{"ops":[{"insert":"Aerid Konstrari: Heartwood Overload (Bracket 4)"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"A Gruul list that floods the board with artifacts to pump Aerid for 21 flying commander damage, then backs that up with two-card infinite loops that kill the whole table.\n\nThe verdict: a combo deck that can also win on damage"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Aerid is a 5/4 flier. Every {6} activation adds a Heartwood, then gives +X/+0 for each artifact you control. With 8 artifacts and Improvised Arsenal attached, a single activation puts Aerid at 21 power. At Bracket 4, though, a pure token voltron deck has three problems, and each one points toward a combo build:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Commander damage kills one player per combat."},{"insert":" In a four-player pod you need three separate lethal swings. So the deck runs extra combats (Aggravated Assault) and artifact-ETB pingers (Reckless Fireweaver, Weftstalker Ardent) to finish the table."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The {6} cost is the real bottleneck, not the token count."},{"insert":" Cost reducers and copy effects matter more than one more token maker. Agatha of the Vile Cauldron drops the activation to {1}, and since every Heartwood taps for a mana, the loop never ends: infinite artifacts and infinite power."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Treasures shrink X."},{"insert":" Cracking a Treasure to pay for the activation removes an artifact before the pump counts. Permanent artifacts (Heartwoods, rocks, Clues you hold, Thopters, Servos) are worth more than Treasures here."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The fair game ramps into Aerid and swings for 21 flying around turn 5 or 6. The combo game assembles Agatha, Nyxbloom Ancient, or Basalt Monolith plus Rings of Brighthearth to go infinite and kill everyone at once.\n\nWin lines"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Every infinite line ends the same way: Aerid makes unlimited Heartwoods, which gives unlimited artifact-ETB triggers and unlimited power.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Agatha loop:"},{"insert":" Agatha at 5+ power. The activation costs {1}, and the new Heartwood taps for {1} to pay the next one."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Agatha + doubler:"},{"insert":" Agatha at 4+ power plus Doubling Season, Parallel Lives, Roxanne, or Heartstone. Cost {2}, and you get 2 mana back per loop."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Agatha + both doublers:"},{"insert":" Agatha at 2+ power plus Doubling Season and Parallel Lives. 4 Heartwoods per loop pay a {4} cost."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Nyxbloom + copy:"},{"insert":" Nyxbloom Ancient plus Illusionist's Bracers, Doubling Season, or Parallel Lives. 2 Heartwoods tapping for 3 each = {6}. Infinite R/G mana too, no Agatha needed."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Nyxbloom + Agatha:"},{"insert":" Agatha at 3+ power. Cost {3}, and one Heartwood makes 3."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Basalt + Rings:"},{"insert":" Basalt Monolith plus Rings of Brighthearth (and 2 spare mana). Copy Basalt's untap for {2}; net +1 colorless per cycle pays {6} forever."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Fair kill:"},{"insert":" Aerid plus Improvised Arsenal or Embercleave, about 8 artifacts, and 6 spare mana. One activation adds about +9 for 21 flying commander damage to one player."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Finishers:"},{"insert":" Reckless Fireweaver, Weftstalker Ardent, or Walking Ballista ping out the table; Aggravated Assault turns infinite mana into infinite combats."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Pumping Agatha to 5:"},{"insert":" Improvised Arsenal (equip {R}, +1/+0 per artifact), Blackblade Reforged (+1/+1 per land), Embercleave, or Shadowspear. With 4 artifacts out, Arsenal on Agatha does it alone.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Tutors that find a piece:"},{"insert":" Worldly Tutor, Imperial Recruiter, Green Sun's Zenith (X=2), and Finale of Devastation (X=2) get Agatha. Natural Order and Finale (X=7) get Nyxbloom. Gamble and Inventors' Fair get Basalt, Rings, Bracers, or Arsenal.\n\nStandouts"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Return of the Wildspeaker:"},{"insert":" an instant. After you pump Aerid, it draws cards equal to Aerid's power, or it pumps the team."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Old Gnawbone:"},{"insert":" one 21-damage hit becomes 21 Treasures for next turn."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Illusionist's Bracers on Aerid:"},{"insert":" every activation resolves twice, giving 2 Heartwoods and two separate pumps."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Artifact lands:"},{"insert":" they add to X from turn one. The tradeoff is that they die to Vandalblast too."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nMulligans and the first four turns"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Keep any hand with 2 to 4 lands and at least one accelerant (a dork, Sol Ring, or a Signet). Combo pieces are a bonus, not a keep requirement; the tutors find them later. Mulligan seven-card hands with no green source: Aerid needs GG.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Turn 1:"},{"insert":" Play a dork or Sol Ring. Lead with an artifact land."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Turn 2:"},{"insert":" Ramp into turn-3 Aerid: a Signet, Talisman, Fellwar Stone, Nature's Lore, or a second dork. Tireless Provisioner and Heartwood Crafter work too."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Turn 3:"},{"insert":" Cast Aerid with Boots or Greaves mana up if you can. Otherwise cast a token engine first (Tenured Tethermage, Academy Manufactor, Pia) and let Aerid come down onto a wider board."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Turn 4 and on:"},{"insert":" Activate Aerid at the end of an opponent's turn whenever you have spare mana. Heartwoods made on their turn are untapped and ready on yours. Hold the big pump for your own combat."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Typical fair kill:"},{"insert":" Aerid wearing Improvised Arsenal, 8 artifacts in total (Arsenal counts), and {6} open. Attack, then activate after blockers: the new Heartwood makes 9 artifacts, so Aerid hits for 5 + 9 (Arsenal) + 9 (pump) = 23.\n\nRules notes and sequencing traps"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"X counts on resolution."},{"insert":" Pay the {6} with lands, Heartwoods, and rocks you tap, not Treasures you sacrifice. Spend Treasures on spells."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Agatha's floor is one mana."},{"insert":" She can't make the activation free, so the loop needs Heartwoods entering untapped, which they do."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Copies stack."},{"insert":" Illusionist's Bracers and Rings of Brighthearth copy the activation. Each copy makes its own Heartwood and pump, and X rises between copies."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Doublers don't double the pump."},{"insert":" They double the Heartwood token, not the +X."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Heartstone is symmetric."},{"insert":" It also cuts opponents' creature ability costs. Agatha's reduction is one-sided."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Commander damage is tracked per opponent."},{"insert":" Use Aggravated Assault with infinite mana for one combat per opponent, or skip combat with a pinger."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Basalt Monolith's untap is not a mana ability,"},{"insert":" so Rings can copy it. Start the loop with Basalt tapped for 3 plus 2 more mana in pool."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Aerid's death trigger"},{"insert":" refunds a Heartwood, which softens commander tax."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The One Ring"},{"insert":" gives a turn of protection and steady draw; it's a Game Changer."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThreats at a Bracket 4 table"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Spot removal on Aerid:"},{"insert":" Boots or Greaves first, Heroic Intervention and Deflecting Swat held up."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Artifact sweepers (Vandalblast, Bane of Progress):"},{"insert":" don't overextend artifact lands; rebuild through activations."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Null Rod, Collector Ouphe, Stony Silence:"},{"insert":" Nature's Claim, Beast Within, Chaos Warp; pivot to the Agatha or Nyxbloom lines."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Pithing Needle or Phyrexian Revoker on Aerid:"},{"insert":" remove it, or win with Craterclaw Colossus, Goldspan, and the pingers."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Blue counters at the combo turn:"},{"insert":" bait with Aerid first; the combo runs through activated abilities."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Grand Abolisher or Drannith effects:"},{"insert":" do the work on your own turn."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nBracket notes"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Bracket 4 fit: Game Changers (The One Ring, Worldly Tutor, Gamble, Seedborn Muse, Natural Order) plus two-card infinite combos. No mass land destruction and no extra-turn chains.\n"}]}