work well with this deck. First up, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Space Beleren"}},{"insert":" can divide the battlefield into three sections and really shake up combat. Your opponents section off their permanents first, giving you a little strategy to section off your own permanents so that they all don't interact. Uptick Space Beleren to prevent certain creatures from messing with your plans, then completely annihilate an opponent's section for very little loyalty. Proliferate this planeswalker high enough, and you can really cause chaos. Use "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Urza Assembles the Titans"}},{"insert":" for quick activation and eventual double activation, and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ichormoon Gauntlet"}},{"insert":" if you want it to proliferate"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Azor's Elocutors"}},{"insert":" . As long as no one can reach the Elocutors, it's another way into the win-con.\n\nNext, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fatespinner"}},{"insert":" . With this card on the field, you can force all of your opponents to just skip a phase of their turn, making them play more selectively and giving yourself an advantage.\n\nDo your opponents have too many monsters? Are you scared of getting completely wiped? Meet the "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Silent Arbiter"}},{"insert":" . It slows down combat by an absurd amount, limiting attackers and blockers to just one each. Great for the nonviolent win-con, and also great for Emrakul if you can get him on the field.\n\nThat's all. Have fun. Apologize to your friends afterwards."},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"}]}