{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck takes the mechanics that have historically defined Elementals such as Evoke, self-sacrifice, temporary creatures, powerful ETB/LTB effects, and creatures cheated into play only to disappear later, and turns every temporary life into a stronger permanent one. When a nontoken Elemental dies, Hofri brings it back as a Spirit-Elemental token with +1/+1, haste, and trample, often letting its ETB/LTB ability happen again.\n\nNow that we have powerful tokens, we can copy them like crazy. Token doublers and Populate turn Hofri's Spirit-Elementals into multiple copies that keep triggering ETBs and other payoffs. The deck can deliberately Evoke or sacrifice an Elemental, get its value, bring it back stronger, copy it, and repeat the process until one disposable creature has become an entire army.\n\nThe primary plan is to build a large, multiplied Elemental/Spirit army and turn it lethal.\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/ecl/130/champion-of-the-path"},"insert":"Champion of the Path"},{"insert":" turns every additional Elemental entering into damage to every opponent based on that Elemental's power. Using Evoke, sac abilities, or combat, those creatures can be killed and reanimated quickly to repeat their entry damage."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/ecl/132/collective-inferno"},"insert":"Collective Inferno"},{"insert":" doubles Elemental damage, making both combat and Champion of the Path dramatically more dangerous."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/lrw/31/mirror-entity"},"insert":"Mirror Entity"},{"insert":" is itself an Elemental because of changeling and can turn the entire board into every creature type and make it huge."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/ecc/5/belonging"},"insert":"Belonging"},{"insert":" is both a showcase Elemental and a finisher. Its ETB makes three changelings; because changelings are Spirits, "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/soc/314/hofri-ghostforge"},"insert":"Hofri Ghostforge"},{"insert":" turns those into 2/2 creatures with haste and trample. If the original dies and becomes a Hofri copy, the ETB happens again. Its Encore mode can create an attacking 6/6 copy for every opponent, with each copy producing three more 2/2 hasted trample changelings that can be swung in any direction. In playtesting this card coming out with Champion of the Path killed every opponent."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Evoke"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/mma/22/meadowboon"},"insert":"Meadowboon"},{"insert":" adds a +1/+1 counter to each of your creatures. When evoked, both its LTB ability and Hofri trigger. Resolve Hofri first so the new Spirit-copy is already on the board when the LTB trigger puts a +1/+1 counter on the team. When the token eventually leaves, it grows the team again."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/mor/105/spitebellows"},"insert":"Spitebellows"},{"insert":" causes its LTB trigger for 6 damage, then Hofri immediately supplies a 7/2 Spirit-Elemental with haste and trample. When that second life eventually leaves, it deals another 6."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/ecc/50/fury"},"insert":"Fury"},{"insert":" deals 4 damage divided as you choose among any number of target creatures and/or planeswalkers, Hofri does it again."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/c20/97/reveillark"},"insert":"Reveillark"},{"insert":" returns up to two target creature cards with power 2 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. Hofri brings it back as a 5/4 flyer that will get return two more creatures when it dies again. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/mh1/35/vesperlark"},"insert":"Vesperlark"},{"insert":" does the same for power 1 creatures, which still includes multiple vital tutors and toolbox creatures, for less mana than Reveillark."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/32/solitude"},"insert":"Solitude"},{"insert":" exiles one target creature. That creature’s controller gains life equal to its power. Hofri does it again."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/ecc/95/ingot-chewer"},"insert":"Ingot Chewer"},{"insert":" destroys target artifact, twice with Hofri."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/lrw/48/wispmare"},"insert":"Wispmare"},{"insert":" destroys target enchantment, twice with Hofri."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nElementals Built to Die"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/m20/162/thunderkin-awakener"},"insert":"Thunderkin Awakener"},{"insert":" attacks and reanimates one of 15 other low-toughness Elementals tapped and attacking then sacs it. Hofri brings it back as a permanent token copy again."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/eve/63/thunderblust"},"insert":"Thunderblust"},{"insert":" uses Persist on its first death to return it with a -1/-1 counter and trample. When it dies again, Hofri turns it into an 8/3 with trample and haste."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/m15/143/generator-servant"},"insert":"Generator Servant"},{"insert":" can sac itself for mana, then Hofri creates a hasty copy that can be sacrificed again for 4 mana total in one turn. This mana can be divided to cast up to 4 creatures to give them haste."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/soc/167/selfless-spirit"},"insert":"Selfless Spirit"},{"insert":" sacs itself to give the board indestructible for the turn. Hofri brings it back to do the job again later."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/gtc/199/spark-trooper"},"insert":"Spark Trooper"},{"insert":" attacks recklessly since it will die anyway, then after the first hasty lifelink attack, Hofri creates a 7/2 Spirit copy with haste, trample, and lifelink that survives until the following end step."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nCheating Out Elementals"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/khm/241/pyre-of-heroes"},"insert":"Pyre of Heroes"},{"insert":" lets us sac a nontoken Elemental to tutor for a more expensive one, then Hofri brings back the sacrificed one. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/ema/148/sneak-attack"},"insert":"Sneak Attack"},{"insert":" cheats any Elemental from hand with haste for one red mana, uses its ETB/combat value, sacrifices it at end step, then let Hofri copies it as a Spirit that stays. No tap requirement means every Elemental in hand can be played and reanimated in a single turn."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/ecc/94/incandescent-soulstoke"},"insert":"Incandescent Soulstoke"},{"insert":" does the same trick once per turn, also buffing all Elementals."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/c17/28/shifting-shadow"},"insert":"Shifting Shadow"},{"insert":" sacrifices the enchanted creature during upkeep and then finds the next creature in the deck and cheats it out and enchants that one. With Hofri we get two ETBs per turn for free and a copy of the sacrificed creature."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/ecc/93/descendants-fury"},"insert":"Descendants' Fury"},{"insert":" sacrifices an Elemental to cheat another Elemental from the library. If a nontoken Elemental is sacrificed, Hofri brings it back along with the cheated one."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/soc/135/ao-the-dawn-sky"},"insert":"Ao, the Dawn Sky"},{"insert":" cheats out cards from the top of the library or adds two +1/+1 counters to each creature. It's also a Spirit, so with Hofri it's a 6/5 flyer with trample, vigilance, and haste."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nMultiplying the Second Lives"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This is where it gets nasty: Hofri turns our Elementals into tokens, and we can make multiple of those rather than just one. A copied Hofri Spirit token is not itself linked to the physical card Hofri originally exiled, so the card goes to the graveyard when Hofri's copy dies, not one of the copies. \n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/one/23/mondrak-glory-dominus"},"insert":"Mondrak, Glory Dominus"},{"insert":" doubles Hofri's Spirit-copy creation as well as nearly every other creature-token engine in the deck."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/drc/7/renewed-solidarity"},"insert":"Renewed Solidarity"},{"insert":" turns every qualifying Elemental token that entered that turn into another permanent copy at end step. It can effectively preserve temporary Elemental copies made by other effects by creating new copies before the temporary originals disappear."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/36/muster-the-departed"},"insert":"Muster the Departed"},{"insert":" populates on your end step if a creature died, which often created a token worth copying, but any token can be copied. This will happen on most of your turns."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/spg/58/kindred-charge"},"insert":"Kindred Charge"},{"insert":" mass-copies the Elemental board, producing ETBs and a hasty alpha strike; "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/drc/7/renewed-solidarity"},"insert":"Renewed Solidarity"},{"insert":" can turn that temporary explosion into lasting board presence."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/c19/25/ghireds-belligerence"},"insert":"Ghired's Belligerence"},{"insert":" is scalable removal whose death triggers create Populate opportunities. It can even damage one of your own nontoken creatures; order the resulting triggers so Hofri creates its Spirit-copy before Populate resolves. Sufficient mana and small bodies to kill can copy your best token(s) multiple times."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/ecl/147/kindle-the-inner-flame"},"insert":"Kindle the Inner Flame"},{"insert":" - Unlike Populate, it can copy a valuable nontoken creature. Because it is itself an Elemental kindred spell, it participates in Elemental tutoring and mana/cost-reduction infrastructure despite not being a creature."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/c20/54/molten-echoes"},"insert":"Molten Echoes"},{"insert":" creates hasty temporary copies as nontoken Elementals enter, retriggering ETBs and providing disposable bodies. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/scd/32/rootborn-defenses"},"insert":"Rootborn Defenses"},{"insert":" protects the whole creature board while also Populating the best token."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/blb/6/caretakers-talent"},"insert":"Caretaker's Talent"},{"insert":" has a one-time token copy ability in addition to its draw and anthem effects."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/iko/21/luminous-broodmoth"},"insert":"Luminous Broodmoth"},{"insert":" provides some backup to Hofri but in a different way: the card actually comes back better. It's not a token so it doesn't trigger any of the token copy abilities, but it still can retrigger ETBs, make our sac outlets useful, and if Hofri is also out then sometimes we can double up on those sacrifices to bring a creature in 3 times in a turn before the token copies happen. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nSac Outlets"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/one/23/mondrak-glory-dominus"},"insert":"Mondrak, Glory Dominus"},{"insert":" - Sacrificing two other creatures makes it indestructible; if those are nontoken creatures, Hofri triggers for them, and Mondrak then doubles the resulting Spirit tokens."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/ema/218/ashnods-altar"},"insert":"Ashnod's Altar"},{"insert":" turns the first life into mana while Hofri supplies the second."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/nem/8/fanatical-devotion"},"insert":"Fanatical Devotion"},{"insert":" sacrifices one nontoken creature to regenerate another; Hofri then refunds the sacrificed creature as its Spirit-copy."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/soc/380/high-market"},"insert":"High Market"},{"insert":" places an instant-speed Hofri conversion outlet in the landbase."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nTrigger Multiplication and Payoffs"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/lci/258/roaming-throne"},"insert":"Roaming Throne"},{"insert":" becomes an Elemental and doubles triggered abilities of the other Elementals. It is also nonlegendary, so our Hofri multiplication engine works on it to make ETBs and other effects explosive."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/ecl/130/champion-of-the-path"},"insert":"Champion of the Path"},{"insert":" creates table-wide damage equal to the entering Elemental's power, making token multiplication itself a win condition."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/ecl/132/collective-inferno"},"insert":"Collective Inferno"},{"insert":" doubles all Elemental damage."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/mkc/31/havoc-eater"},"insert":"Havoc Eater"},{"insert":"'s ETB goad effect becomes repeatable when it receives a Hofri second life or is copied, meaning you can quickly goad every opponent's two (or more) best creatures."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/m20/10/cavalier-of-dawn"},"insert":"Cavalier of Dawn"},{"insert":" can be used as normal removal, or as a sac outlet that creates a token and a copy with Hofri. Kill it to get back one of our many valuable destroyed enchantments or artifacts and have Hofri bring it back to do the whole thing again."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/11/flickerwisp"},"insert":"Flickerwisp"},{"insert":" blinks one of your permanents on entry, sac it with Hofri to do it again."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/scd/161/tectonic-giant"},"insert":"Tectonic Giant"},{"insert":" has a repeatable Elemental attack payoff that converts combat into either card access or damage to all opponents. If he dies in combat, Hofri brings him back stronger for another round."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nBoard Wipes"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/clb/43/slaughter-the-strong"},"insert":"Slaughter the Strong"},{"insert":" - Hofri's four power allows him to be the creature you retain while other nontoken creatures are deliberately sacrificed and subsequently recreated as Spirits, while your opponents have lost most of their board."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/c19/25/ghireds-belligerence"},"insert":"Ghired's Belligerence"},{"insert":" - Combines scalable removal with the deck's copy engine rather than merely clearing the board."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nSupport"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/lrw/167/flamekin-harbinger"},"insert":"Flamekin Harbinger"},{"insert":" tutors any Elemental card to the top of the deck for one mana. Once it has tutored and died twice, it's easy to return to the battlefield with Thunderkin Awakener every time it attacks."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/plst/CN2-22/recruiter-of-the-guard"},"insert":"Recruiter of the Guard"},{"insert":" tutors for nearly every Elemental in the deck."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/mor/88/brighthearth-banneret"},"insert":"Brighthearth Banneret"},{"insert":" reduces Elemental spells."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/ecc/96/smokebraider"},"insert":"Smokebraider"},{"insert":" can pay for Elemental spells."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/soc/111/staff-of-the-storyteller"},"insert":"Staff of the Storyteller"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/c19/55/idol-of-oblivion"},"insert":"Idol of Oblivion"},{"insert":", and "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/blb/6/caretakers-talent"},"insert":"Caretaker's Talent"},{"insert":" turn Hofri's routine token creation into card advantage, so the lifecycle engine also helps keep the deck supplied with cards."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nIncidental Infinite Combo"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The deck also contains a viable infinite combo, although it is not the primary game plan.\nWith Elemental chosen for "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/c20/54/molten-echoes"},"insert":"Molten Echoes"},{"insert":", casting "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/lrw/187/nova-chaser"},"insert":"Nova Chaser"},{"insert":" allows the token copy and original to repeatedly champion one another, causing the nontoken Nova Chaser to leave and re-enter indefinitely. This produces arbitrarily many creature ETBs and LTBs.\nTwo cards already useful outside the combo turn that loop into infinite player damage:\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/ecl/130/champion-of-the-path"},"insert":"Champion of the Path"},{"insert":" sees the repeated Elemental entries and produces arbitrarily large damage to every opponent."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/279/goblin-bombardment"},"insert":"Goblin Bombardment"},{"insert":" can sacrifice each token "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scryfall.com/card/lrw/187/nova-chaser"},"insert":"Nova Chaser"},{"insert":" after it champions the original but before the other champion trigger resolves. The original returns, the sequence begins again, and each iteration deals another damage."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\n"}]}