{"ops":[{"insert":"This series of instructional decks are designed to help new players learn the strengths of each color. Each one will discuss two major themes and two major creatures types in that color. This one focuses on blue, U, the color of aggression, warding, and dedication.\n\nBlue approaches aggression in a couple of different ways. The first is the typical combat step activities. The other is direct damage. Blue specializes in dealing noncombat damage from precision damage and damage over time with effects like Psychic Venom, Errant Minion, and Suq'Ata Firewalker. This allows blue to threaten an opponent's life total from many different angles, making it very difficult to avoid without wasting resources or taking heavy losses.\n\nTurning to the actual combat step, blue has a special relationship with Auras. These enchantments power up a single creature, and a well-played sequence of Auras like [[Auramancer's Guise]] and [[Aether Tunnel]] can put blue on a par with, or even temporarily above, green's evasion and black's bulk. [[Hakim, Loreweaver]] is a powerful commander for blue decks, allowing you to recover Auras from destroyed creatures and move them around with Aura Finesse and Enchantment Alteration.\n\nTwo creature types that play well in blue are Knights and Frogs. Knights surround themselves in armor, so magical wards and reinforcements are a logical next step. They also appreciate the support from direct damage, removing distractions and allowing them to focus on their duty of enforcing combat and winning the game. Frogs support this by drawing cards, pinning down your opponents' creatures, and refreshing your \"enters the battlefield\" abilities, making sure you don't run out of resources and lines of attack.\n\nAll of this means that blue is a very direct color, able to pick off obstacles and willing to go face first into the opponent. It's the best color in direct combat and can apply relentless pressure quickly while keeping itself alive and stable.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Disclaimer: Do not use this deck to teach the game unless you want your learner to be very confused later."},{"insert":"\n"}]}