{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Introduction"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWhether it's your first day at Strixhaven or your first Commander game, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy"}},{"insert":" is here to guide you on an exciting adventure! Dive into the world of Magic and embark on a journey of learning and discovery.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Deck Identity/Theme"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThis deck is centered around a landfall and ramp strategy, utilizing powerful engines that synergize with lands and card draw. Thematically, it embraces the concept of learning, inviting you to join Zimone in a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Quick Study"}},{"insert":" and her quest for knowledge. Whenever possible, cards have been selected to reflect the theme of studying and academic pursuit, whether it be drawing cards with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Eureka Moment"}},{"insert":" or removig your opponents creatures with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bury in Books"}},{"insert":". Strixhaven Archive cards are adding to this flavorful experience, referencing Zimones journey in learning new spells.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Commander Choice"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWhy choose "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy"}},{"insert":" as your commander when "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tatyova, Benthic Druid"}},{"insert":" offers a more powerful landfall engine? The answer lies in two key reasons. First, from a gameplay perspective, the worst experience in a Commander game is being unable to participate meaningfully. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy"}},{"insert":" ensures your deck gets rolling by providing ramp when you have enough lands and drawing cards when you're short on them. Moreover, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy"}},{"insert":" is an inexpensive commander who doesn’t immediately threaten your opponents, so she's less likely to be targeted by removal creating overall better game quality for the new player. Even if she is removed, you can easily cast her again.\nThe second reason is flavor. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy"}},{"insert":" embodies the themes of learning and the Quandrix house at Strixhaven, allowing you to thematically immerse yourself in the deck's identity. This gives the deck more character than just using a generic powerful Simic commander (looking at you my friend, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait"}},{"insert":") and helps the player build a connection with his deck. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Deck Strategy"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe deck's main strategy revolves around ramping, triggering powerful landfall effects, and drawing cards to maintain momentum. To enable "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy"}},{"insert":" the first goal of the deck is getting to eight lands as fast as possible. The ramp package consisting of spells like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rampant Growth"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Explosive Vegetation"}},{"insert":" lays the foundation, ensuring you have the land count as well as the resources needed to execute your game plan. Landfall triggers from cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zendikar's Roil"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sporemound"}},{"insert":" are engines that reward you for sticking to this plan, while card draw with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tatyova, Benthic Druid"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tireless Tracker"}},{"insert":" ensures you never run out of options.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Stages of a Commander Game"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Early Game:"},{"insert":" The deck’s ramp package ensures a smooth start, minimizing the risk of mana screw. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy"}},{"insert":"'s ability also helps prevent mana flood, offering flexibility in the early game and ensuring you build up your ressources to a point where you're always able to participate in the game."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mid Game:"},{"insert":" As the game progresses, the deck transitions from ramping to impacting the board. Early threats like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Managorger Hydra"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Jolrael, Voice of Zhalfir"}},{"insert":" help you impact the game by pressuring your opponents while more defensive options like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tower Winder"}},{"insert":" help you protect your lifetotal while ramping into more powerful landfall payoffs like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rampaging Baloths"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Avenger of Zendikar"}},{"insert":"."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Late Game:"},{"insert":" In the late game, the deck sustains itself with card draw from "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy"}},{"insert":"'s ability or card draw spells like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Urban Evolution"}},{"insert":". Win conditions like overwhelming your opponents with landfall triggers or giving your creatures a lethal push with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kamahl, Heart of Krosa"}},{"insert":" come into play. The deck also includes strategies to ensure you don’t get knocked out before you can secure victory by utilising a solid removal package with cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Reality Shift"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bury in Books"}},{"insert":", as well as some board wipes like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Oversimplify"}},{"insert":" to slow your opponents down."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Beginner Friendly"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThis deck is particularly suited for beginners due to its straightforward landfall strategy, ample card draw, and built-in resilience. The simplicity of its mechanics allows new players to focus on learning key aspects of the game without feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, centering the deck around land-based synergies makes it more resilient than decks centered around other card types, reducing the chances of experiencing blowout games that can be discouraging for newcomers. And lets be honest, the most satisying part of Magic is playing lands and drawing cards @"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ancestral Recall"}},{"insert":" (-> biased blue player here).\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Concepts and Learning Opportunities"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe deck guides players with a simple, easy-to-understand game plan, offering opportunities to learn essential concepts such as resource management by using "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy"}},{"insert":"'s ability, the importance of ramp (yes you are important "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sakura-Tribe Elder"}},{"insert":"), and diverse card synergies, be it with simple landfall triggers like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zendikar's Roil"}},{"insert":" or more specific synergies revolving around the Commander like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Retreat to Coralhelm"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kogla, the Titan Ape"}},{"insert":". By playing this deck, new players can develop a solid foundation in these fundamental aspects of Commander gameplay. This decklist is also a slightly modified version of my personal "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy"}},{"insert":" deck, which is my go-to deck that I lend out to new players in my playgroup. It is created to be easy to pilot and satisfying to play while still offering more complex interactions that can be explored and discovered.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Card Choices"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nYou might wonder why certain powerful cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scute Swarm"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rhystic Study"}},{"insert":" aren’t included, despite "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rhystic Study"}},{"insert":" fitting the learning theme. The goal is to create a deck that offers the best gameplay experience for new players. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scute Swarm"}},{"insert":" often forces a board wipe or single-handedly wins the game, which can lead to unsatisfying, blowout experiences for everyone involved. Similarly, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rhystic Study"}},{"insert":" tends to annoy opponents and draws unwanted attention, which can be overwhelming for new players who already have a lot to keep track of during a Commander game. The additional mental load of remembering triggers and constantly asking opponents to pay the extra mana on every spell they cast can detract from the learning experience. \n\nOn a same note cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lorescale Coatl"}},{"insert":" were chosen over more powerful ones like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Toothy, Imaginary Friend"}},{"insert":", because it would be unfitting to overload a new player with mechanics like the Partner-Mechanic, which they cant even use. \n\nThe reason why the mana base contains so many basic lands is similar, a new player should just be able to play his lands without worrying about a dozen of additional abilities from utility lands ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rogue's Passage"}},{"insert":" is an exception, because it helps close out stalled games, teaches about evasion and to be honest is a loved pet card of mine).\n\n\"If I had one more turn I would have won!\" - because of this statement and it's thematic alignment with the Strixhaven Archive I included "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Time Warp"}},{"insert":". On first glance it might seem like an odd inclusion but it works surprisingly well when actually playing and is giving the deck some unexpected punch in the late-game. Additionally it adds some extra flavor to the whole theme of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy"}},{"insert":" discovering new spells.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Conclusion"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe deck is supposed to be a great starting point for new players and a pleasent entry into the Commander format. The deck is constructed with a power level in mind, which ranges from being able to be played together with precons or up to high mid-power level pods. \n\nIf you remove "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Minamo, School at Water's Edge"}},{"insert":" (even though I love it because of it's great synergy with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy"}},{"insert":") you can get the whole deck with a reasonable budget of sub 200$, making it a viable starting option for new players with plenty of room for upgrades.\n\nIn conclusion, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy"}},{"insert":" is an excellent choice for a beginner-friendly Commander deck, blending thematic elements with a straightforward and engaging strategy. This deck not only teaches essential gameplay concepts but also ensures that new players have a fun and rewarding experience in their first foray into Commander.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Hidden Achievement - Graduation:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Display your prowess by One-Shoting an opponent with a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Body of Research"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"token, made unblockable by"},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rogue's Passage"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"}]}