{"ops":[{"insert":"SHROOFUS SPROUTSIRE - Br. 3 - A beginner's guide"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"TOKEN - AGGRO - RAMP"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"MAIN INFO"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"PREMISE:"},{"insert":" First, the deck buffs and protects the commander, so it can swing for big damage, which will result in a board full of Saproling tokens. Then, anthems or sacrifices them for value, or swings for lethal with sheer numbers. Goes wide or tall with creatures fast, racing opponents before they stabilize.\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"STRENGTHS:"},{"insert":" Infinite/fast mana, 3 two-card combos and 2 four-card combos, strong tutor lineup, strong token support.\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"WEAKNESSES:"},{"insert":" Heavily dependent on the commander (if it becomes unavailable, the deck struggles), lack of strong disruptions or boardwipes.\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"GAME CHANGERS:"},{"insert":" 3 (Gaea's Cradle, Natural Order, Worldly Tutor)\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"AV. MANA VALUE:"},{"insert":" 2.7\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"PRED. WIN TURN:"},{"insert":" 5.9 (med-fast)\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"BRACKET REASON:"},{"insert":" With 2 fast mana sources, 6 tutors, and 5 combos, the deck can threaten wins in the mid-game. By being heavily dependent on the commander, and because it lives and dies by the battle phase, there is not enough adaptability to push it to Bracket 4 boundaries.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"OPENING HAND:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"KEEP:"},{"insert":" 3 lands + 1 ramp (or 4 lands), 1 draw spell, 2 engine cards (ideally, 1 protection and 1 pump).\nEngine cards worth holding: Tyvar's Stand, Might of Old Krosa, Evolution Sage, Night Soil, Frenzied Baloth."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"AVOID:"},{"insert":" Cards that only double tokens/counters, 5 lands or 2 ramps (cheap commander), 1 or more high cost anthem cards.\nAvoid cards that create tokens by themselves, because they are not engine starters. They just help the deck move at a faster pace. The engine starter is the commander, so it's paramount to get it onto the battlefield quickly, and keep it protected and pumped."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"GAME FLOW:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"EARLY GAME:"},{"insert":" Play lands, cast ramps, cast commander as soon as possible. The deck's primary wincon is the commander's ability (by attacking and dealing damage, you get exponential token generation).\nAvoid focusing your damage on a single player. In the early game, you won't be able to eliminate them very easily, so it's best to divide your damage between players in order to not become the table's enemy."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Keep your commander pumped. Attack as much as you can, because, even if it's blocked, it'll still generate Saproling tokens (trample)."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Keep your commander protected. It will become the table's target due to it enabling easy swarming."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Start an early game draw engine (e.g. Toski Bearer of Secrets or Skullclamp)."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"MID-GAME:"},{"insert":" Keep ramping but not as much as in the early game. Cast anthem effects for your tokens. Disrupt your opponents' strategies by destroying their artifacts or enchantments.\nTime to show what the deck can do. Cast at least 1 token doubler and 1 game changer, if possible."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Keep your hand full with the multiple card draw engines available."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Develop an exponential anthem loop, which will allow you to put multiple +1/+1 counters on all your creatures (cards like Nemata Grove Guardian, Bristly Bill, and Ouroboroid)."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"LATE-GAME:"},{"insert":" Develop your anthem engine. Right now, it's not the best time to ramp or to create tokens, but to pump the amount you have, which is most likely a lot.\nSave most of your protection spells to cast now. This is the stage where a boardwipe will set you back a lot."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Leave mana open so you can double your tokens with Second Harvest the turn before yours start. Thus, you can swing with all your tokens."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Play a finisher like Craterhoof Behemoth and swing for lethal with all of your pumped up tokens."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"COMBOS:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"TWO-CARD INFINITES:"},{"insert":" \nUmbral Mantle + Circle of Dream Druid (Umbral Mantle attached to Circle of Dream Druids, you control at least 3 creatures)."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Umbral Mantle + Fanatic of Rhonas (Umbral Mantle attached to Fanatic of Rhonas, you control a creature with power 4 or greater)."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Bristol Bill + Devoted Druid."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"FOUR-CARD INFINITES:"},{"insert":"\nGaea's Cradle + Umbral Mantle + Arbor Elf + Yavimaya Cradle of Growth (Umbral Mantle attached to Arbor Elf)"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Oran-Rief + Arbor Elf + Umbral Mantle + Yavimaya Cradle of Growth (Umbral Mantle attached to Arbor Elf)"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"IMPORTANT INFO:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Deck easy to master. The main goal is to pump up the commander and attack, dealing direct or trample damage. Then, you swarm the field with tokens (maybe double them with cards for doubling tokens), pump those up with anthems, and then swing for lethal on the whole table."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Most cards added are self-explanatory. For those who aren't, look below:"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Beastmaster Ascension: Good anthem, because it counts every attacking token for its quest counters. Therefore, it's basically a 3 mana \"give +5/+5 to all of your creatures\"."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Throne of the God-Pharaoh: If you couldn't finish the game this turn, this card gives you the extra damage to do it. It's not recommended to pass turn after a combat phase where you attacked with all you had, because now you're open to attack or worse."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Season of Growth: Draws you a card every time a spell targets one of your creatures. This deck revolves around pumping the commander, so all the pumps are free draws."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Talon Gates of Madara / Yavimaya Hollow / Wrap in Vigor: Protection for the commander. This deck's main way to protect it is regenerating."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Frenzied Baloth: Prevents your creature spells from being countered, and prevent your opponents from using cards like Fog."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Arbor Elf: Pair with Yavimaya Cradle of Growth to allow it to untap any land. Good for the high utility lands this deck runs (Karn's Bastion for proliferation; Nykthos, Three Tree City, and Gaea's Cradle for mana; Talon Gates and Yavimaya Hollow for protection; Rogue's Passage to secure your commander's full damage)."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Ashnod's Altar: Great utility in a deck that spams tokens quite easily. Pair it with Fecundity to draw a bunch of cards."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Pir's Whim: Political card. Lets you tutor a land and help mana screwed friends, but also lets you disrupt opponents."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Song of the Dryads: Best commander removal in the deck. Enchant a commander with it, and it'll lose all its abilities, usually shutting down that commander."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"General advice: Keep your protection for key moments, when your opponents will want to destroy your commander or your tokens. Pump them up and keep attacking; do not be frightened to attack. Tutor the right cards, keep your hand full."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Remember that counters are always treated individually, so cards that double or proliferate them will only work on the exact counters they were placed. For example, if you gave three +1/+1 to your creatures, if you cast a spell that lets you double +1/+1 counters, those creatures now have six +1/+1 counters, not one +6/+6 counter."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Also, +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters cancel each other out. Therefore, if you have a creature with, let's say, three +1/+1 counters and then gets a -1/-1 counter, if you double those +1/+1 counters, it'll get four +1/+1 instead of six. This is not true for other counters, though. A +2/+2 counter, for example, exists at the same time as a -1/-1, and won't become a +1/+1 counter."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Be sure to tutor for the right cards. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You should always want to grab these creatures:"},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Evolution Sage, good if it's the early game."},{"attributes":{"indent":2,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Champion of Lambholt, if it's the mid-game."},{"attributes":{"indent":2,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Ouroboroid, after all, it's your best way to anthem your tokens exponentially (its ability is not limited to until end of turn)."},{"attributes":{"indent":2,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Bristly Bill, if it's the mid-game, to double counters and enter late-game."},{"attributes":{"indent":2,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Craterhoof Behemoth, to swing for game."},{"attributes":{"indent":2,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You should always want to grab these lands, if you can tutor them with Pir's Whim, Archdruid's Charm, and Sylvan Scrying:"},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Gaea's Cradle, for massive amounts of mana."},{"attributes":{"indent":2,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Yavimaya Hollow, for protection."},{"attributes":{"indent":2,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" Karn's Bastion, for easy proliferation."},{"attributes":{"indent":2,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Urza's Saga, for tutoring Sol Ring and Skull Clamp."},{"attributes":{"indent":2,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Good luck!"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"}]}