Overview:

This Abzan (W/B/G) deck helmed by Ixhel, Scion of Atraxa is a poison/proliferate hybrid strategy that pressures opponents with toxic creatures while leveraging proliferate synergies to accelerate poison counters. The deck combines early toxic threats like Glistener Elf and Venerated Rotpriest with mid-game proliferate engines such as Evolution Sage and Bloated Contaminator, aiming to "corrupt" opponents (3+ poison) to activate Ixhel's card-stealing ability. Secondary win conditions include reanimation targets like Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon and Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider, supported by high-efficiency tutors and fast mana. Ixhel acts as both a value engine and a political tool, but the deck can function independently through its dense toxic/proliferate package.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Poison Pressure (Turns 1-3):
   Deploy 1-2 mana toxic creatures (Glistener Elf, Skrelv, Defector Mite, Venerated Rotpriest) alongside ramp (Sol Ring, Birds of Paradise, Farseek). Use Culling the Weak or Dark Ritual to accelerate into Phyrexian Crusader or Fynn, the Fangbearer.

2. Mid-Game Proliferation (Turns 4-6):
   Activate proliferate triggers from Blightbelly Rat, Contaminant Grafter, and Sword of Truth and Justice. Cast Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider to double poison counters. Use Yawgmoth, Thran Physician to spread -1/-1 counters while drawing into key pieces.

3. Corruption Payoffs (Turns 5+):
   Leverage Ixhel's ability to exile opponents' topdecks once corrupted. Deploy finishers like Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon with haste or Phyrexian Swarmlord for token swarms. Reanimate threats with Necromancy or Reanimate if countered early.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with at least 2 lands (including color-fixing).
• Prioritize 1-2 toxic creatures + ramp (e.g., Glistener Elf + Sol Ring).
• Look for early interaction (Swords to Plowshares, Dauthi Voidwalker) against fast metas.
• Avoid hands with only high-CMC cards (Seedborn Muse, Farewell) without ramp.

Key Tips:

• Use Skrelv, Defector Mite's protection ability to safeguard key toxic creatures like Venerated Rotpriest.
• Phyresis Outbreak scales with poison counters already on opponents – cast after establishing 2-3 counters for maximum impact.
• Cabal Coffers + Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth enables explosive reanimation turns with Geth's Summons.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Low Poison Redundancy: Relies heavily on 10 toxic creatures; board wipes reset progress.
• Commander Dependency: Ixhel's card advantage requires maintaining 3+ poison on opponents, which draws hate.
• Anti-Proliferate Tech: Solemnity, Sulfuric Vortex, or The One Ring nullify core mechanics.

Moderate

• Slow Clock: Lacks instant-win combos; poison kills require multiple combat phases.
• Graveyard Reliance: Necromancy, Reanimate, and Geth's Summons fold to Rest in Peace.

Minor

• Artifact/Enchantment Focus: Key pieces like Sword of Truth and Justice and Smothering Tithe are vulnerable to removal.
• Limited Stack Interaction: Only 5 instant-speed answers to noncreature threats.

Most Important Cards:

• Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider (Doubles poison, cripples opponent counters)
• Venerated Rotpriest (Passive poison via targeted spells)
• Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon (Hasty reanimation/closing threat)
• Demonic Tutor (Finds any answer/combo piece)
• Phyrexian Swarmlord (Token generator with built-in proliferate)
• Ad Nauseam (Refills hand in late game)
• Yawgmoth, Thran Physician (Proliferate engine + removal)
• Fynn, the Fangbearer (Doubles poison from deathtouch)
• Teferi's Protection (Protects against board wipes)
• Cabal Coffers (Mana amplification for big turns)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10
Can apply early poison pressure (T3-4 corruption) but requires 2-3 combat steps to close. Lacks T4-5 "surprise" wins.

Resilience: 7/10
Robust protection (Heroic Intervention, Grand Abolisher), recursion (5 reanimation spells), and card advantage engines mitigate setbacks.

Consistency: 8/10
14 tutors (including Enlightened Tutor for Norn's Decree) and 10+ draw engines ensure poison/proliferate access.

Interaction: 5/10
Efficient spot removal (Swords to Plowshares, Abrupt Decay) but minimal countermagic. Relies on Silence/Grand Abolisher for protection.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at high consistency with tutors and redundancy but lacks the speed (T7-8 wins) and combo density of true cEDH lists. Its resilience and mid-game poison acceleration place it above casual battlecruiser decks but below turbo-naus strategies.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5