{"ops":[{"insert":"Rat Colony and rats in general are a simple strategy to get behind as far as tribal decks go; its a classic and heavily recommended for newer players who want to dip their toes in. \n\n1 Rat = Bad \n3+ Rat = good time brain go burr holy crap who gave me a gun. \n\nThe goal is to get wide and big then swing as hard as you can as fast as you can. Though this deck is intentionally built in a way to sandbag itself- lacking rituals and game changers so that it can play in a variety of pods for power levels 2-4. Marrow-Gnawer is the main commander. Rat King, Verminister is the secondary commander. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Marrow-Gnawer"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"He's the OG rat commander and if its printed they can't fix it. Initially this card reads to your enemies as \"Rat Krenko\" but the token strategy is, imo, sub-optimal. Your opponents absolutely, at all costs, will treat your rodent ninja like its patient-zero to the bubonic plauge. It's KOS. However, his status as a fear lord? That's the money. It's not to be understated that if you are "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"allowed"},{"insert":" by some miracle of god to tap your commander and double your rats its fairly easy to run away with the game. But it rarely, rarely happens. Yes, even with boots. \n\nBuild the board with solid bodies and wait for the opportunity when your opponents are tapped out. Sand-bagging Gnawer to Turns 7+ can avoid crucial early boardwipes, allow space to play key artifacts, and build board from high creature density alone. Fear can be not so great against fellow black decks, but in general is way too hard for others to anticipate or fully block. Using Gnawer as a sorcery speed spooky varmit gives immediate benefit. \n\nRat King, Verminister "},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This commander transforms Rat Colonies into pipe bombs rather than heat seeking missiles. Re-useable pipe bombs. He is very resilient, especially being 2 mana- he can eat a few removal spells and still be feasible to cast after a hit and keep on chuggin along. As long as you have the rats, with Verminister, your power compounds upon itself slowly but surely. \nUnless your friends run bojuka bog. If you get bogged its okay to cry. \n \n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Thrumming Stone"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"It should be named Christmas because that's what it feels like. This card unlocks something in you, the thrill of gambling, the thrill of hitting the jackpot. Playing every single Rat Colony in your deck, having all that power, just to be board wiped. God, its beautiful. Getting to swing is cool too of course. \n\n\nNote: Thornbite Staff + Marrow-Gnawer are flagged as being a two card infinite. It really isn't. Marrow-Gnawer + Thornbite Staff needs at least 1 rat to go infinite; the deck has no ping outlet to capitalize on this- so its a do nothing. The combo needs 2+ rats to net positive- which isn't "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"that hard to do"},{"insert":", but requires at least 2-3 turns to adequately set up a winning board position. \nAt its best, \nTurn 1- Swamp + Sol Ring \nTurn 2- Swamp + 2 Rat Colony \nTurn 3- Swamp + Marrow - Gnawer \nTurn 4- Swamp + Thornbite Staff + Equip *Combo and create infinite tokens. \nTurn 5- Swing for win. \nWhich is good, but very "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"inconsistent. "},{"insert":"I have never done this in a game before, but to make it even more "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"inconsistent "},{"insert":"for lower pods (bracket 2 decks) run Verminister as the commander instead. The deck also lacks tutors, to keep it in spirit with a variety of brackets. Removing Sol Ring from the deck also solves this issue. \n"}]}