{"ops":[{"insert":"Welcome to my faerie tribal deck with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Oskar, Rubbish Reclaimer"}},{"insert":"! \n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"TL;DR:"},{"insert":" Many faeries care about casting spells on opponent's turns and Oskar, in fae-like fashion, allows you to break the timing restrictions of your spells. Tricksy paradise! \n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"NOTES: "},{"insert":"\na.) For those not familiar, Oskar's second ability allows you to cast spells at instant speed as long as you are discarding at instant speed (which is the vast majority of the time). \nb.) I would recommend reading the deck with Group by Categories and Sort by Mana Value.\nc.) The pods I play in don't run particularly optimal/expensive manabases. Please feel free to substitute your dimir landbase of choice/budget (we are also a tutor extra-light pod).\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"WHAT"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" IS THE GAMEPLAN:"},{"insert":" Build an army of faeries, both non-token/token, and protect yourself with redirection magic until you can play a finisher like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Day of the Dragons"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shadow Puppeteers"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Notorious Throng"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sleep"}},{"insert":". The faeries, with their illusory magic, turn into dragons, neat! \n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Early Game T1-3:"},{"insert":" Cast Oskar as soon as faerily possible. Ramp for Oskar looks a little different compared to other five cost commanders. Due to his discount ability the deck runs a combination of traditional ramp (Sol Ring, Dimir Signet, Arcane Signet), alongside graveyards fillers ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Frantic Search"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dihada's Ploy"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Unwelcome Sprite"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Twilight Diviner"}},{"insert":"). We are looking to find draw spells/engines, 15 of which are mana value three or less.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mid Game T4-6:"},{"insert":" Oskar is usually out by now, if not, T4 often looks like casting him for two and having mana available to perform the first discardcast. Finding and playing a discount engine ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Emet-Selch of the Third Seat"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bog Witch"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mocking Sprite"}},{"insert":") or discard engine ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Trickster Mage"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ghostly Pilferer"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Oblivion Crown"}},{"insert":") is key. By T7 we'll have also played roughly two of our 'Big Faeries' ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Talion, the Kindly Lord"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nymris, Oona's Trickster"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Archmage of Echoes"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"High Fae Trickster"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Alela, Cunning Conqueror"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Oona, Queen of the Fae"}},{"insert":") or at least three of our 'Small Faeries' (the rest). Our redirection suit of spells ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Divert"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Imp's Mischief"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Misdirection"}},{"insert":", etc) should be held for our engines; Oskar can be recast very easily when required.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Late Game T7-T10:"},{"insert":" To last until and through the late game we will have leveraged our interaction to encourage our opponents to hit each other, while chipping away where we can with our small army of flyers/pings. In most games our health total is low, but at least one opponent is removed from the game (whomever we convinced the table was the biggest threat). If we have a reasonable board state we can close with one of our dragon transmog finishers. If our board state can't close the game, Sleep can null crucial combats for our opponents until we can catch up and win. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"HOW"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" IS THE GAMEPLAN:"},{"insert":" I enjoy playing tribal decks that make me feel like the kindred creature of choice: Pirates that steal permanents and loot, bards that cast enchanting spells and create a ruckus (goad), etc. This deck is an invitation to play like a faerie trickster. We want to be creating squabbles between players, redirecting targets, and being mischievous and secretive in our spellcasting. This next small section covers the 'how' of the gameplan: general and specific play patterns, interactions and high impact cards. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"General Play Patterns:"},{"insert":"\nThis is a politicking-reliant deck (I personally skew towards these). Conversing with your opponents, 'small-beaning' a little, and leveraging potential interaction are all tools you'll need to rely on. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Playing a land and passing is very normal. We are looking to play on your opponent's end step/whenever is appropriate during our opponents' turns. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"If you're playing this deck with folks for the first time, in your pregame conversation, declare this is what your deck looks and plays like. Be sure to explain that it isn't a dimir control deck slinging counterspells. Rather, you are playing instant speed faeries that can redirect spells as protection. This leads to less early hostility at the table. "},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Feel free to offer to take hits from your opponents in the early/mid game if they need attack triggers. If your pod is high on contractual dealmaking, definitely stipulate the hit with '"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"if you hit me, I get to ask you to safely hit someone else of my choice later in the game"},{"insert":"' or similar. Taking the hit still works if your pod is low on contractual dealmaking, it usually creates a soft advantage where opponents are more likely to hear you out on other things or not attack you in the near future."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"We also want to be positioning ourselves as unthreatening until the last moments of the game, and a lower health total helps with this. "},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"It is normal (highly recommended) to discard 'Big Faeries' if you don't have the mana or if it means seeing more of your deck. These higher MV creatures are also there to help recast Oskar if needed, and can always be retrieved later with the small recursion suite."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Specific Play Patterns:"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Trickster Mage"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":": "},{"insert":"Cool to untap a Sol Ring, but we will usually be looking to politic surprise blockers for potential allies as Trickster Mage can untap "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"any"},{"insert":" creature (while casting our own spells)."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Redirection Spells (Found under the Protection category):"},{"insert":" In comparison to traditional countermagic, redirection spells, in my experience, have led to less salty reactions at the table (especially lower brackets). The 'It's "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Your"},{"insert":" Removal Spell' rhetoric/shrug, when "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Meddle"}},{"insert":"-ing an opponent's Swords to Plowshares back to their creature, is usually (begrudgingly) accepted. What's more pixie-coded than reversing spells??"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Fun tidbit: This deck can comfortably tango with Bracket 3 decks due to the overall increase in interaction expected from opponents."},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Bluffing Redirection Spells:"},{"insert":" Better than using redirection spells. Convincing an opponent to target a mutual opponent's threat as a safer use of their removal is good politicking/faerie roleplay. If they reply '"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"why don't I just target your creature and force you to use your redirect?"},{"insert":"', you say '"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"then who's going to redirect the next removal spell that comes for your creature?"},{"insert":"'. Whether you have the redirect in your hand or not is moot. Being a faerie is about, amongst other things, gaslighting. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"High Impact Cards:"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Ghostly Pilferer"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":": "},{"insert":"As well as being an instant speed discard outlet, Pilferer is also a reliable rogue damage dealer for "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Notorious Throng"}},{"insert":"."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Talion, the Kindly Lord"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":": "},{"insert":"Most folks are familiar with Talion, with the ideal numbers to select being 2 or 3."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Shadow Puppeteers"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":":"},{"insert":" Best to discardcast or recur this on your opponent's end step to hide its potential to end the game. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Sleep"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":": "},{"insert":"Late enough in the game Sleep can be used to turn an opponents board offline. Extra points for convincing another one of your opponents to swing for lethal at your 'sleeping' opponent."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"As Foretold"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":": "},{"insert":"INSANE. Sleeper of the deck. As Foretold gives you a discount 'on "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"each"},{"insert":" turn', "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"not"},{"insert":" 'on each of "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"your"},{"insert":" turns'. This effect means Oskar's first discardcast costs 0 each turn, as long as the MV of the spell is equal to or below the number of As Foretold's time counters (currently only in ~53 of ~2843 decks on EDHREC) "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Victimize"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":":"},{"insert":" With a discardcast, recurring two creatures to the battlefield at instant speed has won me games in the past. There are 10 creatures with MV4 or higher; any of them are helpful for the midgame. In the lategame, Glen Elendra Liege + Shadow Puppeteers turns the majority of your board into 6/6 flyers. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Monument to Endurance"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":":"},{"insert":" Broken in 1v1, irreparable in EDH, especially with how consistently we can discard on our opponents' turns. Prioritise "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"treasures"},{"insert":" early. Drawing cards scares opponents (as it should). We want the mana from treasures to reliably discardcast on each of our opponents turns in the mid/late game. If it sticks around, Monument can also end the game with ping damage ( 24dmg to each opponent over two rounds is not too shabby)."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Waterlogged Teachings // Inundated Archive"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":": "},{"insert":"Tutor for your finisher. I would recommend holding this in your hand until you absolutely need it (stay in the game, or end it). Using it early usually puts a target on your back."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Interactions:"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Twilight Diviner"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" + Oskar:"},{"insert":" Diviner will copy any creature you discardcast with Oskar on the field. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Monument to Endurance + Oskar:"},{"insert":" When you discard a spell, you can use the treasure made from Monument to pay for the discardcast of that same spell with Oskar (we finally broke MtE)."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Bog Witch"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" + Oskar: "},{"insert":"Similar value as above; Bog Witch's ability is a mana ability, you receive the mana immediately, before Oskar's ability goes on the stack. You can use this mana to discardcast the spell you discarded to generate the mana ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dark Ritual"}},{"insert":" on a stick ain't bad)."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Sleep + "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Halo Forager"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"/Emet-Selch: "},{"insert":"Recurring Sleep with Forager/Emet-Selch will often close out a game. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Victimize"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" + Halo Forager/"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Emet-Selch of the Third Seat"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":":"},{"insert":" Similarly impactful in retrieving Big Faeries from our graveyard. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"TIPS:"},{"insert":" A charcuterie of advice and learnings that I will update as I play:\nDon't play "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rankle, Master of Pranks"}},{"insert":" too early. Folks don't like their hands and boards messed with. T5/6 after developing a token generator seems to be the sweet spot. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Don't transform "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Matzalantli, the Great Door // The Core"}},{"insert":". "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Try to keep your faerie tokens around. Use them as chump blockers as little as possible. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Always prioritise protecting your engines (discard, discount, draw) over Oskar and some of the other 'Big Faeries'. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" TUNE UP:"},{"insert":" Alterations to make the deck more powerful:\nMana base, easiest fix, and likely the most impactful. Even basic surveil utility lands like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Conduit Pylons"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Surveillance Room"}},{"insert":". "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Game changers, namely "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vampiric Tutor"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Notion Thief"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cyclonic Rift"}},{"insert":", all fit with the deck's overall gameplan/consistency."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Reducing the recursion suite and replacing with the infinite mana/enters/ping combo like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cloud of Faeries"}},{"insert":"/"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Quickling"}},{"insert":"/"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Faerie Impostor"}},{"insert":" + "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Obyra, Dreaming Duelist"}},{"insert":"."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Step Through"}},{"insert":" would be a cool inclusion, many of our Big Faeries and engines are also wizards we can wizardcycle for."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ripples of Undeath"}},{"insert":" would do a lot of work for card selection and graveyard filling."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"TUNE DOWN: "},{"insert":"Alterations to make the deck less powerful/more budget:\nRemoving expensive cards; Alela + Monument to Endurance = $50, along with Archmage of Echoes + Misdirection = $80 total. Deck is now ~$150. Getting to $120 is also possible, but would impact the speed of the deck. If attempting $120, cutting the most expensive card from each category would be my recommendation (leaving the Draw category as large as possible). You can replace these expensive cards with other tricksy cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Twisted Image"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Twisted Reflection"}},{"insert":"."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Removing counter magic that isn't redirection ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Circular Logic"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Saw It Coming"}},{"insert":")."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Removing Waterlogged Teachings. Not being able to find Sleep/Notorious Throng/Victimize will reduce the consistency of the deck slightly (easy change to make if you play in no-tutor pods)."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThank you for taking the time and spending the energy in reading this primer. I hope this finds you on a particularly warm and joyful day. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wave Goodbye"}},{"insert":" \n"}]}