{"ops":[{"insert":"Overview:"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Why settle for one monster when we can have two? Led by "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Volo, Guide to Monsters"},{"insert":", this deck is a Simic midrange stompy powerhouse built around a simple, wonderfully excessive philosophy: \n\n\""},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Every creature is better with a buddy. \" "},{"insert":"\n\nBy assembling a carefully curated collection of unique creature types, we turn Volo into a relentless value engine that doubles our creatures, multiplies their abilities, and transforms an otherwise respectable board into an absolute stampede. Our game plan is straightforward and explosive. We spend the opening turns accelerating into a turn-three Volo, then begin flooding the battlefield with duplicated creatures on turn four. Every subsequent creature spell threatens to generate twice the value, whether we're drawing handfuls of cards, developing enormous amounts of mana, or creating increasingly ridiculous board states. By turn five, threats like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Astral Dragon"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Spawning Kraken"},{"insert":", and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Pathbreaker Ibex"},{"insert":" can put the table under tremendous pressure. Come turn six, a well-timed "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Craterhoof Behemoth"},{"insert":" or "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"God-Eternal Rhonas"},{"insert":" can turn our growing collection of monsters into a lethal assault capable of dealing well over 120 damage across the table.\n\nWhat makes Volo particularly enjoyable is that our creatures rarely accomplish just one thing. Every new addition to the battlefield can fuel an existing engine, unlock another interaction, or push our army closer to critical mass. We aren't assembling a complicated infinite combo or tutoring for the same winning line every game. We're building an overwhelming ecosystem of monsters and letting their collective strength do the talking.\n\nThe deck's greatest assets are its extraordinary card advantage, explosive mana production, and ability to turn individual creature spells into massive swings in board presence. Our biggest challenge is protecting that investment: a well-timed board wipe can undo several turns of development, and without dedicated creature tutors, we rely on our considerable drawing power to find the finishing blow.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The goal is simple: build our army, double our monsters, and trample anything unfortunate enough to stand in the way."},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Core Strategy"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Everything revolves around Volo's unusual deckbuilding restriction. Whenever we cast a creature spell that shares no creature types with creatures we control or creature cards in our graveyard, Volo creates a token copy of that spell.\n\nThis makes creature-type diversity the foundation of our strategy. By minimizing overlapping types throughout the deck, we maximize the number of creatures Volo can duplicate and ensure that nearly every creature we cast contributes twice as \nmuch to our game plan.\n\nImportantly, Volo copies "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"creature spells on the stack"},{"insert":", not creatures entering the battlefield. The copied spell resolves into a token creature, allowing us to double enter-the-battlefield abilities while also benefiting from additional creatures entering and triggering our other permanents.\n\nThat distinction is what makes the deck so dangerous. One creature spell can produce two bodies, multiple triggered abilities, and enough additional resources to keep the engine rolling.\n\nTurning Value Into an Avalanche"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Once Volo is established, our priority shifts toward developing creatures that reward us for doing what we already want to do: casting more monsters.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Beast Whisperer"},{"insert":" keeps cards flowing whenever we cast creature spells, while "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Garruk's Packleader"},{"insert":" rewards us for putting sufficiently powerful creatures onto the battlefield. With Volo copying our larger threats, Packleader can draw multiple cards from a single cast.\n\nEven humble creatures like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Carven Caryatid"},{"insert":" become attractive when their enter-the-battlefield abilities are doubled. What would normally be a modest defensive creature becomes two bodies and two cards.\nMeanwhile, "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The Great Henge"},{"insert":" provides additional card draw, life gain, and permanent growth for our nontoken creatures, while "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Fanatic of Rhonas"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Gaea's Cradle"},{"insert":" help generate the enormous amounts of mana needed to keep deploying threats.\nOur ideal turns don't end after casting one impressive creature. They end with us drawing more cards, producing more mana, and finding yet another monster to add to the battlefield.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The more creatures we play, the more resources we generate. The more resources we generate, the harder it becomes for the table to keep up."},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Game Plan"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Early Game — Preparing the Expedition (Turns 1–3)"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nOur opening turns are all about speed and consistency.\nWe want to establish our mana quickly, ideally using efficient acceleration like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Birds of Paradise"},{"insert":" or "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Three Visits"},{"insert":" to deploy Volo on turn three. Getting our commander onto the battlefield ahead of schedule is one of the most important things we can do, as every subsequent creature becomes significantly more valuable.\nDuring these turns, we should prioritize developing mana over committing creatures that don't meaningfully advance our strategy. We also want to be mindful of creature types from the very beginning. Even a seemingly harmless early creature can interfere with a much more valuable Volo trigger later.\nA strong opening leaves us with Volo in play, enough mana to begin casting meaningful creatures, and a hand ready to capitalize on his ability.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Mid Game — Let the Monsters Loose (Turns 4–5)"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThis is where the deck starts showing its teeth.\nWith Volo online, our creatures begin arriving in pairs, and our focus shifts toward establishing card advantage, generating mana, and developing a threatening battlefield.\nValue engines like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Garruk's Packleader"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Beast Whisperer"},{"insert":" help sustain our momentum, while our larger creatures begin applying serious pressure. "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Astral Dragon"},{"insert":" can multiply powerful noncreature permanents, while "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Spawning Kraken"},{"insert":" threatens to turn successful combat damage into an ever-growing army of Krakens.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Pathbreaker Ibex"},{"insert":" is especially threatening. With Volo producing a second Ibex, we can potentially set up multiple attack triggers, each scaling our entire army according to the greatest power among creatures we control.\nAt this stage, our biggest decision is often how aggressively to develop the board. We want enough creatures to threaten a decisive attack, but committing every resource into an obvious board wipe can be disastrous.\nIf we already have a commanding position, sometimes the strongest play is simply to hold back additional threats and force our opponents to find an answer.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Late Game — The Stampede (Turn 6 and Beyond)"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nBy turn six, our ideal battlefield has reached critical mass.\nWe should have a substantial collection of creatures, powerful engines supporting them, and enough mana to deploy a game-ending threat. At this point, our focus shifts from generating value to converting that advantage into lethal combat damage.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Craterhoof Behemoth"},{"insert":" is our premier finisher, granting our entire army trample and a massive power boost based on the number of creatures we control. With Volo duplicating Craterhoof, the resulting enter-the-battlefield triggers can produce truly outrageous damage totals.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"God-Eternal Rhonas"},{"insert":" offers another devastating way to finish the game, doubling our creatures' power and granting vigilance. While Rhonas doesn't provide trample himself, pairing his effect with existing evasion or a sufficiently clear battlefield can make for an equally lethal attack.\nAnd when the ground becomes too crowded, "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Wonder"},{"insert":" gives us another avenue to victory by granting our creatures flying while it's in our graveyard and we control an Island.\nOur preferred finish is one overwhelming combat step that eliminates the table before anyone gets another opportunity to stabilize.\nOf course, not every game follows the perfect curve. When our initial assault is disrupted, our considerable card advantage and mana production give us the tools to rebuild and threaten another stampede.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Win Conditions"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Craterhoof Behemoth — The Grand Finale"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"There are few sights in Commander more satisfying than a battlefield full of creatures followed by "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Craterhoof Behemoth"},{"insert":".\nCraterhoof is our most explosive finisher, converting the sheer number of creatures we've accumulated into an enormous, trampling army. Because Volo copies the creature spell, we can receive two Craterhoof enter-the-battlefield triggers from a single cast.\nEach trigger counts the creatures we control as it resolves, including our duplicated monsters. The resulting power boosts stack, allowing even our smallest utility creatures to become terrifying attackers.\nCraterhoof also grants haste, meaning newly created creatures can join the assault immediately.\nWith a sufficiently developed battlefield, this single spell can generate more than enough damage to eliminate all three opponents in one combat step.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Pathbreaker Ibex — The Growing Stampede"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Pathbreaker Ibex"},{"insert":" offers a slightly slower but potentially repeatable route to victory.\nWhenever it attacks, our creatures gain trample and receive a power boost equal to the greatest power among creatures we control. With two Ibexes on the battlefield, we can generate multiple attack triggers and stack their bonuses for devastating results.\nUnlike Craterhoof, Ibex generally needs to survive until it can attack. However, its ability to threaten another enormous combat step every turn makes it a must-answer creature.\nGiven enough support, we don't even need to draw a dedicated finisher. Sometimes two enormous Ibexes are more than enough.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"God-Eternal Rhonas — Overwhelming Force"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"God-Eternal Rhonas"},{"insert":" turns our existing board presence into an immediate offensive threat by doubling the power of our other creatures and granting them vigilance.\nWhen Volo copies Rhonas, the token's enter-the-battlefield ability resolves before the original spell. Both abilities can double the power of creatures already on our battlefield, producing an effective fourfold increase.\nThe original Rhonas is legendary, but the token copy won't remain alongside it under the legend rule. Fortunately, both enter-the-battlefield triggers can still resolve.\nRhonas is particularly devastating when we already have access to trample or flying, allowing our newly empowered army to connect rather than simply crashing into blockers.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Wonder — Taking the Fight to the Skies"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Sometimes our opponents manage to assemble enough blockers to survive even our largest ground assault.\nThat's where "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Wonder"},{"insert":" comes in.\nWith Wonder in our graveyard and an Island under our control, our entire creature army gains flying, allowing us to bypass most ground-based defenses and turn an otherwise stalled battlefield into a lethal aerial attack.\nWonder isn't a finisher by itself, but it provides an important alternative angle of attack when traditional combat becomes difficult.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Key Synergies & Notable Includes"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Astral Dragon — Twice the Dragon, Four Times the Possibilities"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Few creatures capture the spirit of this deck better than "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Astral Dragon"},{"insert":".\nOn its own, Astral Dragon creates two 3/3 flying Dragon token copies of a target noncreature permanent. With Volo copying the spell, we can resolve two Astral Dragons, each bringing its own enter-the-battlefield trigger.\nThat means a single creature spell can potentially produce "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"four additional flying copies of valuable noncreature permanents"},{"insert":", alongside the two Astral Dragons themselves.\nCopying powerful enchantments like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Doubling Season"},{"insert":" or "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Parallel Lives"},{"insert":" can dramatically amplify our token production going forward. The timing of these effects matters, but the potential is enormous.\nAstral Dragon is exactly the kind of creature we love: a massive flying threat that also turns our existing resources into something spectacular.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Card Advantage — Keeping the Monsters Coming"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Our ability to maintain pressure depends heavily on keeping our hand full.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Beast Whisperer"},{"insert":" rewards every creature spell we cast, while "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Garruk's Packleader"},{"insert":" draws cards whenever sufficiently powerful creatures enter under our control. Because Volo creates additional creature entries, Packleader can generate exceptional value from our larger threats.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Carven Caryatid"},{"insert":" offers a simpler example of the same principle: Volo turns its single enter-the-battlefield draw into two cards while providing additional defensive bodies.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The Great Henge"},{"insert":" complements these engines by rewarding our nontoken creature entries with additional cards and +1/+1 counters.\nTogether, these effects help ensure that we're rarely forced to choose between developing our battlefield and maintaining resources for future turns.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Mana Production — Fueling the Menagerie"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Big monsters require big mana, and fortunately, our deck is very good at producing it.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Fanatic of Rhonas"},{"insert":" becomes an excellent source of green mana once we control a creature with power 4 or greater. With Volo creating an additional Fanatic, we can potentially generate eight green mana from the pair once both are able to tap.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Gaea's Cradle"},{"insert":" is particularly powerful in this shell. Since Volo doubles our creature production, Cradle can quickly begin tapping for extraordinary amounts of green mana.\nCombined with our early ramp and other acceleration, these cards allow us to deploy expensive threats ahead of schedule and potentially cast multiple impactful spells in the same turn.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Protection — Keeping the Expedition Alive"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Our strategy naturally encourages us to build a large battlefield, which makes protecting that investment essential.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Heroic Intervention"},{"insert":" is one of our most important defensive spells, granting our permanents hexproof and indestructible at instant speed. It can protect our army against many conventional destroy-based board wipes while also shielding our key permanents from targeted removal.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Fierce Guardianship"},{"insert":" provides another invaluable layer of protection, allowing us to counter a dangerous noncreature spell without spending mana when we control Volo.\nThese spells are especially important during the turns immediately before our finishing attack.\nWe don't need to counter every inconvenient spell. We need to stop the ones that would actually dismantle our board or prevent us from winning.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Mulligan Guide"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nOur opening hand should accomplish one thing above all else: "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"get Volo onto the battlefield early and give us something worthwhile to copy."},{"insert":"\nAn ideal starting hand contains:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"2–3 lands"},{"insert":" with access to both colors."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"At least one efficient "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"1- or 2-mana ramp spell"},{"insert":", ideally enabling a turn-three Volo."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"An early creature or value engine that can benefit from Volo without conflicting with our existing creature types."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Enough remaining resources to continue developing after our commander resolves."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"We should be cautious about keeping hands overloaded with expensive creatures. Having Craterhoof Behemoth and several enormous threats in our opening seven might look exciting, but without the mana to cast them, those cards accomplish very little.\nSimilarly, hands with multiple overlapping creature types can create awkward sequencing problems and undermine our commander's effectiveness.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"A strong Volo hand doesn't need to be spectacular. It needs to get the engine running."},{"insert":" Once Volo begins generating additional creatures and our draw engines come online, the spectacular turns tend to follow naturally.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Final Thoughts"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nAt its heart, Volo, Guide to Monsters is a celebration of everything that makes creature-based Commander decks so much fun: enormous monsters, ridiculous value engines, and combat steps that spiral completely out of control.\nWe aren't trying to assemble an intricate combo or win through an obscure rules interaction. We're taking some of the most exciting creatures Simic has to offer, giving them a partner, and seeing just how much trouble we can cause.\nThe deck rewards careful sequencing, intelligent resource management, and knowing when to commit to the battlefield. It can generate extraordinary advantages, but it also asks us to recognize when to hold back, protect our army, and wait for the right moment to strike.\nAnd when that moment finally arrives, there's nothing quite like watching a seemingly manageable collection of creatures become an unstoppable stampede.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"After all, Volo didn't travel the multiverse to study ordinary creatures. And we certainly didn't build this deck to play just one of them."},{"insert":"\n"}]}