{"ops":[{"insert":"Welcome to a different kind of Dimir Control. Most Jon Irenicus decks try to donate terrible, game-losing creatures like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Archfiend of the Dross"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rust Elemental"}},{"insert":". This deck takes a sleeker, more reliable approach: we donate cheap, unblockable creatures, force our opponents to beat each other to death, and hide behind a wall of instant-speed interaction while drawing massive amounts of cards.\n\nInstead of handing out toxic threats that make us the archenemy, we give away small, evasive creatures. These act as political toys rather than immediate problems for the receiver. The goal is to play cheap creatures with useful enter-the-battlefield or sacrifice abilities that benefit us early on. Because these creatures are inherently harmless on their own, we aren't punished if Jon gets removed in our second main phase and we get stuck sitting on them.\n\nBuilt for a mid-power, interactive meta (Bracket 2), this list eschews zero-mana counterspells and infinite combos in favor of rigorous curve management, political manipulation, and asymmetric board states.\n\nThe Golden Curve (Early Game)"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This deck is meticulously constructed to execute the same opening sequence in almost every game. The high density of 1-drops and 2-mana rocks guarantees this setup:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Turn 1 (The Setup):"},{"insert":" Play an evasive 1-drop: "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Slither Blade"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Changeling Outcast"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Triton Shorestalker"}},{"insert":", ..."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Turn 2 (The Ramp):"},{"insert":" Play a 2-mana rock"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Turn 3 (The Engine):"},{"insert":" Cast "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Jon Irenicus, Shattered One"}},{"insert":". Move to your end step and donate the evasive 1-drop to an opponent. Jon puts two +1/+1 counters on it and goads it permanently."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nFrom Turn 3 onwards, your engine is online. The opponent is forced to attack other players with a 3/3 unblockable creature. Whenever they do, you draw a card.\n\nDraw/Go Control (Mid Game)"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nOnce Jon is on the field, the deck transitions entirely into a Draw/Go control strategy. You rarely want to tap out during your own main phase. Instead, you pass the turn with open mana. You want to be harmless looking and not having massive turns on your own.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Passive Card Draw:"},{"insert":" If you donate a few creatures, you will naturally draw 2 to 3 cards per turn cycle just by watching your opponents attack each other."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Instant-Speed Policing:"},{"insert":" You hold up mana for instant interaction. You only interact if someone threatens Jon, tries to combo off, or attacks you with a non-goaded threat."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Crime Pays:"},{"insert":" Because we rely heavily on spot removal and bounce spells, we constantly commit \"crimes\" on our opponents' turns. This turns "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Gisa, the Hellraiser"}},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"into an absolute powerhouse, passively generating an army of 3/3 Menace Zombies while we leave our mana up for counterplay. We also run "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gisa, Glorious Resurrector"}},{"insert":", who steals dead opposing creatures and brings them back with Decayed. When we donate those Decayed creatures with Jon, his \"can't be sacrificed\" clause overrides the Decayed drawback, giving our opponents permanent attackers. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe Endgame: How We Finish"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nJon Irenicus lists often struggle with the 1v1 phase. Goad forces creatures to attack other players, but if there is only one opponent left, they are legally allowed (and forced) to attack "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"you"},{"insert":" with the massive army you built for them. Because a dedicated combo line isn't the focus here, the deck relies on adaptable attrition and asymmetric blowouts to close the game:\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Reclaiming the Army:"},{"insert":" When the game enters the 1v1 phase, you can use mass-bounce effects ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Filter Out"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aetherize"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wave Goodbye"}},{"insert":") or repeatable bounce ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Crystal Shard"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Waterfront Bouncer"}},{"insert":") to return your donated creatures to your own hand, leaving the final opponent defenseless. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Homeward Path"}},{"insert":" would be the best choice here, probably in combination with an "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Expedition Map"}},{"insert":" to find it, but I don't own one."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Borrowing Lethal:"},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Reins of Power"}},{"insert":" serves as the ultimate finisher. Swap creatures with the final opponent for one turn, and hit them in the face with the very monsters you pumped up for them all game."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Heavy Hitters:"},{"insert":" If the donated 1-drops aren't enough to cross the finish line, we run a few resilient Dimir staples to close out the game. Cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Scarab God"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Doom Whisperer"}},{"insert":" provide massive, standalone board presence and value engines that function perfectly even if Jon is kept off the board."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"}]}