{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck revolves around making "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Command Beacon"}},{"insert":" into a hasted forest creature with enablers like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Embodiment of Insight"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Life and Limb"}},{"insert":". Once this is achieved, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Saffi Eriksdotter"}},{"insert":" can be looped to enable the main combos in the deck. \n\nWhen I saw "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Saffi Eriksdotter"}},{"insert":" a few months ago I already knew I wanted a deck that loops her with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Command Beacon"}},{"insert":". Everything else was just added on as I goldfished that combo to make the deck consistent and fun to insane Johnnies like me.\n\nThere are loads of combo lines that "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Saffi Eriksdotter"}},{"insert":" fits into nicely. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Utopia Mycon"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aftermath Analyst"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Yedora, Grave Gardener"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Emeria Shepherd"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wild Pair"}},{"insert":" are some of the many combo engine pieces and payoffs this deck runs. \n\nI tried not to be that generic here, though--no "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Amulet of Vigor"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Urza's Saga"}},{"insert":" and no "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Springheart Nantuko"}},{"insert":". The cards chosen were chosen to avoid completely outshining the role of the "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Saffi Eriksdotter"}},{"insert":"/"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Command Beacon"}},{"insert":" combo, as that's the most unique way to use her, but I didn't want to tutor for the same exact combo every single game and the deck can pop off in all sorts of ways.\n\nI am glad this contest motivated me to finish this deck, it's been on my backburner for months.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"-- Granular Combos / Synergies --"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This deck's main goal is to loop "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Saffi Eriksdotter"}},{"insert":" with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Command Beacon"}},{"insert":" by making it a creature with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dryad of the Ilysian Grove"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Life and Limb"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ambush Commander"}},{"insert":". Command Beacon also needs to be granted haste and, to go infinite, each iteration needs to net at least a green and a white mana to recast Saffi infinitely, though sub-infinite can also be useful early and midgame.\n\nIf the game reaches the point where a 7 mana combo piece is viable, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Emeria Shepherd"}},{"insert":" can replace or supplement command beacon and allow for looping a different land. A plains (or any land with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dryad of the Ilysian Grove"}},{"insert":" on the field) will still need to self-sacrifice or be a saproling via "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Life and Limb"}},{"insert":" so it may be sacrificed to "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Utopia Mycon"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vitaspore Thallid"}},{"insert":". \n\nAnother way to go infinite in this deck is to loop "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aftermath Analyst"}},{"insert":". Instead of ways to make lands enter untapped, lands generate mana every iteration via sacrificing them to "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Utopia Mycon"}},{"insert":" with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Life and Limb"}},{"insert":" and either "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dryad of the Ilysian Grove"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth"}},{"insert":" to make the lands into saprolings. This will also require a way to get analyst out of the grave; with 9 lands "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shifting Woodland"}},{"insert":" suffices, though Saffi, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Emeria Shepherd"}},{"insert":", and/or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle"}},{"insert":" may also play a role. \n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Yedora, Grave Gardener"}},{"insert":" also goes infinite with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Utopia Mycon"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Life and Limb"}},{"insert":". At that point, Saffi's role becomes turning forests back into whatever they were before.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Adagia, Windswept Bastion"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mirage Mirror"}},{"insert":" can copy "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myth Unbound"}},{"insert":" to make command tax free and remove the need for "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Command Beacon"}},{"insert":" when looping Saffi. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wild Pair"}},{"insert":" is also very worth copying. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mirage Mirror"}},{"insert":" additionally acts as a second "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lotus Cobra"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Stone-Seeder Hierophant"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tireless Provisioner"}},{"insert":" to make Saffi loops mana neutral/positive. Adagia can even copy "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ancient Den"}},{"insert":" when a land drop is desperately needed or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sanctum Weaver"}},{"insert":" to ramp. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mirrorpool"}},{"insert":" also applies to creatures here and can copy tutors.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ambush Commander"}},{"insert":" is mostly a more-easily-tutored backup for "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Life and Limb"}},{"insert":", but it also makes forests elves to exile/blink with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Champions of the Perfect"}},{"insert":" or behold with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Celestial Reunion"}},{"insert":". It can also pump creatures that get through during combat and is a wincon when haste is limited or offline.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle"}},{"insert":" can't bring Saffi back off her own cast trigger, but otherwise functions like a cheaper "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Emeria Shepherd"}},{"insert":" in lines that loop Saffi. Good for rezzing "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dryad Arbor"}},{"insert":".\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Crumbling Vestige"}},{"insert":" works to generate an extra mana when in situations where a land must enter tapped. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Echoing Deeps"}},{"insert":" can enter as a copy of it if they both come out of the graveyard simultaneously from "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aftermath Analyst"}},{"insert":"'s ability.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Woodland Bellower"}},{"insert":" is a great target for Saffi's ability if you can sac it to something like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lazotep Quarry"}},{"insert":" (tutorable with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sand Scout"}},{"insert":") or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Altar of Bone"}},{"insert":".\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rhys the Redeemed"}},{"insert":" can let you use Saffi's ability extra times in addition to acting as protection. With "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Surrak and Goreclaw"}},{"insert":" the counter is negated, though Rhys would need to be sacced somehow to come back and re-grant persist in the case of a Saffi loop, possible with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Stone-Seeder Hierophant"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lazotep Quarry"}},{"insert":".\n\nOnce an infinite loop is mana positive, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tireless Provisioner"}},{"insert":" gives infinite life with food tokens cracked with infinite mana as well.\n\nThe shapeshifters from "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Springleaf Parade"}},{"insert":" count as saprolings to sac to "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Utopia Mycon"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vitaspore Thallid"}},{"insert":".\n\nGet "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth"}},{"insert":" and/or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dryad of the Ilysian Grove"}},{"insert":" online early, as running 7 colorless utility lands can hurt without them.\n\nFor those unaware, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Green Sun's Zenith"}},{"insert":" can tutor "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dryad Arbor"}},{"insert":" for 1 green, make it double as a 1 mana dork. ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Celestial Reunion"}},{"insert":" works too if you can behold two dryads)\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tendershoot Dryad"}},{"insert":" is most notable for being tutorable with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wild Pair"}},{"insert":" when casting Saffi via "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Command Beacon"}},{"insert":", though it mostly functions as a ramp spell to set up for "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Utopia Mycon"}},{"insert":" the next turn.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Stone-Seeder Hierophant"}},{"insert":" with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lotus Field"}},{"insert":" is mana positive with Saffi loops, this can fuel "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wirewood Lodge"}},{"insert":" untapping "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Selvala, Explorer Returned"}},{"insert":" to dig for a win (or mill enemies out if they have less cards in deck).\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nissa, Ascended Animist"}},{"insert":"'s second activation can be during enemy turns via fetch lands, saffi or another reanimator, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Weathered Wayfarer"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Elvish Reclaimer"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Knight of the Reliquary"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Archdruid's Charm"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aftermath Analyst"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sand Scout"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Urza's Cave"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Crop Rotation"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lazotep Quarry"}},{"insert":" with x=0 on "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dryad Arbor"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ba Sing Se"}},{"insert":"/"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Earthshape"}},{"insert":" 's earthbend, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Yedora, Grave Gardener"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Glacier Godmaw"}},{"insert":"'s lander token, etc... So make sure to get those elves and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Embodiment of Insight"}},{"insert":" out of the deck if you can. Also applies to "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Enduring Innocence"}},{"insert":" and"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sand Scout"}},{"insert":" making sand warriors.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Moon-Blessed Cleric"}},{"insert":" is the main way to get "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Life and Limb"}},{"insert":", as there are far more creature tutors than enchantment tutors in the deck.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Glacier Godmaw"}},{"insert":" is the main finisher and can work even without infinite, especially with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aftermath Analyst"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sapling Nursery"}},{"insert":".\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wild Pair"}},{"insert":" can grab some real heat off casting Saffi: "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aftermath Analyst"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tendershoot Dryad"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Knight of the Reliquary"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ambush Commander"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rhys, the Evermore"}},{"insert":". Rhys is especially notable, as he can enter and persist her to let her activate her ability twice. Just remember it only works if you use "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Command Beacon"}},{"insert":" to get her in your hand.\n\nThis deck makes infinite mana if you sneeze on it once you get the hang of it. It can be a little difficult to convert that into card advantage, but "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Knight of the Reliquary"}},{"insert":" can grab an untapped "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Horizon Canopy"}},{"insert":" when you're really in a pinch.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Brightglass Gearhulk"}},{"insert":" can grab land tutors ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Elvish Reclaimer"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Weathered Wayfarer"}},{"insert":"), "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lavaspur Boots"}},{"insert":" as a haste enabler, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Utopia Mycon"}},{"insert":" as a sac outlet, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Insidious Fungus"}},{"insert":" as removal or ramp, and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dryad Arbor"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ancient Den"}},{"insert":" when you really need a land drop (grab insidious too if you already dropped a land and don't have another way to double activate "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nissa, Ascended Animist"}},{"insert":"). \n\n-- Inspiration --"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The inspiration for this deck came to me a few months ago when I saw that Saffi had less than 1,000 decks on EDHREC. I like to take unpopular commanders and try to do something new and fresh with them. \n\nI wanted to lean into the interaction between Saffi and Command Beacon. I was inspired to make this deck similar to my "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ebondeath, Dracolich"}},{"insert":" deck, as "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/18980432/i_got_99_problems"},"insert":"I enjoy that one a lot"},{"insert":". Both decks pursue looping the commander in a mana neutral/positive way. They play very differently, but building ebondeath helped me in understanding the ratios of payoff to setup and the importance of alternate lines.\n\n-- Deckbuilding Process --"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The deck started out with just tutors, combo pieces for the command beacon line, and payoffs. As I goldfished the deck, I cut tutors for synergistic engine pieces and more combo pieces, giving it an identity beyond just the Saffi/Command Beacon combo without making that combo obsolete. Since I still want pursuing that combo to be the main gameplan of the deck, I left enough tutors in to reliably grab it. I don't find myself tutoring for the same things every game, so I think the toolbox tag fits. \n\nI'm glad this contest motivated me to finish this deck and I am excited to build it in paper to play in person!\n"}]}