Overview:

This Abzan enchantress deck helmed by Anikthea, Hand of Erebos focuses on recursive enchantment value, token generation, and constellation synergies. The strategy revolves around casting and recurring enchantments to create a board of 3/3 Zombie-enchantment hybrids via Anikthea's ability, amplified by token doublers like Mondrak, Glory Dominus. Secondary value engines like Starfield of Nyx and Calix, Destiny's Hand provide recursion, while Hallowed Haunting and Legion Loyalty turn enchantment density into overwhelming combat threats. Anikthea acts as both a value engine and beatstick, though the deck includes backup recursion tools to mitigate commander dependency.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy cost reducers (Herald of the Pantheon, Jukai Naturalist) and ramp (Sanctum Weaver, Wild Growth). Use self-mill (Ripples of Undeath, Commune with the Gods) to stock the graveyard with enchantments.
2. Midgame Value (Turns 4-6): Cast Anikthea to reanimate key enchantments as Zombie tokens. Trigger constellation effects (Doomwake Giant, Setessan Champion) to control the board and draw cards. Activate Starfield of Nyx to turn enchantments into creatures.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 6+):
   • Token Swarm: Multiply Zombie/enchantment tokens with Mondrak, Glory Dominus, Second Harvest, and Three Blind Mice, then swing with Legion Loyalty's myriad or Boon of the Spirit Realm buffs.
   • Recursive Lock: Use Starfield of Nyx + Starfield Mystic to repeatedly recur key enchantments. Cacophony Unleashed wipes opponents' boards while becoming a lethal threat.
   • Combo Potential: Sanctum Weaver + Mondrak can generate exponential mana for Nyxborn Behemoth or Demon of Fate's Design activations.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, including green sources.
• Prioritize early ramp (Utopia Sprawl, Three Visits) or self-mill (Commune with the Gods).
• Look for at least one constellation payoff (Eidolon of Blossoms, Grim Guardian) or protection (Ghostly Prison).
• Avoid hands clogged with high-CMC enchantments without setup.

Key Tips:

• Use Anikthea's attack trigger to reanimate sagas after their final chapter.
• Insidious Roots turns graveyard attrition into mana dorks and +1/+1 counters.
• Weaver of Harmony can copy constellation triggers or Anikthea's token-making ability.
• The Cruelty of Gix provides flexible tutoring and reanimation in the late game.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Enchantment Wipes: Farewell, Cleansing Nova, or Austere Command cripple the board state with limited recovery tools.
• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void nullifies Anikthea's recursion and Starfield of Nyx.

Moderate

• Spot Removal on Engines: Losing Mondrak, Starfield of Nyx, or Sanctum Weaver slows the deck significantly.
• Artifact/Enchantment Removal: Key pieces like Mirari's Wake and Legion Loyalty have minimal protection.

Minor

• Fast Aggro: Struggles against early creature swarms before Sphere of Safety comes online.
• Stack Interaction: Limited counterspells make resolving critical enchantments risky.

Most Important Cards:

• Mondrak, Glory Dominus (Token doubling)
• Starfield of Nyx (Recursion and creature conversion)
• Sanctum Weaver (Mana acceleration)
• Legion Loyalty (Combat finisher)
• Hallowed Haunting (Token generation and evasion)
• Calix, Destiny's Hand (Enchantment recursion)
• Sythis, Harvest's Hand (Card draw engine)
• Mirari's Wake (Mana/creature buff)
• Insidious Roots (Graveyard synergy)
• Cacophony Unleashed (Board wipe + finisher)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can establish a threatening board by T6-8 through incremental value, but lacks fast combo kills or early explosive turns.

Resilience: 6/10

• Multiple recursion engines (Anikthea, Starfield, Calix) provide recovery, but over-reliance on enchantments makes it vulnerable to specific hate.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong card draw (Sythis, Eidolon) and targeted enchantment tutors (Idyllic Tutor, Kruphix's Insight) ensure key pieces are found.

Interaction: 4/10

• Limited to enchantment-based removal (Grasp of Fate, Seal of Cleansing) and board wipes. Minimal stack interaction.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a synergistic enchantress build with focused recursion and token strategies, typically threatening wins via combat around T8-10. While resilient to single-target removal, its critical vulnerability to enchantment wipes and slower clock place it in the upgraded precon to optimized casual range.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0