{"ops":[{"insert":"Ayula Bearstorm"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"\"Don't try to outrun one of Dominia's Grizzlies; it'll catch you, knock you down, and eat you. Of course, you could run up a tree. In that case you'll get a nice view before it knocks the tree down and eats you.\" "},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"image":"https://media1.giphy.com/media/kleeBtj07a8Hm/giphy.gif"}},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":{"video":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/VVpA47DQTAQ?showinfo=0"}},{"insert":"\nDeck tech video above for those who don't want to read this text monstrosity.\n\n\tSo before I get into the deck, I just want to give some backstory as to why this deck is important to me and why I am choosing to play it the way it is. If you don't care, that's cool, you can skip right to the \"Introduction\" heading. \n\n\tI started playing Magic with my brother some time around Christmas of 2010. My parents used to play when they were younger, and gave us their old cards and a rulebook when they found them in the attic. My first game was against my father. He had a blue black deck with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Black Knight"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Flight"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sengir Vampire"}},{"insert":" and I played my mother's old deck which had a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Living Wall"}},{"insert":", four "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lightning Bolt"}},{"insert":", and a few "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Craw Wurm"}},{"insert":". I got beat, but it was a close game. Immediately, I was hooked. My dad and I taught my brother to play and we dismantled both our parents' old decks and built decks of our own. While searching through my parents' collection, what I initially fell in love with wasn't the mechanics, but the flavor text. My absolute favorite was"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=1250"},"insert":" Grizzly Bears"},{"insert":". I thought the text was hilarious, plus, compared to the other cards we had ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hill Giant"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gray Ogre"}},{"insert":") it wasn't too bad. I slotted two of them into my GB flying deck since I didn't have enough "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scryb Sprites"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hypnotic Specter"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sengir Vampire"}},{"insert":"s. They turned out to actually do pretty well against my brother's white red weenies deck, not dying to "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Icatian Javelineers"}},{"insert":", and becoming a frequent target of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Giant Growth"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Unholy Strength"}},{"insert":". "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grizzly Bears"}},{"insert":" became a fast favorite of mine and by the time I started playing (mostly losing) with people in school I had given them a special place in my binder. I also started collecting other bears to go with them. \n\tBy the time "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wild Beastmaster"}},{"insert":" was printed in Return to Ravnica (and after a string of good bear cards in the Innistrad block) I had enough bears/bear themed cards to make a full on bear deck. It was actually pretty decent, and won with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Overrun"}},{"insert":", which happens to have a bear in its art. When "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Surrak Dragonclaw"}},{"insert":" was printed, I migrated the deck to EDH and slotted in "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Time Ebb"}},{"insert":" and some other cool cards. The deck was neat. But in the years I had it, it only got itself two wins, both times due to grievous misplays on my opponents' side. One time someone literally forgot I was still in the game. I thought that bears forever was destined to be a forgotten creature type, consigned to the dark nether-reaches of viability to never see play against competent and/or sober opponents capable of putting up a fight. That was, until "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ayula, Queen Among Bears"}},{"insert":" was printed. Ayula presented my tribe with its first real chance to take some games, and when I saw her I decided I wanted to take advantage of it as much as possible. I had been running bears for so long, now that others would be joining me on the bearwagon it was time to elevate things to the next level. This deck is the \"next level\" or as close to it as we can get. Get ready for the (I hope) best bear deck on the internet. \n\n"},{"insert":{"image":"https://media1.tenor.com/images/8cb226a97a0388904f0c5cee29fcb943/tenor.gif?itemid=8725056"}},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"\"They've got claws as long as your arm. And they're grouchy. Really, really grouchy.\""},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Introduction"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\tThis is NOT a casual Ayula deck. This deck aims to be the strongest/most competitive Ayula deck on the internet. It is designed to take games by being aggressive in the early game with Ayula and some bears and then resolve a draw engine to help us transition into the mid game. In the late game we can combo out using a cheap knock-off version of the Selvala Brostorm combo.\n\nWhy play Bearstorm?"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\tIf your playgroup is a little too good for regular bear tribal, or if you just want to crush people with vanilla 2/2's while repeating the same six overused bear puns, this deck is for you. Bearstorm does well in tuned metas where combo and ramp heavy decks dominate tables. It has the ability to beat down threatening players in the early game and squash mana dorks or hatebears (our bears are better) that could stall our attacks. Bearstorm does poorly in creature heavy metas or metas that favor heavy boardwipes/control since, like most green creature decks, it struggles to recover from repeatedly losing its resources. \n\nWhat's our power level?"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\tI will be the first to tell you that bear tribal is still bearly viable compared to similar strats. This build is a bit of a stretch and it still doesn't bring us anywhere close to competitive level, especially not after the "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Paradox Engine"}},{"insert":" ban since it was our most efficient value engine. I would say this most recent iteration of the deck sits firmly in the high power category, or just above \"75%\". Keep in mind that power levels are relative and almost literally everyone I have ever asked about their decks have said something along the lines of \"Oh its about 75%\" regardless of how good their deck actually was. I think an accurate way of visualizing this deck's power level is by saying it can threaten a win around turns 4-7 usually and can sometimes disrupt a win as early as turns 2-3. As a baseline to compare against, most cEDH decks can either threaten or disrupt a win on turns 2-3 consistently. \n\nThe Gameplan"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"image":"https://i.imgur.com/hKDuhAe.jpg"}},{"insert":"\n\n Start the game by looking to keep opening hands with around two lands and an early accelerant such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Llanowar Elves"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Chrome Mox"}},{"insert":". Look to cast Ayula as early as possible, turn one or two and then begin resolving some bears. With your first bearboi you are usually going to want to bring Ayula up to a 4/4. Killing dorks is also a good strategy but I usually find that if I don't buff Ayula early it can be hard to kill tougher creatures like hatebears once they start coming down on turns 2-3. Around this time we are going to want to pump the brakes on creatures and resolve a draw engine. This will allow us to continue to play creatures and fight shit while our opponents (hopefully) remain behind on boardstate. Sometimes, we don't have to go much further and we will naturally draw into a win via combat damage. Other times we are going to have to rely on recurring "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Craterhoof Behemoth"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Great Oak Guardian"}},{"insert":" a few times before we swing in. If the game goes long enough and we are still failing to push through and win we can always enter the Bearstorm.\n\n"},{"insert":{"image":"https://i.imgur.com/PlLHE8D.gif"}},{"insert":"\n\nEntering the Bearstorm"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\tThe Bearstorm refers to our shitty Brostorm combo that we run in the deck. We can use either "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Selvala, Heart of the Wilds"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Priest of Titania"}},{"insert":" in combination with haste and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Temur Sabertooth"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cloudstone Curio"}},{"insert":" to generate infinite mana and enters the battlefield triggers. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Great Oak Guardian"}},{"insert":" and enough dorks works as well. From here we can wipe the board and make infinite power and toughness to swing in with haste for a win. Here is the breakdown for those not familiar with the combo:\n\tWith Selvala/Titania, and Sabertooth and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lightning Greaves"}},{"insert":"/"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Swiftfoot Boots"}},{"insert":" on board, tap your mana dork for their casting cost +3 mana (+4 if you have Boots). Recast your dork and equip your stylish footwear. Repeat until you have infinite mana and then cast Ayula and spam cast a bear until everything is dead and you can attack for lethal. For Cloudstone Curio you need a dork that can tap for equip cost + its casting cost + the casting cost of a creature in your hand. \n\nOther Combinations"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\tWhile the Bearstorm is our mainstay combo, we have a few other strong synergies in the deck that are pretty capable of causing panda-monium. They may not win on the spot but they are still very powerful.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Words of Wilding"}},{"insert":": This card synergizes with our draw engines to get extra triggers out of Ayula. Feels especially good with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sylvan Library"}},{"insert":" (is Sylvan Library a bear???) and also has the added bonus of saving us from drawing out if it comes to that.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Crop Rotation"}},{"insert":": We have a pretty decent package of lands to fetch with this although we grab "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx"}},{"insert":" pretty much 85% of the time. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Arcane Lighthouse"}},{"insert":" has been fairly useful for me. It is able to break through hexproof on "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Narset, Enlightened Master"}},{"insert":" and commanders who wear shoes. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ghost Quarter"}},{"insert":" is another useful land to get sometimes. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Haunted Fengraf"}},{"insert":" can really take people by surprise as well.\n\n"},{"insert":{"image":"https://media3.giphy.com/media/MYOa2sUPoYbeM/giphy.gif"}},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"\"Don't worry about provoking Grizzly Bears; they come that way.\""},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nSpecific Card Choices"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\tThis deck is always going to be a work in progress. As such I am always open to suggestions, and in the name of brainstorming the best bearstorming deck out there will keep a detailed changelog as well as an updated list of notable inclusions/exclusions so as to let as many people in on the deckbuilding process as possible. \n\nBudgetless Options"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\tThis deck is my paper version of the deck. I am also building a budgetless list, and if "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Runeclaw Bear"}},{"insert":" ever spikes maybe I can sell all my copies and buy it."},{"attributes":{"link":"http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/ayula-bearstorm-budgetless/?cb=1563151187"},"insert":" Here is the link to the budgetless list. "},{"insert":"It is more or less the same, just with more efficient ramp spells, a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Survival of the Fittest"}},{"insert":", and some other expensive cards that help us out. I will slowly be bringing cards from that list into this one, although I may never get "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gaea's Cradle"}},{"insert":". I am not as familiar with budgetless decks as I would like to be (As a poor grad student I can't/shouldn't be buying expensive singles and nobody ever wants to trade their "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mana Crypt"}},{"insert":"s) so this list for sure contains oversights and suboptimal card choices. Hopefully with more suggestions I can get it where it needs to be.\n\nBudget Options"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\tThis is a little against the "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=159224"},"insert":"spirit of the deck"},{"insert":" as this deck aims to be the best bear deck possible and as everyone knows being good actually just means spending money."},{"attributes":{"link":"https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/ayula-budgetstorm/?cb=1563197110"},"insert":" My budget list for this deck can be found here."},{"insert":" It plays much slower and less consistently than my paper version which plays a little slower than the budgetless version. It is just under $100 and that is where I plan to keep it at. Although, to be honest, you may have better luck running stax over storm if your budget is low. Perhaps I will make a \"Budget Hatebears\" deck next.\n\n\nIndividual Card Breakdown"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Da Bears"},{"insert":": We have a total of 18 bears in the deck. I chose to keep the ones with the lowest CMC for spamcasting reasons. Our best bear is "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Chameleon Colossus"}},{"insert":" and our worst is probably "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Pale Bears"}},{"insert":", although the Islandwalk basically reads as \"unblockable\". "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Alpine Grizzly"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Spectral Bears"}},{"insert":" work great as \"fight\" spells for their CMC and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ashcoat Bear"}},{"insert":" (or as I call it, Flashcoat Bear) never fails to catch people by surprise. \n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Draw Engines"},{"insert":": Tutoring for "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Beast Whisperer"}},{"insert":" is often a good play in this build. We need to get our draw out as early as we can. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vanquisher's Banner"}},{"insert":" is our worst draw engine but also gives us some extra power and toughness to pressure with our bear board. \n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Recursion Engines: "},{"insert":"This is the part of our deck that took a massive hit when Sheldon decided he didn't like our specific combo but all the other combos this deck loses to are fine. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Temur Sabertooth"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cloudstone Curio"}},{"insert":" are our best options but we also have "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Erratic Portal"}},{"insert":" for some added redundancy. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cauldron of Souls"}},{"insert":" is an interesting engine that can protect us from those pesky boardwipes, but we can also sometimes use it to have Ayula fight an ETB creature to get its trigger again. \n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Dorks: "},{"insert":"One mana dorks are essential to keeping this deck competitive and we run "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"all"},{"insert":" of them. They are necessary for keeping us on curve.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Panharmonicon"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":": "},{"insert":"This card is so "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"sweet. "},{"insert":"It allows us to double trigger Ayula so she can get buffed and then fight shit. Awesome.\n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Ulvenwald Bear"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":": "},{"insert":"I wanted to give this beefy fella his own section because he has an interesting anti-synergy with Ayula. Because of the way Morbid checks for a creature dying you cannot play this guy and stack triggers so Morbid goes off when you fight with him. Big tragedy. The card is still really good tho. \n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Rhonas's Monument"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":": "},{"insert":"This card is another great value engine and the trample and power boost can really help put on the pressure. It is a nice card to have when storming off and even when we aren't popping off we can use it to fight stuff and trample over chumps. \n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Finale of Devastation"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":": "},{"insert":"Another wincon. Getting either "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Craterhoof Behemoth"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Great Oak Guardian"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma"}},{"insert":" usually closes the game if you can haste all your creatures up. With our other green creature tutors it is usually best to just go for Craterhoof. \n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Aluren"}},{"insert":": This card is nuts.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Hibernation's End"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":": "},{"insert":"There are a few different lines for this card that you can take into consideration. We don't have a five drop in the deck but we also don't really need one just for Hibernation's End. If you feel strongly about Birthing Pod and bears I suggest adding "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Acidic Slime"}},{"insert":".\n\t\t\tCombo line: Llanowar Elves, Priest of Titania, Selvala Heart of the Wilds, Temur Sabertooth, nothing (all you really need should be the sabertooth anyways), Great Oak Guardian.\n\t\t\tFight Shit Line: Universal Automaton, Spectral Bears, Alpine Grizzly, Goreclaw, Terror of Qal-Sisma.\n\t\t\tTribal Line: Universal Automaton, Metallic Mimic, Pale Bears/Ulvenwald Bear/Alpine Grizzly, Chameleon Colossus/Goreclaw.\n\t\t\t\"I'm Losing\" Line: Llanowar Elves, Werebear, Eternal Witness, Chameleon Colossus.\n\n"},{"insert":{"image":"https://media.tenor.com/images/420b7d504e893dfeba1fa0bc4df2ae97/tenor.gif"}},{"insert":"\n\nNotable Exclusions"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Literally any tribal support: "},{"insert":"I know. This is labelled a bear tribal deck, but it hardly runs any tribal support. I have decided to forgo tribal support cards such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Door of Destinies"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Herald's Horn"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Coat of Arms"}},{"insert":" just because they are all a bit too slow and I would rather be resolving something that hurts my opponents more, such as a draw engine or a stax piece, than a \"win more\" card that buffs the boardstate I should already have dominantly established. Also I think the best tribal support Ayula can get is as many bears entering the battlefield as possible and there aren't many tribal engines that do that. I have considered "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Descendants' Path"}},{"insert":" but even then I don't think it will trigger enough. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Metallic Mimic"}},{"insert":" was kept due to low CMC and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vanquisher's Banner"}},{"insert":" for the draw but other than that I am largely ignoring tribal effects for this build. Hell, there's almost as much elf support here as there is Bear support. \n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Doubling Season"}},{"insert":":"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"It was in the initial cut of this deck, but ultimately I found that it didn't help me at the stage of the game I was casting it with +1 +1 counters and I didn't have tokens become relevant as much as I thought they would. I cut it for "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lurking Predators"}},{"insert":" in this most recent iteration.\n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=446183"},"insert":"Vigor: "},{"insert":"While this card seems good with fight I think its just too slow for me to include here. \n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Darksteel Plate"}},{"insert":": "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"Maybe this will help with the boardwipes but it still seems like a wasted slot.\n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Concordant Crossroads"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":": "},{"insert":"I don't like the symmetry of this effect but I am on the fence with this one because it is pretty good. I would cut some footwear for it but my nice shoes protect Ayula so I am leaving it out for now. Also I can't afford one. That's the real reason. I am cutting Swiftfoot Boots for Crossroads as soon as I get my hands on one.\n "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Genesis Wave"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":": "},{"insert":"Another big mana X spell that I likely won’t be able to take full advantage of. Don't think it is consistent.\n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Cryptolith Rite"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":": "},{"insert":"I tested it for a while and it was a dead draw most of the time.\n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Honored Hierarch"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":": "},{"insert":"Okay, maybe I don't run all the one mana dorks after all. This guy is a bit too slow and not even an elf. Didn't he read "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Runeclaw Bear"}},{"insert":" ?"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":{"image":"https://i.imgur.com/TD1s6YZ_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium"}},{"insert":"\n\nAlternative Builds"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\tI aim to have the strongest possible Ayula deck, and brewing alternative lists is part of that process. Currently, the only other build I have that I feel is viable is a stax build. There is also a casual \"Overrun Tribal\" build that I made one night after seeing it in a dream (It was a bad dream and this is a bad deck). I'm a bit eccentric so I have written out a little mini primer below. I have also hyperlinked the decklist in the title.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/139716#Ayula_Hatebears"},"insert":"Ayula Hatebears"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\t"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/139716#Ayula_Hatebears"},"insert":"Ayula Hatebears"},{"insert":" is a slow, grindy stax build that focuses on taking advantage of early creature ramp and board presence, pivoting into one or more stax pieces in order to keep opponents from establishing themselves. From there it seeks to kill with creature beats, attacking for damage every turn if it can with bears and other creatures. It does have a way to go infinite, the Bearstorm combo, but it is not the deck's primary line of play. You will want to play Ayula Hatebears if you enjoy staxy games, want to play something a little more \"fair\" than combo, or like memeing on people with the "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=159277"},"insert":"cards that Sheldon hates"},{"insert":". The goal of the deck is to inhibit any strategy besides pure creature beats. Now my group is pretty okay with stax (always ask your friends before you become a soulless, degenerate, no good stax fucker) and even so I don't plan on getting this in paper unless digital testing shows that it is "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"significantly"},{"insert":" better than Bearstorm, so the list is budgetless by default. If you love stax and want to make this affordable start by swapping all the special lands for forests, and swap "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Crop Rotation"}},{"insert":" for "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Broken Bond"}},{"insert":" (which has the word BEAR in its flavor text!!!) or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tsunami"}},{"insert":" because fuck blue amirite?\n\nThe Game Plan"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\tLook to keep a hand with at least two lands, some ramp, a bear, and a stax piece ideally. Cast Ayula as early as possible and start fighting and swinging. Around turn three or four depending on what your opponents are doing you are going to want to resolve a stax piece or two. From there, continue to maintain boardstate until you can either slowly beat everyone down or win with a big swing. The deck runs a plethora of removal, using Ayula and fight for creatures and an assortment of instants and sorceries for artifacts and enchantments. For the most part, these should keep the board clear and allow your creature to bear down on your foes in full force.\n\nWinning with Hatebears"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\tOverrun effects such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Craterhoof Behemoth"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Garruk Wildspeaker"}},{"insert":"'s ult are our main path to victory. Pressuring life totals is the way to go, which is why we cut "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nature's Claim"}},{"insert":" in this iteration of the deck. Entering the Bearstorm is also still possible with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Priest of Titania"}},{"insert":" but with less creature tutors and no more Selvala it is more of a Plan C to Overrun effects and regular creature beats. \n\nWhat's Our Power Level?"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\tThis deck actually might stack up better against competitive decks than the OG Bearstorm does. Decks at the cEDH level are especially susceptible to early stax strategies that can disrupt their hyperlinear gameplans. That being said we will lose to a stax deck with better cards in it. It is possible though that this deck can eke out a win at a competitive table assuming it can fight people's Tymnas and Najeelas continuously stax out combo decks. It still loses to heavy removal so pray we don't see any "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Toxic Deluge"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fire Covenant"}},{"insert":"s and if we do that our opponent pays enough life that we can just kill them after getting our board back. That being said, neither this nor Bearstorm are competitively viable. They are by no means cEDH decks. I would still place this deck firmly in the \"high power\" category or whatever category you put joke decks that rely on competitive cards and combos but aren't as slot efficient or quick as real competitive decks. \n\tHonestly this deck is in a bit of a weird spot since I would actually consider it very much against the spirit of the format (I know I talk shit, and I do think that some players need to broaden their definition of \"fun\", but there very much is a social contract in EDH and one would be breaking it by playing this against casuals without consent from the table) but also by no means strong enough to play at competitive tables. This deck is probably best for playgroups that also enjoy tuned jank, or suboptimal commanders in cEDH shells. Your local \"competitive\" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hazezon Tamar"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Feather, the Redeemed"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kaalia of the Vast"}},{"insert":" player might find themselves having a good close/fun matchup against this build. If someone answers your bear tribal with their bird tribal you are probably going to want to power down. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/141863#Ayula_Overrun_Tribal"},"insert":"Ayula Overrun Tribal"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\tSo my original 60 card kitchen table bear tribal deck used to win by pumping "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wild Beastmaster"}},{"insert":" and attacking for lethal. I miss that deck and all my friends' kitchen table decks have progressed long past the point where such a strategy will be viable. One night after what may or may not have been some mild drinking, I had "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fevered Visions"}},{"insert":" about an Ayula deck that used the Beastmaster, one that could one shot the board without using \"unfun\" (bears are always fun) combos, one that could run "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Primal Amulet // Primal Wellspring"}},{"insert":" in mono green. Oh yes. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Overrun"}},{"insert":" Tribal. It's real fun, and real "},{"attributes":{"strike":true},"insert":"bad"},{"insert":" casual.\n\n"},{"insert":{"image":"https://i.imgur.com/u1jC9cq.png"}},{"insert":"\t\n\nThe Gameplan"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\tOkay guys this one is easy. Like all our other bear decks we want to get Ayula out on turn 1-2. Spamcast a few bears and then slap down your first overrun effect around like turn 4-5 and make someone regret not having adequate blockers. You don't need to kill with your first swing, just send a message. A big, tramply message. Creature tutors are still your friend here. If you have an Overrun in hand look to grab The Beastmaster or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cultivator of Blades"}},{"insert":". If you don't, look to get one stapled to a creature. Build your board, buff your bears and then beat people down. Watch out for boardwipes, those suck.\n\nWinning with Overrun"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\tDude just attack shit, idk.\n\nWhat's Our Power Level?"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\tThis IS a casual Ayula deck. Don't bring this to a high power table. You will lose. Whip this out against \"bad\" (silly) decks and other super jank. I still think this build is better than bear decks that rely heavily on tribal elements as those elements can be hated out more easily, don't give trample, and we still don't run enough bears in the deck to justify the payoff. This deck has one extra bear in it and even still I cut Vanquisher's Banner. \n\n"},{"insert":{"image":"https://i.imgur.com/QT4H77w.jpg"}},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"\"We cannot forget that among all of Dominaria's wonders, a system of life exists, with prey and predators that will never fight wars nor vie for ancient power.\""},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"—Jolrael, empress of beasts"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"\"Jesus fuck, bears are terrifying. I'm moving to Mirrodin.\" "},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"—Also Jolrael, empress of beasts"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nCheck Out Some of my Contemporbearies  "},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\tI'm not the only one with a sweet Ayula deck. Check out these other lists and draw inspiration from them like I have.\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/16-09-19-fight-club/"},"insert":"DemonicConsolation's Fight Club"},{"insert":": A similarly inspired build with a helpful primer and changelog adapted for a slightly different meta."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/ayula-queen-among-bears-edh-teddy-tribal/"},"insert":"Sillynx's Teddy Tribal"},{"insert":": Another tuned list with a good primer. This one is more focused on its creature removal."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/commanding-bear-force-one-1/"},"insert":"WexAndywn's Bear Force One"},{"insert":": Not gonna lie, I get a little tilted when people call my deck \"Bear Force One\". This is by far the most popular bear deck though and is certainly noteworthy."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/ayula-kamahl-mld/?cb=1576382559&utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf"},"insert":"Booggee’s Kamahl MLD Build"},{"insert":": This deck focuses on using "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kamahl, Fist of Krosa"}},{"insert":" to animate opponents’ lands and fight them down with Ayula. A unique take on our bear queen. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/96603?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf#Ayula,_Tribal_Fight_Club"},"insert":"Solinus’s Bear Fight Club:"},{"insert":" A blinged, budgetless bear build with a versatile game plan. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/grahams-ayula-l-bear-force-one-game-knights-27/"},"insert":"Graham's Bear Force One:"},{"insert":" A fun meme deck that runs a lot of bears and bear adjacent things. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" \n Conclusion "},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\tFirst of all let me open up this conclusion by saying I have heard all your bear puns already. In my many years of being a standard bearer of this creature type I have heard and made them all. Like this deck, they just aren't funny. This isn't the deck for puns, tomfoolery or overused references to certain heavily produced YouTube commander series. This is the deck for winning games and taking names. \n\tAyula Bearstorm is a blisteringly fast creature based aggro/tempo deck that will make your opponents fear the creature type \"bear\". I would recommend shuffling it up if you have a love for the creature type or even just want to win with an off-meta strategy. As always, any and all suggestions are welcome. I often make oversights when deckbuilding and I really appreciate it when people leave comments and suggestions! If you have your own bears decklist or just want to talk 2/2s please don’t hesitate to comment here or message my Reddit account EldrDrunknHighlandr. I am always learning and updating this deck based on feedback and discussion with other players. Let’s get to brainstorming the best Bearstorming deck together!\n\n"},{"insert":{"image":"https://media.giphy.com/media/5AfEzVc4QZdLi/giphy.gif"}},{"insert":"\n\nChangelog"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I am keeping a changelog for Ayula Bearstorm only. Might add individual changelogs to individual deck pages later.\n\nswapped out forest, souls majesty, mana web, hall of gemstone, winter orb, and bramble sovereign.\n\nadded guardian project, crop rotation, chord of calling, finale of devastation, bearadox engine, and chrome mox. Some of these changes are upgrades to move this to my budgetless build. Others are an effort to move away from stax and towards all in creature storm. \n\nAs of the July 2019 Paradox Engine ban (seriously I am SO salty) we swapped Fauna Shaman for Erratic Portal and Paradox Engine for Great Oak Guardian. RIP Bearadox Engine, you were loved.\n\n7/26 Swapped Lurking Predators for Uncage the Menagerie. X=2 seems good and 6 mana for a spell that usually gets blown up is steep.\n\n8/26 Boardwipes still really hurt so we are swapping Ayula's Influence for Cauldron of Souls. Land drops are really important to us, even in the late game, so I often found that Ayula's Influence was a dead card. \n\n9/19 Uncage the Menagerie and Abundance out for Return of the Wildspeaker and The Great Henge\n\n10/7 Have been testing Crashing Drawbridge but I think Swiftfoot Boots is still better for our combo. Plus it has the added upside of protecting Ayula.\n\n10/17 Added Castle Garenbrig and swapped a forest.\n\n11/18 Swapped Krosan Grip for Rec Sage. Split second wasn't as good as being a tutorable, recurable elf that triggers some of my draw spells. I have also been considering Once Upon a Time so if people have given that card a test I would be interested in hearing your experiences.\n\n2/16/20 Cut a Forest and added Cryptolith Rite. I was getting mana flooded a bit, believe it or not, and more dorks seemed like a no brainer. \n\n5/22 No updates, just here to comment on how sad I am that the Ikoria bear was 4 mana. \n\n9/2 Forge of Heroes for Rogue's Passage\n\n9/23 Turntimber Symbiosis and Bala Ged Recovery seem pretty strong here so I swapped two forests. Considering Tangled Florahedron as well but idk if I want another tapped land. \n\n1/25/21 Kaldheim brings new bears but not the bears we wanted. Changelings tho. Adding Guardian Gladewalker Masked Vandal and Realmwalker and removing Hardened Scales, Crop Rotation, and Reclamation Sage.\n\n3/5/21 Added Ashaya and Benefactors Draught for more combos, mana, and draw power. Draught is a new loop with Eternal Witness. Swapped out Cauldron of Souls and Hibernation’s End\n\n4/7 I got a Dryad Arbor! Dropped a forest.\n\n5/6 Got my Ruxa and cut Panharmonicon. I don't like how it doesn't draw me cards or gain me some advantage immediately which Ruxa does when she ETBs\n\n7/27 Removed Rhonas's Monument for Circle of Dreams Druid.\n"}]}