{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Group hug"},{"insert":" deck with "},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Gluntch, The Bestower"},{"insert":" at the helm. Try to control the flow of the game with Gluntch and symmetrical cards and use fogs to discourage people swinging at you. Be generous, but don't tip the scale too much (i.e. "},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Rites of Flourishing"},{"insert":" is usually a "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"very bad idea"},{"insert":" against Landfall decks: read the table before playing anything like that). Protect yourself with your cards and by making deals and let the other players eliminate themselves, thus forcing a 1vs1 with someone you can ultimately topple.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Important Read"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"First of all, I want to address the common misconception that group hug decks "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"\"do nothing\""},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"\"slows the game\""},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"\"have no wincons\""},{"insert":" and are "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"\"backstabbers\""},{"insert":". Usually, players making those claims played versus a very bad group hug deck that, indeed, did those things, or aren't well versed playing with one at the table. Let us be sure you won't make the same mistake.\n\nA group hug deck "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"wants to win exactly like everyone else"},{"insert":": instead of accruing value for itself, the group hug deck's strategy revolves around giving value to its opponent while having the tools to keep them at bay, creating an environment where those opponents are ahead but are encouraged to use their resources against each others, mainly because swinging at the group hug deck will usually waste them due to fogs, redirects, aikido, lifegain and other stuff it can pull off to stabilize itself. Realizing that, we can cross out most of the claims against group hug decks: they have a wincon (usually big haymakers, this one uses a lot of tokens and overrun effects instead) and they make the game go "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"faster"},{"insert":" because they provide more resources for everyone.\n\nAs for being backstabbers, it is honestly not incorrect but not a bad thing to say either: a group hug deck wants to win, so it will "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"eventually"},{"insert":" turns against everyone else. If it doesn't, then it means he is playing the kingmaker, and "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"that "},{"insert":"is bad sport: I strongly advise you to "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"not do so"},{"insert":" and align with the common goal of the game. Have your group hug shenanigans as much as you like, but always try to win the game, because it makes you respectful of the other players and the time they are sharing playing with you.\n\nAs for playing with a group hug deck, the strategy of the uneducated players is usually "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"\"kill them first\""},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"\"never accept their offers\""},{"insert":". Both of those will make you probably waste your resources on the less threatening player in the early-to-mid game and forcing it to empower and strike deals with your opponents, easily turning the tables against you. You have to seize the opportunities and understand when declining them: play "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"around "},{"insert":"the group hug, not "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"against "},{"insert":"it.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Tips"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"As of many of my decks, this has a low land count, the lowest I actually ever did. For this reason, I strongly advise to keep at least a three land initial hand (mulligan aggressively if you need), cast Gluntch ASAP and start making Treasures for yourself in the early stages of the game."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Spread gifts and make deals equally: putting everything on a single player while ignoring the others will "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"always "},{"insert":"paint a target on your head."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Cards like "},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Bloodrot Apothecary"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Yasharn, Implacable Earth"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Nils, Discipline Enforcer"},{"insert":" can surprisingly negate a lot of stuff you can gift to your opponent, like Treasures, creature tokens and counters. Is usually a good idea to hold into those cards until the late stages of the game, or to stop someone who is popping off with Treasures/aristocrats (notorious hard archetype to interact with in casual Commander)."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This deck is extremely resilient against creature-based deck, not so much versus burn/spellslinging and stuff like that. Counterspelling in white ("},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Mana Tithe"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Lapse of Certainity"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":")"},{"insert":" is usually a surprise, so hold on them for the usual "},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Torment of Hailfire"},{"insert":" from the Grixis player."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You can shape the list according to your pod's meta: for example, for some time I had a "},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Suncleanser"},{"insert":" in it because a player was playing a Infect deck."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Wincons"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You can usually win by making a tons of tokens and then cast "},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"End-Raze Forerunners"},{"insert":" or "},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Moonshaker Cavalry"},{"insert":"."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Halo Fountain"},{"insert":" is an alternate wincon if you find yourself in a position where you have a lot of tokens but can't swing them. Have all the mana needed to cast and activate it, and remember you can attack with your tokens to tap them and activate "},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Halo Fountain"},{"insert":" by holding priority and "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"before "},{"insert":"passing to the declare blockers step (untapping the tokens is the cost of activating the ability, thus it can't be responded to)."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Is not unreasonable to win by Voltroning Gluntch: he is a 0/5 with flying and you have ways to give him +1/+1 counters and double strike. "},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Horn of Valhalla"},{"insert":" can catch opponents by surprise."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Shifting the Sands"},{"insert":" can turn any 1vs1 in your favor, so is better to consider it a wincon."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Generally speaking, you want a lot of tokens, but don't hold token generators for too long: most of the time is better to "},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Secure the Wastes"},{"insert":" to get five tokens rather than waiting the perfect moment to get ten. You have various ways to create tokens, so just create some and search for another card to create some more later in the game. The only case you want to hold your token generators is if either "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"a)"},{"insert":" the pod is actively ignoring you, or "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"b) "},{"insert":"someone's board is so wide you can smell the boardwipe incoming."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You are a group hug, but sometimes you can get an incredible and aggressive start. If you get in a position like that, is usually a good idea to ditch the group hug and embrace villainy altogether."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","bold":true},"insert":"Upgrades"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"There are a ton of group hug cards that can be used in Selesnya colors. The list is malleable enough that you can swap cards around using the ones you like the most."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"}]}