Overview:

This Esper (WUB) Alela, Artful Provocateur deck focuses on generating flying Faerie tokens through artifact/enchantment casts and tribal synergies, then amplifying their impact with anthems and combat payoffs. Alela serves as the linchpin, enabling token generation while providing a flying tribal buff. The deck employs a mix of stax elements (Linvala, Keeper of Silence, Aven Mindcensor), countermagic, and value engines like Kindred Discovery to control the board while building an evasive army. Primary win conditions involve overwhelming with boosted fliers, Notorious Throng extra turns, and Cathars' Crusade snowballing, with Sword of Feast and Famine/untap synergies enabling explosive turns.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Azorius Signet), token generators (Bitterblossom, Sai, Master Thopterist), and key anthems (Favorable Winds, Intangible Virtue). Protect Alela with Lightning Greaves or Swiftfoot Boots.
2. Mid-Game Value (Turns 4-6): Cast Alela and chain low-cost artifacts/enchantments to flood the board. Activate draw engines (Reconnaissance Mission, Bident of Thassa) and deploy stax pieces to disrupt opponents. Use Faerie Harbinger or Roaming Throne (naming Faerie) to amplify tribal synergies.
3. Finishing Turns (Turns 6+):
   • Combat Overkill: Deploy Gravitational Shift or Cathars' Crusade, then swing with 10+ buffed fliers.
   • Extra Turns: Cast prowled Notorious Throng post-combat damage for massive token generation and an additional turn.
   • Equipment Payoffs: Attach Sword of Feast and Famine or All That Glitters to a key creature for lethal commander damage or resource denial.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including at least one blue source.
• Prioritize early token generators (Bitterblossom), mana rocks, or Alela-protection equipment.
• Ensure access to at least one anthem effect or card draw engine.
• Avoid hands with only high-CMC cards (≥5) lacking ramp.

Key Tips:

• Use Roaming Throne (Faerie type) to double Alela's token generation and Obyra, Dreaming Duelist drain triggers.
• Skullclamp sacrifices 1/1 Faeries from Bitterblossom or Sai to maintain card advantage.
• Time Cyclonic Rift or Damnation after establishing Anointed Procession for maximum rebuild potential.
• Faerie Trickery and Spellstutter Sprite counter key noncreature spells while advancing your board.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Heavy reliance on Alela: Multiple removals cripple token generation. No in-deck protection from sacrifice effects.
• Board wipes devastate the go-wide strategy with limited recovery tools beyond Selfless Spirit.
• Struggles against flying hate (Sandwurm Convergence, Insurrection) due to minimal non-flying threats.

Moderate

• Slow setup against hyper-aggressive decks lacking early blockers.
• Limited artifact/enchantment recursion makes Bane of Progress devastating.
• Cursed Totem/Hushbringer nullify key activated/ETB abilities (Sai, Obyra, Skullclamp).

Minor

• Some mana base enters tapped (40% of lands), slightly slowing early turns.
• Light graveyard interaction beyond Halo Forager.

Most Important Cards:

• Alela, Artful Provocateur (Token generation engine + tribal buff)
• Anointed Procession (Doubles token output for all sources)
• Notorious Throng (Game-ending token burst + extra turn)
• Cathars' Crusade (Scaling anthem for all creatures)
• Kindred Discovery (Draw engine tied to Faerie actions)
• Sword of Feast and Famine (Untap synergy + discard pressure)
• Roaming Throne (Doubles Faerie triggers + tribal typing)
• Cyclonic Rift (Mass bounce for tempo swings)
• Gravitational Shift (Asymmetric flying buff/nerf)
• Skullclamp (Sac outlet + card advantage engine)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10
Can establish threatening boards by T5-6 with optimal draws (Alela + 2-3 artifacts/enchantments), but lacks T4 win potential.

Resilience: 5/10
Moderate protection (counterspells, Unbreakable Formation) but over-reliant on Alela and vulnerable to resolved wraths.

Consistency: 7/10
Strong card draw (12+ sources) and Fairie tutors (Faerie Harbinger) ensure steady token generation.

Interaction: 7/10
Diverse suite of counterspells, targeted removal, and stax pieces disrupt opponents effectively.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates focused combat/control synergy with T6-8 win potential through flying swarms and extra turns, but its Alela dependency and wipe vulnerability prevent higher optimization. Matches the "Focused" tier (6.0-6.5) with stax elements and strong tribal synergies offset by moderate speed.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5