{"ops":[{"insert":"Gavi, Nest Warden"},{"attributes":{"align":"center","header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" Cycling Tokens & Value"},{"attributes":{"align":"center"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Jeskai Commander • Casual Bracket 3"},{"attributes":{"align":"center"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"A focused Gavi Cycling deck built around turning repeated Cycling activations into cards, creatures, damage, and incremental battlefield advantage. The deck deliberately avoids becoming a hard-combo or cEDH build: Cycling itself is the engine, and Gavi turns that engine into an increasingly threatening token army.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Deck Philosophy"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Gavi rewards a simple but powerful loop: keep Cycling cards moving through the deck, make a 2/2 Dinosaur Cat from the first Cycling activation each turn, and stack payoffs that reward the same action. The result is a deck where one mechanic supplies card selection, board development, damage, interaction, and eventually the win.\nCycle aggressively when the mana and timing are right; redundant lands and situational cards become fresh cards."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Build a token board through Gavi, Valiant Rescuer, Drake Haven, Ominous Seas, Improbable Alliance, and Decree of Justice."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Convert Cycling into damage through Drannith Stinger, Lightning Rift, Impact Tremors, Purphoros, and Zenith Flare."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Use Astral Slide and Astral Drift to turn Cycling into repeatable blink and temporary removal."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Use Rielle, the Everwise and Teferi's Ageless Insight to make the Cycling engine snowball."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Finish through a wide token board, amplified combat damage, repeated damage triggers, or Zenith Flare."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Core Engines"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Gavi, Nest Warden — "},{"insert":"The heart of the deck. The first Cycling activation each turn creates a 2/2 Dinosaur Cat, turning card selection into board presence.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Fluctuator — "},{"insert":"Reduces Cycling costs and dramatically increases the number of cards the deck can churn through in a turn.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Tectonic Reformation — "},{"insert":"Gives every land in hand Cycling for {R}, making excess lands into useful Cycling resources.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"New Perspectives — "},{"insert":"With seven or more cards in hand, Cycling costs become free, creating explosive turns.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Rielle, the Everwise — "},{"insert":"Cycling discards cards, so Rielle converts those discard events into additional card draw.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Teferi's Ageless Insight — "},{"insert":"Doubles many draw events generated by the deck, making Cycling and Rielle substantially more powerful.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Token Engine"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Gavi is supported by several additional Cycling-to-board engines. Valiant Rescuer creates a 2/2 Soldier from the first Cycling activation each turn, while Drake Haven produces 2/2 Drakes whenever you Cycle. Ominous Seas converts the deck's large volume of card draw into 8/8 Krakens, and Improbable Alliance provides further bodies as cards move through the deck.\nOnce a critical mass of creatures is established, Shared Animosity and Coat of Arms can turn a token-heavy battlefield into lethal combat damage. Purphoros and Impact Tremors provide a second route by turning every new creature into direct damage.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Cycling as Interaction"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The deck does not need to choose between advancing its engine and interacting with opponents. Astral Slide and Astral Drift turn Cycling into repeatable blink effects; Lightning Rift turns Cycling into removal; and Forsake the Worldly, Nimble Obstructionist, Slice and Dice, Starstorm, Sweltering Suns, and the other interaction let the deck respond while continuing to fuel its engine.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Key Finishers"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Token swarm — "},{"insert":"Generate a large board of Dinosaur Cats, Soldiers, Drakes, and other tokens, then amplify combat with Shared Animosity or Coat of Arms.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Purphoros / Impact Tremors — "},{"insert":"Repeated token creation turns Cycling into a stream of direct damage and can close games without attacking.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Zenith Flare — "},{"insert":"The graveyard accumulates Cycling cards throughout the game, allowing Zenith Flare to become a large burn spell and life-gain effect.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Ominous Seas — "},{"insert":"Heavy draw builds Kraken counters quickly; multiple 8/8s can finish games once the engine is established.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Decree of Justice — "},{"insert":"Can be Cycled for immediate token production or cast as a large-scale token finisher.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":"Game Plan"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":"Early Game"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Prioritize functional mana, cheap Cycling cards, and an engine piece. Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, the Talismans, Fellwar Stone, and the other mana rocks establish the mana needed to Cycle repeatedly. Gavi does not have to be cast immediately if doing so simply exposes her to removal.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Mid Game"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Once an engine is established, start chaining Cycling activations. Ideally one activation does several jobs at once: it replaces itself, triggers Gavi, advances another token or damage engine, and potentially activates Astral Slide or Astral Drift. This is where the deck's incremental advantages compound.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Late Game"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Once the deck has accumulated a large hand, graveyard, and battlefield, convert those resources into a win. Shared Animosity, Coat of Arms, Purphoros, Impact Tremors, Decree of Justice, and Zenith Flare provide different routes to a decisive finish.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Sequencing Tips"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Gavi cares about the first Cycling activation each turn. If possible, ensure that activation happens before spending other Cycling cards."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Valiant Rescuer has a similar once-per-turn trigger, so Gavi plus Rescuer can turn a single Cycling activation into two creatures."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Watch your hand size before casting New Perspectives; seven cards is the important threshold."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Tectonic Reformation makes excess lands useful late-game Cycling cards, so don't automatically play every land once you have enough mana."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Protect the engine rather than every individual token. Fluctuator, Tectonic Reformation, Rielle, and New Perspectives generate far more long-term value."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Astral Slide and Astral Drift can protect your own creatures, reuse ETB effects, or temporarily remove opposing creatures."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Do not feel compelled to Cycle everything immediately. Holding a Cycling card can preserve interaction or guarantee a future Gavi trigger."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Mana Base"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The current build uses 36 lands and deliberately places a high value on Cycling lands. The mana base retains a strong Jeskai fixing core while allowing excess lands to become part of the Cycling engine. The basic-land count is lower than a conventional three-colour Commander deck because the deck also has substantial mana-rock support and Tectonic Reformation provides additional utility for lands in hand.\nThe main thing to watch during playtesting is tempo rather than colour access. The Cycling-heavy configuration is powerful for the deck's identity, but several Cycling lands enter tapped. The untapped duals and strong multicolour lands therefore do important work in keeping the early game smooth.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Potential Future Flex Slots"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"These are not current cuts; they are simply cards worth monitoring after playtesting:\nReconnaissance Mission — strong draw, but less reliable when the token board lacks evasion."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Fiery Emancipation — powerful, but expensive and less directly connected to the Cycling engine."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Unbreakable Formation — useful protection, though not directly tied to Cycling."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Lightning Greaves — good protection, but Swiftfoot Boots may be preferable because Gavi's activated abilities can require targeting."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Raugrin Crystal — useful three-colour ramp, but comparatively slow."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Mystic Monastery — excellent fixing, but entering tapped makes it a possible future tempo consideration."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"}]}