Overview:

This Ezuri, Claw of Progress deck focuses on +1/+1 counter synergy and experience accumulation through small creatures. The strategy revolves around deploying low-power utility creatures to trigger Ezuri's experience counters, then using those counters to create massive threats. While combat damage is the primary win condition, the deck includes token generators like Ezuri's Predation and Thelonite Hermit for board presence, supported by finishers like Overrun and Beastmaster Ascension. Ezuri is critical as the engine for counter distribution, but the deck lacks infinite combos and relies heavily on incremental value.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Game (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana dorks (Sakura-Tribe Elder, Coiling Oracle) and value creatures (Elvish Visionary, Cold-Eyed Selkie). Use Rampant Growth and Simic Signet to accelerate.
2. Mid-Game (Turns 5-7): Cast Ezuri and generate experience counters via 2-power creatures. Activate Kaseto, Orochi Archmage to grant evasion or Lorescale Coatl for card-draw synergy.
3. Late Game (Turns 8+): Deploy finishers like Prime Speaker Zegana (drawing 10+ cards) or Caller of the Pack (myriad tokens). Use Verdant Confluence to recur key pieces or buff creatures.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands and at least one ramp spell.
• Prioritize early creatures (e.g., Experiment One, Elvish Visionary).
• Avoid hands without green mana sources or excessive high-CMC cards.

Key Tips:

• Use Synthetic Destiny to replace utility creatures with high-impact threats.
• Swiftfoot Boots protects Ezuri or key attackers like Ohran Viper.
• Mirror Match and Arachnogenesis punish opponents’ combat steps.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board Wipes: Lacks mass recursion; rebuilds slowly after Wrath of God effects.
• Commander Reliance: Ezuri’s repeated removal (4 CMC tax) stalls the engine.
• Anti-Counter Tech: The Ozolith or Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider negate counter strategies.

Moderate

• Artifact/Enchantment Hate: Bane of Progress destroys key pieces like Orochi Hatchery.
• Flying Threats: Limited answers outside Stingerfling Spider and Arbor Colossus.

Minor

• Graveyard Reliance: Eternal Witness and Verdant Confluence suffer from Rest in Peace.
• Slow Mana: Multiple taplands (e.g., Simic Guildgate, Mosswort Bridge) delay tempo.

Most Important Cards:

• Ezuri, Claw of Progress (Experience engine)
• Prime Speaker Zegana (Card draw bomb)
• Beastmaster Ascension (Combat finisher)
• Ezuri's Predation (Board control + token swarm)
• Kaseto, Orochi Archmage (Evasion enabler)
• Verdant Confluence (Recursion + ramp)
• Synthetic Destiny (Mid-game reset)
• Cold-Eyed Selkie (Card advantage)
• Overrun (Alpha strike setup)
• Swiftfoot Boots (Protection)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Wins via combat around T8-10; lacks fast mana or combo finishers.

Resilience: 4/10

• Limited protection/recursion; struggles against repeated removal.

Consistency: 6/10

• Redundant small creatures and card draw, but few tutors for key pieces.

Interaction: 5/10

• Spot removal (Krosan Grip, Mystic Snake) but minimal board wipes or counterspells.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a tuned casual build with a clear +1/+1 counter theme but lacks the speed and redundancy of optimized lists. Its T8-10 combat wins and vulnerability to disruption place it squarely in the Casual/Precon tier, with slight upgrades pushing it toward Focused Casual.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5