Overview:

This Gruul deck helmed by Kibo, Uktabi Prince is a synergistic +1/+1 counter and artifact-sacrifice strategy. Kibo generates Banana tokens for all players, punishes opponents for losing artifacts with team-wide counters, and forces artifact sacrifices when attacking. The deck wins primarily through combat with oversized Apes/Monkeys enhanced by counter synergies (Branching Evolution, The Ozolith) and trample enablers (Pridemalkin, Duskshell Crawler), while leveraging artifact destruction (Vandalblast, Artifact Mutation) to trigger Kibo's ability and disrupt opponents. Secondary win conditions include burn from forced sacrifices (Vengeful Tracker) and combat overruns (Overwhelming Stampede). Kibo is essential as the engine for counters, artifact pressure, and mana acceleration via Bananas.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana dorks (Arboreal Grazer, Tree Monkey), ramp (Cultivate, Sol Ring), and key enablers like Viridian Revel or Curse of Opulence. Cast Kibo ASAP to start generating Bananas.
2. Board Development (Turns 3-6): Play Ape/Monkey threats (Kogla, the Titan Ape, Grunn, the Lonely King) and counter distributors (Scrounging Bandar, Simian Simulacrum). Use targeted artifact destruction (Gearbane Orangutan, Yavimaya Steelcrusher) to trigger Kibo's counter ability and disrupt opponents.
3. Pressure & Sacrifice (Turns 5+): Attack with Kibo to force artifact sacrifices, triggering Vengeful Tracker and Viridian Revel draws. Deploy finishers like Overwhelming Stampede or Kogla and Yidaro. Use mass artifact wipes (Structural Assault, Fade from History) for explosive counter gains and board control.
4. Win Conditions:
   • Combat: Swing with massive tramplers boosted by counters and Overwhelming Stampede.
   • Sacrifice Burn: Vengeful Tracker pings combined with forced sacrifices.
   • Combo: Simian Sling + Magewright's Stone allows repeated untaps to deal damage each combat when blocked.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands (prioritize green sources), Kibo, and 1-2 ramp pieces or early plays.
• Prioritize hands with artifact destruction (e.g., Uktabi Orangutan) or key engines (Viridian Revel, The Ozolith).
• Avoid hands lacking ramp, Kibo, or artifact interaction.

Key Tips:

• Banana Management: Sac opponent Bananas to Gorilla Shaman for disruption or use your own for ramp. Time mass artifact wipes after Kibo attacks.
• Counter Synergy: Use The Ozolith to preserve counters after wipes. Inspiring Call protects creatures and draws cards.
• Hidden Tech: Hidden Gibbons transforms off opponent instants. Quirion Ranger untaps Kibo for multiple attacks or mana dorks.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board wipes cripple the strategy, as +1/+1 counters are primarily on creatures with minimal recursion.
• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace) shuts down Brawn, Simian Simulacrum unearth, and Kogla and Yidaro recursion.
• Torpor Orb effects nullify ETB triggers from key creatures (Kogla, Uktabi Orangutan, Simian Simulacrum).

Moderate

• Artifact/enchantment focus makes the deck vulnerable to mass removal like Bane of Progress.
• Flying threats can evade ground-based defenses without reach enablers.
• Counter manipulation (The Ozolith, Branching Evolution) is vulnerable to targeted removal.

Minor

• Limited stack interaction – relies on combat tricks over counterspells.
• Mana base includes many taplands, slowing early plays.

Most Important Cards:

• Kibo, Uktabi Prince (Engine: token generation, counters, forced sacrifice)
• Doubling Season (Doubles Banana tokens and +1/+1 counters)
• The Ozolith (Preserves counters through wipes)
• Vandalblast (Mass artifact wipe for counters/card draw)
• Viridian Revel (Card draw from opponent artifact deaths)
• Overwhelming Stampede (Primary combat finisher)
• Vengeful Tracker (Burn damage from sacrifices)
• Branching Evolution (Amplifies counter distribution)
• Kogla, the Titan Ape (Artifact/enchantment removal, fighter)
• Structural Assault (Board wipe that triggers counters/draw)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can threaten wins via combat or burn around turns 9-11 with optimal draws, but relies on incremental setup.

Resilience: 4/10

• Weak to board wipes with limited recovery; key engines (Kibo, Ozolith) are vulnerable but have some protection via indestructible grants.

Consistency: 6/10

• Solid card draw (Viridian Revel, Garruk, Primal Hunter) and ramp, but lacks tutors for combo pieces or specific answers.

Interaction: 7/10

• Excellent artifact destruction (mass and targeted) and fight spells (Blizzard Brawl), but minimal stack interaction beyond combat tricks.

Rating Justification:

The deck operates efficiently within its artifact-sacrifice and +1/+1 counter themes, capable of winning via combat or burn around turns 9-11, but its fragility to board wipes and linear strategy limit its ceiling. This aligns with the "Focused Casual" tier (T9-11 wins) but lacks the speed or protection for higher optimization.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0