Overview:

This Abzan deck helmed by Tayam, Luminous Enigma focuses on +1/+1 counter synergies, recursive value engines, and incremental aristocrat-style wins. Tayam serves as both enabler and payoff - its ability to reanimate low-CMC permanents fuels graveyard synergies while interacting with counter distribution from cards like Abzan Ascendancy and Gavony Township. The deck employs stax elements (Deafening Silence, Rule of Law) to slow opponents while building board presence through undying creatures (Young Wolf, Strangleroot Geist), token generation, and persistent recursion.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-3): Deploy mana dorks (Birds of Paradise, Wall of Roots), counter sources (Courage in Crisis), or stax pieces. Mill proactively with Altar of Dementia or Cemetery Tampering.
2. Engine Assembly (T4-6): Activate Tayam to recur key pieces like Eternal Witness or Spore Frog. Use Ashnod's Altar to fuel recursion loops. Build counter density with Thran Vigil/Insidious Roots.
3. Win Conversion (T6+):
   • Grind: Drain via Syr Konrad, the Grim with recursive sac outlets
   • Overrun: Starlight Spectacular or Gavony Township boosts
   • Infect: Glistening Oil on evasive creatures
   • Combo Potential: Altar of Dementia + undying creatures + Syr Konrad for mill/damage loops

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including green/black sources
• Prioritize early ramp (dorks/Exploration) or recursive creatures
• Ensure at least one enabler (sac outlet, counter generator, or mill engine)
• Mulligan away high-CMC clumps without ramp

Key Tips:

• Use Solitary Confinement with Sylvan Library/Greed for protection
• Nethroi, Apex of Death can mass-reanimate Tayam-fueled graveyards
• Baba Lysaga, Night Witch converts sacrificed permanents into card advantage
• Insidious Roots turns graveyard exits into mana dorks and growing threats

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) completely shuts down recursion engines
• Lacks fast answers to flying/reach threats despite Shalai, Voice of Plenty

Moderate

• Relies heavily on Tayam staying active for recursion - vulnerable to repeated removal
• Limited instant-speed interaction for stack-based combos

Minor

• Some clunky mana base entries (multiple taplands)
• Undercooked proliferate synergies beyond Courage in Crisis

Most Important Cards:

• Tayam, Luminous Enigma (Engine driver & recursion)
• Syr Konrad, the Grim (Primary win condition)
• Ashnod's Altar (Sac outlet & mana generation)
• Altar of Dementia (Mill enabler & wincon)
• Abzan Ascendancy (Counter source & token generation)
• Eternal Witness (Recursion workhorse)
• Rule of Law (Game pace control)
• Nethroi, Apex of Death (Mass reanimation)
• Glistening Oil (Alternate win condition)
• Pernicious Deed (Board control)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can establish stax/engines by T3-4 but typically wins through incremental value around T8-10

Resilience: 7/10

• Multiple recursion paths and protection (Swiftfoot Boots, Solitary Confinement) mitigate disruption

Consistency: 6/10

• Good engine redundancy but limited tutors for key combo pieces

Interaction: 6/10

• Targeted removal suite (Anguished Unmaking, Assassin's Trophy) but light stack interaction

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a midrange stax/recursion build with T8-10 win potential through layered value engines rather than explosive combos. While resilient to single threats, its reliance on graveyard synergy and moderate speed align it with upgraded precon/casual tiers.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0