{"ops":[{"insert":"Overview"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Shorikai: Mech Fleet"},{"insert":" is an Azorius Vehicle midrange deck built to make the battlefield feel like a hangar slowly coming online.\n\nShorikai is primarily the deck's "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"command center"},{"insert":", not its main attacker. For only {1}, it draws two cards, discards one, and creates a Pilot token. Those Pilots provide efficient crew while Shorikai keeps the hand stocked and helps filter away cards that are not currently useful.\n\nThe deck's primary win condition is "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"combat damage"},{"insert":". It does not rely on infinite combos or assembling one specific two-card interaction. Instead, it develops a collection of Vehicles, artifact support pieces, and replaceable crew before choosing the right moment to deploy the fleet.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Power Level"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The deck is designed for "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"high Bracket 3, 3-player pod."},{"insert":"\n\nIt uses strong cards, efficient interaction, a well-supported mana base, and multiple synergistic engines, but deliberately avoids the usual Shorikai infinite-combo shell, tutor chains, and fast-mana escalation.\n\nThe intended play pattern is:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Build the hangar → generate crew → protect the fleet → choose the right machines → launch everything when the table gives you an opening."},{"insert":"\n\nMulligans"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"A good opening hand usually contains:\n2–3 lands;"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"at least one early mana rock or cost reducer;"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"something useful to deploy before or shortly after Shorikai;"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"preferably at least one blue source and one white source."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nAvoid keeping hands filled with expensive capital ships and no acceleration.\nBecause Shorikai provides repeatable card selection once it enters, the opening hand does not need to contain every part of the game plan. The main priority is simply reaching the point where Shorikai can start operating.\n\nEarly Game"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The first few turns are about establishing mana and putting useful machinery into the hangar.\nCheap mana rocks such as "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Sol Ring"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Arcane Signet"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Azorius Signet"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Fellwar Stone"},{"insert":", and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Talisman of Progress"},{"insert":" help reach Shorikai and the larger Vehicles ahead of curve.\n\nCards such as "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Etherium Sculptor"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Foundry Inspector"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Shuri, Wakandan Inventor"},{"insert":", and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Vedalken Engineer"},{"insert":" further reduce the cost of developing the artifact board.\n\nCheap Vehicles do not need to attack immediately. Having one or two sitting dormant is perfectly fine while the deck establishes enough crew to use them efficiently.\n\nShorikai and the Crew"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Shorikai's Pilot tokens are 1/1 creatures, but each crews Vehicles as though its power were 2 greater. This means every Pilot effectively contributes "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"3 power toward crew costs"},{"insert":".\n\nPilots are therefore excellent crew, but the deck is deliberately "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"not dependent on them"},{"insert":". Almost every support creature can jump into a Vehicle when necessary, while cards such as "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Sai, Master Thopterist"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The Prydwen, Steel Flagship"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Prodigy's Prototype"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Great Gilded Boat"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Simulacrum Synthesizer"},{"insert":", and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Thopter Spy Network"},{"insert":" provide additional bodies.\n\nSeveral cards make crewing even easier:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Kotori, Pilot Prodigy"},{"insert":" gives every Vehicle crew 2."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mobilizer Mech"},{"insert":" can animate an additional Vehicle when it is crewed."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Peacewalker Colossus"},{"insert":" can turn Vehicles into creatures without paying their normal crew costs."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Captain America, Living Legend"},{"insert":" can untap creatures after they are first tapped during your turn, allowing a crew member to potentially operate more than one machine or remain available for defense."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nShorikai itself should not be crewed automatically. Its 8/8 body is a useful weapon, but the card-draw ability is usually more important. Only turn Shorikai into a creature when attacking, blocking, or applying commander damage is actually worthwhile.\n\nMidgame"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The deck wants to transition from a collection of harmless-looking artifacts into a board where several Vehicles can become creatures on demand.\n\nCards such as "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Skysovereign, Consul Flagship"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Surgehacker Mech"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Vibranium Mining Mech"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Salvation Engine"},{"insert":", and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The Prydwen"},{"insert":" provide value in addition to simply being large attackers.\n\nThe goal is not to crew every Vehicle every turn. Instead, decide which machine gives the best return for the creatures being tapped.\nSometimes that means attacking with one Vehicle while leaving several others dormant. Sometimes it means keeping the whole fleet parked, activating Shorikai, and holding interaction.\n\nDormant Vehicles are much harder to remove with ordinary creature removal, so patience is often rewarded.\n\nClosing the Game"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Eventually the deck can switch from selective attacks to a full fleet deployment.\n\nMajor finishers include:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Parhelion II"},{"insert":" - produces a huge burst of flying combat power.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Cyberdrive Awakener"},{"insert":" - turns the artifact board into an airborne army.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The Thanos-Copter"},{"insert":" - can animate the fleet and reward Vehicle combat damage with additional cards.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Armed and Armored"},{"insert":" - turns Vehicles into creatures for a surprise combat step.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Akroma's Will"},{"insert":" - provides the keywords necessary to turn a developed board into a lethal attack.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mechtitan Core"},{"insert":" - offers an alternative giant-mech threat when the board allows it.\n\nThe deck wins through accumulated advantage and combat pressure rather than searching for a single mandatory finisher.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Surviving Board Wipes"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"One of the deck's biggest advantages is its unusual resilience against creature sweepers.\n\nIf a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Supreme Verdict"},{"insert":" or similar effect resolves while the Vehicles are uncrewed, the crew may disappear but the fleet survives. Shorikai itself is also normally a noncreature artifact, so it survives most creature wipes and can immediately begin manufacturing new Pilots.\n\nMass artifact removal is considerably more dangerous.\nThe deck therefore uses cards such as "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Teferi's Protection"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Clever Concealment"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Faith's Reward"},{"insert":", and several counterspells to protect against effects that would destroy the entire hangar.\nRecursion from "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Emry, Lurker of the Loch"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Hanna, Ship's Navigator"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Academy Ruins"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Buried Ruin"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Dance of the Manse"},{"insert":", and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Salvation Engine"},{"insert":" provides additional rebuilding options.\n\nInteraction"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This is not intended to be an Azorius hard-control deck.\n\nCounterspells and removal are primarily there to:\nstop threats that would otherwise win the game;"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"prevent mass artifact destruction;"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"protect an important fleet deployment;"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"remove blockers or engines that prevent the deck from attacking."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The interaction package should help the Vehicle plan succeed rather than replace it.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n\n\n"}]}