{"ops":[{"insert":"Hello and welcome to our completely normal church! We have potlucks every Sunday evening, the youth group meets on Wednesday nights, and human sacrifice Tuesday and Thursday mornings.\n\nThis is a deck I built with a few goals in mind:\nI wanted to build a deck that took advantage of the synergy between clerics and demons."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I wanted to build this deck with thoughts of theming in mind. This is a deck that tells a story of a completely normal church being tempted into darkness by a secret master (it's Razaketh) who uses the church to perform the ritual of ultimate evil to end the world (aka the game)."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I wanted to build something without all the normal boring mana rocks and off-theme but on-color good cards."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I wanted to build an unapologetic combo deck that had a very complex route to victory that rewards the skill of the pilot."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nSo, now that you know the goals, let's talk about the gameplan and how the deck wins.\n\nThe primary way the deck wins is to find a mixture of these effects and go either infinite or semi-infinte:\nSomething that makes mana when our creatures die, like Phyrexian Altar or Pitiless Plunderer. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Something that lets us restart our loops with Orah in play like Bonecaller Cleric or Phyrexian Reclamation, or a Phyrexian Reclamation/Chthonian Nightmare if Orah isn't an option."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Either something that draws us cards when our stuff dies (Dark Prophecy-type effects), something that drains our opponents (Elais Il-Kor, Wayward Disciple), or something that makes us a massive board by triggering every time something dies (Sifter of Skulls, Rotlung Reanimator)."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nAs long as we can keep looping, the deck is designed so that you can take a storm turn where you end the world. Now let's take a look at some of the packages that allow us to do it and discuss individual cards in the deck:\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Package 1: Enchantment Tutors & Enchantments"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Moon-Blessed Cleric & Academy Rector"},{"insert":" each deliver us a toolbox of different pieces that can help us deal with our opponents things or fetch an engine piece to help us combo."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Phyrexian Reclamation "},{"insert":"- an engine piece that will allow us to restart our loops when Orah is on the battlefield, and a powerful utility piece even when Orah isn't there."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Carnival of Souls"},{"insert":" - Don't play this until you're going to go for the win or it might kill you if someone else makes a bunch of creatures. I play it because I need every mana source for my combo possible."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Chthonian Nightmare"},{"insert":" - A good backup piece to combo with when Orah isn't available. As long as you're making 2 mana every time you cycle it, it will go infinite. Currently testing in place of Animate Dead."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Dark Prophecy"},{"insert":" - An engine piece that will help us find the cards we need to turn a sputtering combo into a killing combo. We can kill it later once we've found enough of the cards we need so that it won't kill us with Dawnbringer Cleric or Rite of Oblivion."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Grasp of Fate"},{"insert":" - Tutorable spot removal."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mind Slash"},{"insert":" - This gives us a relatively cheap sac outlet that we can tutor that helps us fight through permission. I play this over Attrition because if we want to remove one or two creatures, we have Grasp of Fate, and if we want to remove a bunch of creatures, we have Grave Pact. This gives us a unique effect to search up that helps us disrupt things besides the board."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Grave Pact"},{"insert":" - This is our version of a board wipe in this deck. It's not uncommon to get several triggers in one turn even on a turn where you're not winning the game. And, it's on theme, they're taking a pact."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Life Insurance"},{"insert":" - This is the way we can tutor up a mana source to help us combo off. Life Insurance is almost a win-con in this deck."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Package 2: Mana"},{"insert":"\n\tI do not play traditional mana rocks in this deck, one because they're lame, and two because you need as many creatures as you can fit in the deck to make sure you have enough to loop with. I think the deck is better without them.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Ashnod's Altar, Phyrexian Altar, Carnival of Souls, Warren Soultrader, Pitiless Plunderer, Sifter of Skulls, Pawn of Ulamog, "},{"insert":"and"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" Life Insurance"},{"insert":" are all the ways I can find that make mana you can use immediately when your creatures die. If anyone knows of more, tell me. Getting two of these on the battlefield at the same time with Orah out is usually GG."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Dark Ritual"},{"insert":" is in the deck over Soul Ring because it is more thematic, and I've honestly found it to be pretty much as good, especially when you need a way to jump-start a sputtering combo."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Weathered Wayfarer, Edgewalker"},{"insert":", & "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Master of the Dark Rites"},{"insert":" also give us mana and are clerics to boot."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Rotlung Reanimator "},{"insert":"often makes a ton of mana if you have an altar or Warren Soultrader out."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\tMy head canon for Pitiless Plunderer is that he's the church treasurer who doesn't really care about the religion side, he's just in it for the money. Warren Soultrader isn't a member of the cult, but is just someone they know and do business with. Sifter of Skulls lives down in the pit where they throw the bodies, unbeknownst to the church. Life Insurance is literally the life insurance scam they're running to fund the church. Pawn of Ulamog is playing along like he's a real member of the cult, but is secretly working for Ulamog instead. The altars are part of the ritual of ending the world.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Package 3: Draw"},{"insert":"\n\tOne of the ways you can go off with this deck instead of finding a cleric that lets you loop your Orah chains infinitely is by drawing more and more creatures to play to create an artificial infinite combo, at least until you find the real deal.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Skullclamp, Taborax, Dark Prophecy, Grim Haruspex "},{"insert":"and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Yawgmoth"},{"insert":" all facilitate this, with Taborax and Yawgmoth also being clerics themselves. Any one of these will easily draw you an insane amount of cards on a turn when you're comboing off, and a couple every turn you're not."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Altar of Dementia"},{"insert":", because self-mill is basically card draw in this deck."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Spymaster's Vault"},{"insert":" is probably the best card in the deck, but it's a huge pain in the ass to play with so I've thought about cutting it. If you're going to play this in Orah, I recommend making a stack of all the cards that trigger when something dies or ETB's and adding this to that stack so that you can keep track of how many creatures died. Also keep Children of Korlis in that stack so you can track how much life you've lost."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Package 3: Tutors"},{"insert":"\n\tSince this is a combo deck, tutors are nearly necessary in order to have a consistent combo. However, because of how I like to play and for considerations of theme, I only played those that went with the theme or were especially synergistic with the deck.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Diabolic Intent - "},{"insert":"It's both thematic and synergistic, and might just be better than demonic tutor in this deck."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Unmarked Grave - "},{"insert":"Not as thematic, but really synergistic."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Buried Alive - "},{"insert":"I imagine as part of some horrid ritual they buried some of their people alive. This stocks your yard and fixes your curve so that you can get max value from your Orah triggers."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Razaketh, the Foulblooded - "},{"insert":"The true master pulling the strings of the cult from the shadows. Razaketh is one of the primary win-cons of the deck. If you untapped with Razaketh and don't win, you probably misplayed."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Entomb"},{"insert":" - Not much to say. Thematic, good card."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Moon-Blessed Cleric & Academy Rector"},{"insert":" discussed in enchantments section."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Package 4: Reanimation"},{"insert":"\n\tReanimation helps this deck's combo not fizzle by restarting Orah loops.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Patriarch's Bidding"},{"insert":" is an absolute bomb in this deck. It's very rare that you resolve a Patriarch's bidding and don't win. The new Convoke one is technically better, but Patriarch's Bidding is way more thematic."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Bonecaller Cleric "},{"insert":"and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Valgavoth's Faithful"},{"insert":" are the most powerful sources of recursion in the deck. As long as your Orah loop is making 3B mana every time it gets back down to 1-2 CMC, they will cause you to loop."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Entomber Exarch"},{"insert":" is very good at helping you loop so long as you're providing enough mana to recast the thing above him in the chain. But conveniently, if you're sacrificing 5 creatures, you should be making at least 5 mana."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Dread Return"},{"insert":" is a good entomb target as a way to jump-start a combo."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Sister Hospitalier"},{"insert":" was a card I resisted putting in for a long time because I was adamant you don't need a 6 drop in the deck, and you don't, but once I tried it I realized how powerful its ETB is. It also goes infinite with Glorious Protector and a sac outlet. Play glorious protector, exile sister. Sac protector, get back sister. Sister trigger target protector. Protector target sister. Repeat. It would also go infinite with Orah and a 7 drop cleric but I'm not sure I'm into playing a 7 drop cleric."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Phyrexian Reclamation, & Chthonian Nightmare "},{"insert":"discussed in the Enchantments section."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Malakir Rebirth "},{"insert":"& "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Agadeem's Awakening"},{"insert":" are both cards I would consider in the deck even if they weren't also lands. Agadeem's also serves as a protection spell in a pinch."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Package 5: Non-Cleric Removal"},{"insert":"\nWe don't play much removal in this deck as it's an all-in combo, and what removal we do play tries to be as unintrusive as possible.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Grave Pact "},{"insert":"& "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Grasp of Fate "},{"insert":"were discussed in the enchantments section."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Fell the Profane "},{"insert":"& "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Hagra Mauling "},{"insert":"are unintrusive as MDFC's."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Note-worthy lands:"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Homeward Path"},{"insert":" because this deck doesn't do very much without Orah."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Spymaster's Vault"},{"insert":" - See draw package notes."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Starlit Sanctum"},{"insert":" leads to one of the funniest kills in the deck, where you make a huge Taborax then fling him at your opponent."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Westvale Abbey"},{"insert":" - Doesn't get more thematic than that."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Witch's Cottage"},{"insert":" - You'll notice all the fetches in the deck are black so we can always find that if we need it."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\n"}]}