{"ops":[{"insert":"The Kami Apocalypse"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"There was a time when the greatest kami of Kamigawa walked the mortal world.\n\nThey brought life and death, knowledge and ruin. One could strip the thoughts from every mind. Another could scour the battlefield clean. Another could reduce every city, forest, and stronghold to ash. They were not creatures to be commanded so much as forces of nature to be survived.\n\nFortunately, they went away.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Omnath has decided this was a mistake."},{"insert":"\n\nWelcome to "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Myojin Spirit Kindred"},{"insert":", a deck whose goal is to generate an irresponsible amount of mana, summon the ten Myojin, replenish the counters that were intended to limit their power, and repeatedly unleash increasingly unreasonable acts of divine intervention upon the table.\n\nThe first Myojin should appear around turn four or five.\n\nAfter that, things tend to get biblical.\n\nSo come along and enjoy the end of the world.\n\nWhy Myojin Kindred?"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Technically, "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Myojin is not a creature type"},{"insert":". All ten Myojin are "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Spirits"},{"insert":", so this is a Spirit Kindred deck built around one extremely specific corner of the tribe: the great Myojin of Kamigawa.\n\nThere are two generations:\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The original five"},{"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Cleansing Fire"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Seeing Winds"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Night's Reach"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Infinite Rage"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Life's Web"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The second five"},{"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Blooming Dawn"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Cryptic Dreams"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Grim Betrayal"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Roaring Blades"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Towering Might"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nAll ten are in the deck. All ten are enormous. All ten enter ready to do something that would ordinarily require an entire deck to accomplish.\n\nTheir drawback is supposed to be that this divine power is fleeting.\n\nThe original Myojin arrive with a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"divinity counter"},{"insert":" when cast from hand. The newer Myojin arrive with an "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"indestructible counter"},{"insert":". Removing that counter unleashes their signature ability, but also leaves the Myojin without the protection that came with it.\n\nThe obvious lesson is that one should carefully choose when to spend such a precious resource.\n\nWe have elected not to learn that lesson.\n\nWhy Is Omnath in Charge?"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Omnath, Locus of All"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" is not a Spirit."},{"insert":"\n\nOmnath does not mention Spirits.\n\nOmnath does not mention Myojin, divinity counters, indestructible counters, or Kamigawa.\n\nNevertheless, Omnath may be one of the best Myojin commanders ever printed.\n\nEvery Myojin has "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"three colored mana symbols in its mana cost"},{"insert":". Omnath cares about exactly that.\n\nAt the beginning of our first main phase, Omnath looks at the top card of our library. If it has three or more colored mana symbols, we reveal it, put it into our hand, and add three mana in its colors.\n\nSo when Omnath looks to the top of the deck and sees a Myojin, he does not merely draw us a gigantic Spirit.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"He pays the Myojin's three colored mana symbols for us."},{"insert":"\n\nThe remaining generic cost can be paid with lands, ramp, or the mana Omnath has been hoarding. Because Omnath prevents our unused mana from disappearing and converts it to black instead, excess mana from earlier turns can simply sit there until one of the gods requires it.\n\nThat makes the otherwise absurd costs of the Myojin surprisingly manageable.\n\nA five-color elemental from another plane has accidentally become "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"the summoning circle for the gods of Kamigawa."},{"insert":"\n\n~ The Game Plan ~"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Step One: Gather the Mana"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The first objective is simple: "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Get Omnath onto the battlefield, then reach eight to ten mana as quickly as possible."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Birds of Paradise"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Delighted Halfling"}},{"insert":" get things moving early. Bloom Tender becomes spectacular once a five-color Omnath is in play. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Somberwald Sage"}},{"insert":" conveniently produces exactly three mana of one color for our enormous creatures.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Urza's Incubator"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Herald's Horn"}},{"insert":" name "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Spirit"},{"insert":", reducing the enormous generic portions of our Myojin costs while reinforcing the actual Kindred theme.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fist of Suns"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Jodah, Archmage Eternal"}},{"insert":" offer another solution: instead of finding ten mana, simply pay WUBRG.\n\nAnd then there is"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Braid of Fire"}},{"insert":". Ordinarily, Braid of Fire creates increasing amounts of mana during upkeep that must be used immediately. Omnath does not believe in \"unused mana.\" Anything left over is converted into black mana and saved. The braid therefore gets longer every turn while Omnath stores its mana for later.\n\nStep Two: Call Something Terrible"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Finding a Myojin is only half the job.\n\nWe specifically want them "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"on top of the library"},{"insert":".\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Worldly Tutor"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vampiric Tutor"}},{"insert":" can be cast during the draw step, after our normal card for the turn has already been drawn. They place the desired Myojin on top just in time for Omnath to reveal it during the first main phase.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scroll Rack"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Brainstorm"}},{"insert":" can take a Myojin already stuck in our hand and put it back on top, effectively feeding it to Omnath so that he can immediately draw it again while producing the three colored mana necessary to cast it.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Congregation at Dawn"}},{"insert":" is particularly appropriate. Why summon one god when you can arrange "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"three consecutive divine visitations?"},{"insert":"\n\nWith the right acceleration, the first Myojin can arrive on turn four. Turn five is much more routine.\n\nStep Three: Divinity Is a Renewable Resource"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"A Myojin ability is supposed to be an event. This deck is designed to make it routine\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Winding Constrictor"}},{"insert":","},{"insert":{"card-link":"Pir, Imaginative Rascal"}},{"insert":", and"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Doubling Season"}},{"insert":" can cause a Myojin to enter with additional counters before its first ability has even been activated.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Evolution Sage"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Inexorable Tide"}},{"insert":","},{"insert":{"card-link":"Staff of Compleation"}},{"insert":", and"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tekuthal, Inquiry Dominus"}},{"insert":" proliferate those counters.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Deepglow Skate"}},{"insert":" simply doubles them.\n\nThis matters because a Myojin with two counters can spend one and remain armed. As long as at least one counter survives, proliferate can begin building the stockpile again.\n\nWhen to Keep the Hand — and When to Send It Back"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The Myojin are the stars of the deck.\n\nThey are also terrible opening-hand companions.\n\nA good opening hand usually has "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"three things"},{"insert":":\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Enough mana to cast Omnath by turn four, preferably turn three."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"A piece of acceleration or cost reduction."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Either a way to find a Myojin or useful setup for the turns after Omnath arrives."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThree lands and"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Birds of Paradise"}},{"insert":"is a keep.\n\nTwo lands,"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Delighted Halfling"}},{"insert":","},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bloom Tender"}},{"insert":", and a tutor is an excellent keep.\n\nThree lands,"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Urza's Incubator"}},{"insert":", Omnath support, and interaction is perfectly respectable even without a Myojin in sight.\n\nA hand containing "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"two or three Myojin and no acceleration is a terrible, horrible, no good hand."},{"insert":" Send that back to the deck abyss immediately.\n\nLikewise, a hand full of proliferate effects with nothing worth proliferating is not functional. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Winding Constrictor"}},{"insert":","},{"insert":{"card-link":"Deepglow Skate"}},{"insert":", and"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Inexorable Tide"}},{"insert":" may eventually produce spectacular things, but none of them helps if Omnath is still sitting in the command zone on turn five.\n\nThe deck can tolerate a two-land hand if it contains reliable one- and two-mana acceleration and the colors work. A one-land hand should almost always be thrown back. The payoff for being greedy is simply too small when the entire deck is built around hitting the first four land drops.\n\nThe easiest mulligan test is: "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"“What am I doing on turns one through four?”"},{"insert":"\n\nIf the answer is clear, keep it.\n\nIf the answer begins with "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"“Hopefully I draw…”"},{"insert":", shuffle.\n\nOne final consideration is color.\n\nOmnath can cheat on the black portion of his own mana cost by paying life for the Phyrexian symbol, but the other four colors still matter. A hand that technically contains four mana but cannot produce the colors necessary to cast Omnath is not a four-mana hand.\n\nRe-Arming the Old Gods"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nSometimes restraint fails and we remove the final counter. For the Myojin, this is fixable.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kindred Boon"}},{"insert":"names Spirit and can place fresh divinity counters directly onto our Spirits.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"That Which Was Taken"}},{"insert":"can do the same.\n\nThat means an original Myojin can expend its final divinity counter, become mortal for approximately as long as it takes us to find two more mana, receive a new divinity counter, and resume being indestructible.\n\nThis also creates a particularly fun interaction with"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Life's Web"}},{"insert":".\n\nLife's Web can put any number of creature cards from our hand directly onto the battlefield. Normally, cheating the original Myojin into play this way means they do not receive their divinity counters because they were not cast from our hand."},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kindred Boon"}},{"insert":"does not care. Life's Web can call down the pantheon first; we can hand out divinity afterward.\n\nDeepglow Skate and the Entirely Reasonable Number Sixteen"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nOne of the deck's best interactions begins with"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Cryptic Dreams"}},{"insert":".\n\nCryptic Dreams can remove its indestructible counter to copy the next permanent spell we cast "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"three times"},{"insert":".\nCast"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Deepglow Skate"}},{"insert":". We now have the original Skate plus three copies of it entering one after another, each doubling counters on our permanents. \n\nA Myojin with one counter can become: "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"1 → 2 → 4 → 8 → 16."},{"insert":"\n\nSixteen divinity counters. Presumably, the designers expected one.\n\nCryptic Dreams can perform a similar trick with"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Doubling Season"}},{"insert":". Copying the enchantment three times leaves four Doubling Seasons on the battlefield, at which point the next counter-bearing Myojin enters carrying considerably more divinity than the kami were issued during character creation.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"In Case of Exile, Break Glass"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nIndestructible gods are still perfectly capable of being exiled, bounced, stolen, or otherwise inconvenienced."},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ripples of Potential"}},{"insert":"is therefore almost custom-made for this deck.\n\nIt proliferates first, adding another counter to our armed Myojin, and then allows the permanents that received counters to phase out. Someone points a"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Farewell"}},{"insert":"at the pantheon? The gods acquire additional ammunition and temporarily leave reality.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Teferi's Protection"}},{"insert":"and"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Clever Concealment"}},{"insert":"provide similar emergency evacuation plans, while"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Deflecting Swat"}},{"insert":" and"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fierce Guardianship"}},{"insert":"help ensure that the really important pieces resolve. The apocalypse has contingency planning.\n\nWhat Does the Apocalypse Actually Look Like?"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The individual Myojin are powerful.\n\nTogether, they become a sequence of increasingly poor outcomes for everyone who is not us.\n\nConsider the original pantheon.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Night's Reach"}},{"insert":"removes its divinity counter. Each opponent discards their hand.\n\nThen"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Cleansing Fire"}},{"insert":"removes its divinity counter. Every other creature is destroyed.\n\nThen"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Grim Betrayal"}},{"insert":" arrives from the newer generation. Every creature card put into a graveyard from anywhere that turn can return to the battlefield "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"under our control"},{"insert":". That includes the creatures Cleansing Fire just killed.\n\nIt also includes creatures discarded to Night's Reach. Then, when it seems the table has perhaps suffered enough:"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Infinite Rage"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"destroys all lands."},{"insert":"\n\nThe final board state is roughly:\nOur opponents have no hands."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Their creatures are dead."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Many of those creatures now work for us."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Their lands are gone."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Our Myojin are still standing."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The proliferate engine is busy replacing the counters we just spent."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe Other Gods Are Aiding and Abetting"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe rest of the pantheon provides different flavors of catastrophe.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Seeing Winds"}},{"insert":" turns our increasingly ridiculous board into a new hand.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Life's Web"}},{"insert":"drops an army from our hand onto the battlefield.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Blooming Dawn"}},{"insert":"creates an enormous Spirit army.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Towering Might"}},{"insert":"turns a creature into a lethal trampling monster.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Roaring Blades"}},{"insert":"converts our enormous hand into direct damage.\nAnd "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Cryptic Dreams"}},{"insert":"looks at every carefully balanced permanent in the deck and asks the deeply irresponsible question: "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"\"What if there were four of it?\""},{"insert":"\n\nThe deck, therefore, does not have a single scripted win condition. Which apocalypse arrives depends on which Myojin answer the call.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Surviving the Early Turns: Look Harmless Until It Is Too Late"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The greatest threat to the deck during the first four turns is not combat damage. It is "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"attention"},{"insert":".\n\nOmnath needs to survive long enough to provide at least one main-phase trigger. Once the first Myojin lands, the deck becomes dramatically harder to contain. Before that point, we are a five-color ramp deck with a very expensive hand and an elemental standing in the middle of the battlefield wearing a large target. So the early game should be played with some restraint.\n\nDo not spend removal merely because you can.\n\nIf an opponent plays a value creature that is not threatening our plan, let it live. If another player develops the first genuinely dangerous permanent, use"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Swords to Plowshares"}},{"insert":","},{"insert":{"card-link":"Beast Within"}},{"insert":", or"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Swan Song"}},{"insert":"when appropriate and make it clear that we are helping solve a table problem rather than clearing the way for ourselves.\n\nEarly interaction should accomplish one of three things:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Protect Omnath."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Stop something that will kill us before the Myojin arrive."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Remove a threat dangerous enough that the rest of the table appreciates it."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nEverything else can wait.\n\nThis is also why the free protection spells are so important.\n\nOnce Omnath resolves, leaving mana untapped for protection is often unnecessary if"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fierce Guardianship"}},{"insert":"or"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Deflecting Swat"}},{"insert":"is in hand. They allow the deck to continue committing mana toward the first Myojin without leaving Omnath defenseless.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ripples of Potential"}},{"insert":"and"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Clever Concealment"}},{"insert":"become more valuable once the board develops, but even early on they can preserve the pieces that matter most.\n\nThere is also a political advantage to what Omnath appears to be doing. Without the Myojin on the field, on turn three or four, Omnath should just look like a five-color value commander. That perception is worth preserving for as long as possible.\n\nThere is rarely a good reason to announce that Worldly Tutor is about to find"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myojin of Night's Reach"}},{"insert":"before the spell actually needs to be cast. There is even less reason to explain that the pile of mana stored under Omnath is eventually going to help destroy every land on the battlefield.\n\nLet the Atraxa player look frightening.\n\nLet the token player develop twenty power.\n\nHelp remove the occasional problem.\n\nMake land drops.\n\nSmile politely.\n\nThe best possible early-game table assessment is: "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"“Omnath is ramping.”"},{"insert":"\n\nThat assessment remains technically correct right up until a ten-mana indestructible Spirit appears on turn four. At that point, diplomacy has probably run its course.\n\nSummary"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"To reiterate, the basic plan is:\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Accelerate into Omnath."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Manipulate a Myojin onto the top of the library."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Let Omnath draw it and pay its colored mana requirement."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Cast the Myojin from hand so it arrives properly armed."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Multiply or proliferate its counters before spending the last one."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Summon additional Myojin until the battlefield becomes a theological problem."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Begin removing counters."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe deck is intentionally built around the Myojin rather than merely using them as expensive finishers. Its ramp exists because the Myojin are enormous. Its tutors manipulate the top of the library because Omnath wants to reveal them. Its Kindred cards name Spirit because the Myojin are Spirits. Its counter engine exists because the Myojin abilities consume counters. Even several of its lands use counters that can be manipulated by the same engine.\n\nThe Kami Were Not Meant to Return"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe Myojin were designed as singular manifestations of overwhelming power: enormous Spirits that descend with one divine charge and irrevocably change the game when they spend it.\n\nOmnath changes the bargain. He stores the mana required to summon them. He recognizes the three colored symbols shared by every Myojin and converts their appearance into exactly the mana they need. Once they arrive, the rest of the deck refuses to let divinity remain a finite resource.\n\nSo the gods come down early.\n\nTheir counters multiply.\n\nThe first miracle becomes a second.\n\nThen a third.\n\nHands disappear. Armies die. The dead change sides. Lands burn. The survivors look skyward.\n\nAnd somewhere above Kamigawa, Omnath reveals the next card.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"It's another Myojin."},{"insert":"\n\n"}]}