Overview:

This Simic deck helmed by Lonis, Cryptozoologist focuses on generating massive Clue token quantities through creature ETBs and spellcasting, leveraging token doublers like Doubling Season and Parallel Lives for exponential value. The commander enables theft of opponents' permanents via Clue sacrifices, while secondary win conditions include token swarm (via Cyberdrive Awakener or Esix, Fractal Bloom), infinite mana combos (Deadeye Navigator + Peregrine Drake), and artifact synergies. The deck balances value engines like Academy Manufactor and Tireless Tracker with flicker effects to maximize Clue generation.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4):
   • Deploy ramp (Sol Ring, Cultivate, Cryptolith Rite) and Clue generators (Coiling Oracle, Hard Evidence, Ulvenwald Mysteries).
   • Protect Lonis with Lightning Greaves or Tamiyo's Safekeeping.
2. Midgame Value (Turns 4-7):
   • Activate token doublers and Academy Manufactor to convert Clues into Treasure/Food for mana/life.
   • Use Thassa, Deep-Dwelling or Ghostly Flicker to reset ETB creatures like Archaeomancer or Ethereal Investigator.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 6+):
   • Theft Engine: Sacrifice 10+ Clues with Lonis to steal high-impact permanents.
   • Infinite Mana: Pair Deadeye Navigator with Peregrine Drake to generate infinite mana, then dump into Whir of Invention for Cyberdrive Awakener or Mechanized Production.
   • Token Overload: Cast Rise and Shine or Second Harvest with a wide board, amplified by Esix, Fractal Bloom copying key creatures.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, at least one ramp spell, and a Clue generator (e.g., Ongoing Investigation, Trail of Evidence).
• Prioritize early protection (Swiftfoot Boots) if facing removal-heavy metas.
• Avoid hands lacking green mana sources or proactive plays.

Key Tips:

• Use Junk Winder to lock down opponents' boards as tokens enter.
• Esix, Fractal Bloom can copy opponents' threats or your own Academy Manufactor for triple token generation.
• Mechanized Production on a Clue token creates exponential copies for an alt-win.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander-dependent strategy: Removing Lonis repeatedly cripples theft capabilities.
• Vulnerable to artifact/enchantment wipe cascades (Vandalblast, Bane of Progress) due to reliance on token doublers and Clues.

Moderate

• Struggles against Torpor Orb effects nullifying ETB-based Clue generation.
• Limited instant-speed interaction for resolved threats outside counterspells like Negate.

Minor

• Graveyard hate disrupts Archaeomancer/Regrowth recursion.
• Flyer-heavy decks can bypass ground tokens without Wonder in the graveyard.

Most Important Cards:

• Academy Manufactor (Triples Clue/Food/Treasure output)
• Deadeye Navigator (Enables infinite mana with Peregrine Drake)
• Doubling Season/Parallel Lives (Token multiplier)
• Esix, Fractal Bloom (Token copy enabler)
• Cyberdrive Awakener (Token swarm finisher)
• Thassa, Deep-Dwelling (Flicker engine for ETB value)
• Tireless Tracker (Scales with Clue sacrifices)
• Mechanized Production (Alt-win condition)
• Whir of Invention (Tutor for key artifacts)
• Cryptolith Rite (Mana acceleration via tokens)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten wins via infinite mana or token swarms by turns 7-8 but lacks fast mana for explosive starts.

Resilience: 5/10

• Recursion via Archaeomancer and protection spells exist, but core strategy folds to repeated commander removal or artifact hate.

Consistency: 7/10

• Multiple redundant Clue generators and tutors (Whir, Tamiyo's Journal) ensure key pieces are found.

Interaction: 5/10

• Limited to counterspells (Negate, Memory Lapse) and spot removal (Nature's Claim), struggles against resolved creature threats.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a Focused tier (6.0) due to its ability to consistently execute synergistic wins via tokens or combos by turns 7-8, though it lacks the speed and interaction density of higher-tier decks. Resilience issues from commander dependency and artifact fragility prevent it from reaching optimized tiers.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5