{"ops":[{"insert":"Siona Multi-Combo Toolbox Primer"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This Siona, Captain of the Pyleas deck is a Selesnya multi-combo toolbox built around "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"redundancy rather than one fragile win condition"},{"insert":". The deck contains multiple independent packages capable of producing arbitrarily large creature armies, infinite mana, massive life totals, overwhelming board states, or oppressive locks.\nThe game plan is simple in principle but highly flexible in execution: "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"develop mana, draw/tutor, identify the shortest available combo, protect the critical turn, and execute. If opponents stop that line, pivot immediately into another."},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You'll Like This Deck If..."},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"You love combo decks but hate having a single point of failure."},{"insert":" Stopping one combo rarely stops this deck. There are multiple independent engines, and the deck is designed to immediately pivot when one gets disrupted."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"You enjoy toolbox gameplay and decision-making."},{"insert":" Tutors aren't simply extra copies of one combo piece. They create a decision tree where the correct target depends on your hand, battlefield, graveyard, available protection, and what opponents are representing."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"You enjoy making opponents answer increasingly ridiculous problems."},{"insert":" Infinite Soldiers, infinite Beasts, infinite mana, thousands of Elves, enormous life totals, and land locks are all available. The deck repeatedly asks the table, \"Do you have another answer?\""},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You Won't Like This Deck If..."},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"You want a straightforward, linear game plan."},{"insert":" There isn't one predetermined sequence to memorize. Piloting the deck well requires recognizing which combo you're currently closest to completing and changing plans as the game develops."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"You dislike infinite combos, tutors, or oppressive interactions."},{"insert":" This deck unapologetically uses all three. It can produce arbitrarily large armies, generate infinite mana, mill libraries, tutor aggressively, and potentially destroy opposing mana bases."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"You prefer fair creature combat and incremental value."},{"insert":" Combat is certainly capable of ending games, but it's usually the final conversion of something profoundly unfair rather than the primary strategy."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Primary Combo Lines"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Siona + Shielded by Faith"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Siona provides half of this combo directly from the command zone.\nWith Siona on the battlefield, attach Shielded by Faith to a creature you control. Siona triggers and creates a 1/1 white Human Soldier token. That Soldier entering triggers Shielded by Faith, allowing Shielded to become attached to the new Soldier. Because an Aura you control became attached to another creature you control, Siona triggers again.\nCreate another Soldier, attach Shielded to the newest Soldier, and repeat.\nThis produces "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"arbitrarily many Soldiers"},{"insert":".\nConvert them through "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Altar of Dementia"},{"insert":" to mill opponents, or use "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Concordant Crossroads"},{"insert":" to attack immediately. Cathars' Crusade and Craterhoof Behemoth provide additional ways of turning the army into overwhelming combat damage.\nImportantly, Shielded by Faith does "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"not"},{"insert":" have to begin attached to Siona. It simply needs to become attached to creatures you control to trigger Siona.\nDevoted Druid + Vizier of Remedies"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Tap Devoted Druid for green mana, then activate its untap ability by attempting to place a -1/-1 counter on it.\nVizier of Remedies reduces the number of counters placed from one to zero.\nDruid untaps without accumulating a counter.\nRepeat for "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"infinite green mana"},{"insert":".\nDevoted Druid + Swift Reconfiguration"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Swift Reconfiguration turns Devoted Druid into a noncreature Vehicle while allowing it to retain its abilities.\nTap Druid for green, place a -1/-1 counter on it to untap, and repeat. Because Druid isn't currently a creature, accumulating -1/-1 counters doesn't kill it through zero toughness.\nThis creates another route to "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"infinite green mana"},{"insert":".\nOnce infinite mana is available, "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Walking Ballista"},{"insert":" provides the cleanest kill. Alternatively, cast "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Finale of Devastation"},{"insert":" with an enormous X to tutor a creature while giving your entire creature board enormous power and haste.\nEarthcraft + Squirrel Nest"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Enchant a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"basic land"},{"insert":" with Squirrel Nest.\nTap the land to create a Squirrel. Tap that Squirrel through Earthcraft to untap the enchanted basic. Tap the land again, create another Squirrel, and repeat.\nThis creates "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"arbitrarily many tapped Squirrels"},{"insert":".\nBecause the Squirrels are tapped during the loop, "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Altar of Dementia"},{"insert":" is the cleanest immediate conversion: sacrifice the army and mill opponents out.\nIvy Lane Denizen + Herd Baloth"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Whenever another green creature enters, Ivy Lane Denizen can place a +1/+1 counter on Herd Baloth.\nBaloth receiving the counter creates a green 4/4 Beast.\nThat green Beast enters and triggers Ivy Lane again. Put another counter on Baloth, create another Beast, and repeat.\nThis produces "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"arbitrarily many 4/4 Beasts"},{"insert":".\nAltar of Dementia converts them directly into a mill victory, while Concordant Crossroads gives the entire army haste for immediate lethal combat.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The Cactuar Package"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Jumbo Cactuar represents a separate mini-engine within the deck.\nOnce Cactuar attacks and receives "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"+9999/+0"},{"insert":", several otherwise unusual cards become devastating.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Predator's Rapport"},{"insert":" converts its enormous temporary stats into roughly 10,000 life while leaving Cactuar alive.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Wall of Reverence"},{"insert":" can use Cactuar's power at the beginning of the end step to generate roughly 10,000 life and potentially repeat the process on future turns.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Chastise"},{"insert":" can target your own attacking Cactuar after its trigger resolves, sacrificing the creature in exchange for roughly 10,000 life.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Windswift Slice"},{"insert":" takes the package in another direction. After Cactuar becomes enormous, have it deal its power to an opposing creature. The excess damage becomes an enormous army of Elf Warrior tokens.\nThose Elves then connect Cactuar directly to the rest of the deck. They can feed "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Altar of Dementia"},{"insert":", produce tremendous mana through "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Gaea's Cradle or Earthcraft"},{"insert":", receive counters from "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Cathars' Crusade"},{"insert":", or simply attack with Concordant Crossroads.\nCactuar therefore isn't merely a life-gain gimmick. Its temporary 10,000 power can be converted into permanent resources.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The Land Lock"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite + Nature's Revolt"},{"insert":" creates one of the deck's nastiest non-infinite interactions.\nNature's Revolt makes all lands 2/2 creatures.\nElesh Norn gives opposing creatures -2/-2.\nOpponents' lands consequently become 0/0 creatures and die as a state-based action. Future lands they play suffer the same fate while Elesh and Nature's Revolt remain active.\nYour lands instead receive Elesh's +2/+2 bonus and survive.\nWhen possible, establish "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Elesh Norn first and Nature's Revolt second"},{"insert":".\nThis doesn't technically win the game by itself, but it can prevent opponents from meaningfully playing while you assemble the actual kill.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Maskwood Nexus + Realmbreaker"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Maskwood Nexus gives creature cards you own every creature type—including "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"God"},{"insert":".\nRealmbreaker, the Invasion Tree can therefore use its final ability to search your library for effectively "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"any number of creature cards"},{"insert":" and put them directly onto the battlefield.\nDon't simply grab creatures because you can.\nUse Realmbreaker to deploy whatever package ends the game. Ivy Lane Denizen and Herd Baloth can establish their creature engine immediately, while Craterhoof Behemoth can convert a sufficiently large battlefield directly into lethal combat.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Tutors and Protection"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The deck's tutors are what connect all of these packages.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Enlightened Tutor, Idyllic Tutor, Sterling Grove, Moon-Blessed Cleric, and Open the Armory"},{"insert":" can access important enchantment pieces.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Worldly Tutor, Eladamri's Call, Green Sun's Zenith, Chord of Calling, Recruiter of the Guard, and Congregation at Dawn"},{"insert":" provide access to creature-based engines.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Academy Rector"},{"insert":" is particularly powerful because the correct enchantment depends entirely on the current board. Shielded by Faith can complete Siona, Earthcraft can complete Squirrel Nest, Nature's Revolt can complete Elesh Norn, and Maskwood Nexus can enable Realmbreaker.\nDon't expose a combo simply because you can assemble it.\nUse "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Grand Abolisher, Silence, Ranger-Captain of Eos, Veil of Summer, Heroic Intervention, Clever Concealment, Flawless Maneuver, and Teferi's Protection"},{"insert":" to create or defend the critical window.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Piloting the Deck"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Mulligan toward "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"two lands, acceleration, card advantage, or a tutor"},{"insert":". Mana dorks and fast mana allow the deck to establish itself quickly, while Sylvan Library, Esper Sentinel, Sythis, and the enchantress package keep cards flowing.\nDon't automatically cast Siona. She is a combo piece safely stored in the command zone and can remain there until you're prepared to use her.\nMost importantly, "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"don't overcommit"},{"insert":".\nIf you can assemble Siona + Shielded by Faith, protect it and attempt the win. Don't unnecessarily deploy Devoted Druid, Earthcraft, Ivy Lane Denizen, and other combo pieces simultaneously.\nMake opponents answer one problem.\nIf they stop it, pivot.\nDevoted Druid can produce infinite mana through two different partners. Siona provides a combo piece from the command zone. Earthcraft/Squirrel Nest and Ivy Lane/Herd Baloth provide independent creature engines. Jumbo Cactuar can generate enormous life totals or token armies. Elesh Norn can attack opponents' mana, while Maskwood Nexus and Realmbreaker can deploy an entire creature package at once.\nThe deck isn't designed around protecting one precious combo.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"It's designed to keep presenting lethal problems until the table finally runs out of answers."},{"insert":"\n"}]}