{"ops":[{"insert":"Bilbo, Birthday Celebrant — Abzan Lifegain Combo"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe deck in one sentence"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Bilbo quietly turns a pile of Soul Sisters into an enormous life total, then turns that life total into an entire library's worth of creatures — with enough redundant combos, tutors and protection to make sure the birthday party ends with everyone else dead."},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"And that's exactly where I think this deck wants to live for a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Bracket 4 pod"},{"insert":": powerful, highly redundant, capable of explosive wins, but still unmistakably a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Bilbo lifegain deck"},{"insert":" rather than generic Abzan combo.\n\nOverview Actual"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This deck takes the normally defensive "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"lifegain"},{"insert":" strategy and turns it into an aggressive combo engine.\nThe central objective is simple:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Gain 111+ life, then use Bilbo to put a huge portion of the creature-based win condition directly onto the battlefield."},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nBilbo is particularly powerful here because his ability doesn't care about mana value. Once you can pay the activation cost, your library effectively becomes a toolbox of creatures that can all enter at once.\nThe deck therefore has three interconnected layers:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Soul Sisters and lifegain engines"},{"insert":" rapidly build your life total."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Tutors, card advantage and fast mana"},{"insert":" assemble whatever piece is currently missing."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Bilbo, Sanguine Bond/Exquisite Blood, Heliod/Ballista and Aetherflux Reservoir"},{"insert":" provide multiple independent paths to victory."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The deck doesn't need Bilbo to win, but Bilbo is the most explosive route.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"1. The Early Game"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Your ideal opening hand contains some combination of:\n2–3 lands"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"fast mana"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"a Soul Sister"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"a tutor"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"card advantage"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nA hand such as:\nLand → Soul Warden → Prosperous Innkeeper → ramp is excellent."},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nYou aren't trying to rush into combat. You're establishing an engine that makes "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"every creature entering the battlefield valuable"},{"insert":".\nA single Soul Warden turns your normal creature development into life gain.\nTwo Soul Sisters make each creature worth even more.\nThree or four can make a modest creature-heavy turn produce a surprisingly large amount of life.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Prioritize colored mana"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Bilbo requires all three Abzan colors, so don't blindly chase colorless acceleration. Your opening turns should establish "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"W/B/G access"},{"insert":" whenever possible.\nThe fetchland-heavy manabase is particularly important here because your fetches can find:\nBayou"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Savannah"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Scrubland"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Overgrown Tomb"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Temple Garden"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Godless Shrine"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Indatha Triome"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This makes the deck considerably more reliable than a conventional three-color manabase.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"2. The Soul Sister Engine"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The heart of the deck is the collection of creatures that trigger whenever creatures enter the battlefield.\nThe key cards are:\nSoul Warden"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Soul's Attendant"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Essence Warden"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Prosperous Innkeeper"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Auriok Champion"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Daxos, Blessed by the Sun"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Lunarch Veteran"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Guide of Souls"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThese creatures do much more than simply gain life.\nThey are "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"fuel for Bilbo"},{"insert":".\nEvery creature that enters becomes another lifegain event, which Bilbo then increases by one.\nThis means that a board containing several Soul Sisters can snowball extremely quickly.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Rhox Faithmender"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Rhox Faithmender is the multiplier.\nOnce you are already generating lots of lifegain events, doubling those events makes the climb toward 111 dramatically faster.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Trelasarra"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Trelasarra turns the same engine into a growing threat and provides useful scrying.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Serra Ascendant"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"At 30+ life, Serra Ascendant becomes a huge creature for essentially no investment.\nIt is both an early threat and an excellent Bilbo target.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"3. Getting to 111"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Don't think of 111 as something you necessarily need to reach naturally.\nThe deck has several ways to accelerate the process.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Soul Sisters"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The primary method.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Rhox Faithmender"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Doubles your gains.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Alhammarret's Archive"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Another major multiplier.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Beacon of Immortality"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This is one of the deck's best shortcuts.\nIf you're at 56 life:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"56 → 112"},{"insert":"\nand Bilbo's replacement effect pushes the resulting life total one higher.\nYou have crossed the threshold.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Smothering Tithe"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Tithe isn't a lifegain card, but it provides the enormous mana acceleration necessary to deploy Bilbo and still have resources available for protection.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"4. Bilbo's Big Birthday"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Once you reach "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"111 or more life"},{"insert":", Bilbo becomes the centerpiece of the deck.\nThe important thing to understand is that you don't simply fetch one creature.\nYou fetch "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"the entire creature package appropriate to the board state"},{"insert":".\nA typical activation might search for:\nSoul Warden"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Soul's Attendant"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Essence Warden"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Prosperous Innkeeper"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Auriok Champion"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Dina, Soul Steeper"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Trelasarra, Moon Dancer"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Heliod, Sun-Crowned"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Massacre Wurm"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Archon of Cruelty"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Kokusho, the Evening Star"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Avacyn, Angel of Hope"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Craterhoof Behemoth"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Walking Ballista"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You don't always want all of these.\nThe exact package depends on the board.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"5. The Craterhoof Kill"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The most straightforward Bilbo finish is:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Bilbo → lots of creatures → Craterhoof Behemoth"},{"insert":"\nBecause you're putting your entire creature engine onto the battlefield at once, Craterhoof can turn a previously harmless board into a lethal attack.\nThis is particularly devastating when "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite"},{"insert":" is included in the package.\nElesh Norn makes your creatures larger while simultaneously weakening opposing creatures.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"6. The Heliod + Walking Ballista Combo"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This is the deck's compact creature combo.\nYou need:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Heliod, Sun-Crowned"},{"insert":" + "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Walking Ballista"},{"insert":"\nWith both on the battlefield:\nBallista deals damage."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Give Ballista lifelink through Heliod."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Ballista gains life."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Heliod puts a +1/+1 counter back onto Ballista."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Remove the counter."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Repeat."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The result is:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Infinite damage."},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The particularly nasty part is that "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Bilbo can find both pieces"},{"insert":".\nIf neither is on the battlefield, Bilbo can fetch both.\nIf Heliod is already present, Bilbo only needs to find Ballista.\nIf Ballista is already present, Bilbo only needs to find Heliod.\nAnd "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Ranger-Captain of Eos"},{"insert":" can tutor Walking Ballista independently.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"7. Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Blood"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This is the deck's other primary infinite combo.\nWith:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Sanguine Bond"},{"insert":"+"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Exquisite Blood"},{"insert":"\na life-gain event causes an opponent to lose life through Sanguine Bond.\nThat loss of life causes Exquisite Blood to gain you life.\nThat life gain causes Sanguine Bond to trigger again.\nThe loop repeats until your opponents are dead.\nThe important feature is that "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"both cards are useful independently"},{"insert":".\nSanguine Bond works with your ordinary Soul Sister engine.\nExquisite Blood gives you life whenever opponents lose life.\nSo you're not filling the deck with dead combo pieces.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"8. Vito and Dina"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"These provide additional redundancy.\nVito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Vito converts lifegain into life loss.\nWith a Soul Sister engine, this can kill opponents without requiring Sanguine Bond.\nDina, Soul Steeper"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Dina performs a similar role while also providing a sacrifice outlet.\nThat sacrifice ability can become especially relevant with:\nKokusho"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Ranger-Captain"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"creatures stolen or no longer needed"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Diabolic-style sacrifice effects, if the list is modified"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The important strategic principle is:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Your lifegain engine is also your damage engine."},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"9. Aetherflux Reservoir"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Aetherflux Reservoir provides another route to victory.\nIt rewards you for casting multiple spells and eventually turns your enormous life total into lethal damage.\nIt's especially powerful alongside:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Bolas's Citadel"},{"insert":"\nCitadel allows you to cast spells from the top of your library by paying life.\nReservoir then converts the resulting spell chain back into life and eventually into lethal damage.\nThis means the deck can win without ever activating Bilbo.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"10. Bolas's Citadel"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Citadel is one of the strongest standalone engines in the deck.\nYour enormous life total effectively becomes a second mana resource.\nThe basic principle is:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Life → spells → more life → more spells → Reservoir kill."},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"With enough cheap permanents and favorable topdecks, Citadel can produce an explosive turn.\nThis is also why "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Necropotence"},{"insert":" is so powerful here.\nYou're deliberately building a deck that can tolerate paying large amounts of life.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"11. Necropotence"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Necropotence looks strange in a lifegain deck until you understand the strategy.\nIf you've accumulated 70–100 life, losing 20 or 30 life to draw a huge number of cards is an excellent trade.\nYour life total is not something you need to protect at all costs.\nIt is a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"resource"},{"insert":".\nAnd you have multiple ways to rebuild it.\nThe important exception is when you're approaching 111 and preparing a Bilbo activation. At that point, be conscious of your life total and don't unnecessarily spend yourself below the threshold.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"12. Card Advantage"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The primary card engines are:\nNecropotence"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The One Ring"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Bolas's Citadel"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Well of Lost Dreams"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Welcoming Vampire"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Smothering Tithe"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Well of Lost Dreams"},{"insert":" is particularly thematic.\nYour deck naturally generates repeated life-gain events, and Well turns that excess life into cards.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The One Ring"},{"insert":" gives you both cards and temporary protection, which makes it excellent when you're approaching a critical combo turn.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"13. Tutors"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The deck runs a broad tutor suite because the important pieces live in different card types.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Demonic Tutor / Vampiric Tutor"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Find virtually anything.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Enlightened Tutor"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Excellent for:\nSanguine Bond"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Exquisite Blood"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Aetherflux Reservoir"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Necropotence"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Bolas's Citadel"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Sol Ring and other artifacts where applicable"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Worldly Tutor / Eladamri's Call"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"These are effectively "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Bilbo tutors"},{"insert":".\nThey find:\nBilbo"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Soul Sisters"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Vito"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Dina"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Heliod"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Walking Ballista"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Craterhoof"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Avacyn"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"etc."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Ranger-Captain of Eos"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Ranger-Captain is especially powerful because it combines "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"tutoring and protection"},{"insert":".\nFind Walking Ballista, then sacrifice Ranger-Captain when you're ready to go off.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"14. Protection"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The deck doesn't need to protect Bilbo indefinitely.\nRemember:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Bilbo exiles himself as part of his ability."},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"So the critical thing is protecting the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"turn in which you win"},{"insert":".\nThe main protection suite is:\nTeferi's Protection"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Flawless Maneuver"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Grand Abolisher"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Heroic Intervention"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Silence"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Veil of Summer"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Ranger-Captain of Eos"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Grand Abolisher"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Ideally deploy this before attempting your big turn.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Silence"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"One of the best cards in the deck when you're ready to win.\nA common sequence is:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Silence → Bilbo activation → enormous creature package"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Ranger-Captain"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Provides a similar effect while also being a tutor.\nThis means the deck has multiple ways to create a “you don't get to interact now” window.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"15. Removal"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The removal suite is deliberately efficient:\nSwords to Plowshares"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Path to Exile"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Anguished Unmaking"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Assassin's Trophy"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Abrupt Decay"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Beast Within"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Generous Gift"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Toxic Deluge"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The goal isn't to control the table indefinitely.\nIt's to "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"buy enough time to assemble your engine"},{"insert":" and stop opposing commanders/combo pieces that would otherwise prevent you from executing your plan.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Toxic Deluge"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The primary reset button.\nIt's especially valuable when an opponent develops a creature-based board that threatens to kill you before Bilbo comes online.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"16. The Big Creature Toolbox"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Each creature has a specific job.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Craterhoof Behemoth"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Primary combat finisher.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Avacyn, Angel of Hope"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Protects your entire board from destruction.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Massive pump + opposing creature suppression.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Doubles your ETB triggers and shuts down opposing ETB abilities.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Massacre Wurm"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Punishes creature-heavy boards and can produce huge chunks of life loss.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Archon of Cruelty"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Immediate card/resource advantage when Bilbo puts it onto the battlefield.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Kokusho, the Evening Star"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Provides a powerful death-trigger payoff and makes board wipes less attractive for opponents.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Walking Ballista"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Compact infinite-damage combo piece.\nThis is why I prefer these creatures to the original Eldrazi package.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"They aren't merely large. They immediately contribute to the game plan."},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"17. Playing the Deck"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Mulligan priorities"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Look for:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"A. Mana + engine"},{"insert":"\nor\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"B. Mana + tutor"},{"insert":"\nor\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"C. Mana + fast combo"},{"insert":"\nA hand with:\n2 lands + Soul Warden + ramp + tutor + card advantage"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"is generally excellent.\nA hand with:\n5 lands + Craterhoof + Avacyn + Massacre Wurm + Archon"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"is terrible.\nThose creatures aren't the plan until you're ready to exploit them.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"18. Don't reveal the Bilbo plan too early"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"One of the deck's strengths is that your early game looks relatively innocuous.\nA Soul Warden doesn't scream:\n“I'm about to combo-kill you.”"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Take advantage of that.\nDevelop your mana and lifegain engine while opponents expend resources fighting each other.\nThen suddenly the game changes when your life total reaches the neighborhood of 80–100.\nThat's when Bilbo becomes an obvious threat.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"19. Choosing the Bilbo Package"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You should think of the activation as a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"toolbox"},{"insert":", not a fixed script.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"If you need to kill immediately:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Fetch:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Craterhoof + Avacyn + Elesh Norn + your cheap creatures"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"If the table has troublesome creatures:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Fetch:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Elesh Norn + Massacre Wurm"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"If you want to combo:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Fetch:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Heliod + Walking Ballista"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"If you're expecting a board wipe:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Fetch:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Avacyn + Kokusho"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"If you need value:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Fetch:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Archon + Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines + your ETB creatures"},{"insert":"\nThe ability to customize the package is one of the deck's greatest strengths.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"20. Common Mistakes"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Don't cast giant creatures early"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"They're mostly dead cards before you're ready to exploit them.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Don't waste tutors"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"If you're already sitting at 100+ life, don't necessarily tutor for another lifegain card.\nAsk:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"“What actually prevents me from winning?”"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Maybe that's Bilbo.\nMaybe it's protection.\nMaybe it's Exquisite Blood.\nMaybe it's Walking Ballista.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Don't spend life recklessly with Necropotence"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Keep track of the 111 threshold.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Don't activate Bilbo without considering interaction"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Bilbo's ability exiles him as a cost, so once you've committed to the activation, you want to be confident that the payoff is worth it.\nThis is where "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Silence, Grand Abolisher and Ranger-Captain"},{"insert":" become extremely important.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"21. The Ideal Endgame"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The dream sequence looks something like:\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Early game"},{"insert":"\nSoul Warden + ramp.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Midgame"},{"insert":"\nProsperous Innkeeper + Trelasarra + card advantage.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Later"},{"insert":"\nYou're at 70–90 life.\nDeploy:\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Grand Abolisher"},{"insert":"\nTutor for the missing piece.\nGet above 111.\nThen:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Silence"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Activate Bilbo"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Search library"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Walking Ballista"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Heliod"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Elesh Norn"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Avacyn"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Craterhoof"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Massacre Wurm"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Vito"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Dina"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Soul Sisters"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"At that point you have multiple lethal lines available simultaneously.\nAnd if somebody somehow stops the Bilbo line?\nYou still have:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Blood"},{"insert":"\nor\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Heliod + Ballista"},{"insert":"\nor\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Citadel + Reservoir"},{"insert":"\nor\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Craterhoof combat"},{"insert":"\nto fall back on.\n"}]}