Overview:

This Dimir deck helmed by Runo Stromkirk // Krothuss, Lord of the Deep focuses on cheating out massive Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus, and Serpent creatures through reanimation, cost reduction, and token duplication. The strategy leverages Runo's ability to resurrect key creatures from the graveyard and later transform into Krothuss to exponentially multiply threats via token copies. Secondary themes include board control via tap-down effects and land-based combos like Dark Depths + Thespian's Stage. While Runo enables value recursion, the deck can function independently with its high density of sea monsters and reanimation packages.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Prioritize ramping with artifacts (Sol Ring, Thran Dynamo) and self-mill/entomb effects (Entomb, Otherworldly Gaze). Use Quicksilver Amulet or Kozilek's Unsealing to cheat early threats.
2. Mid-Game Reanimation (Turns 4-6): Cast Reanimate, Animate Dead, or Persist to resurrect bombs like Hullbreaker Horror or Stormtide Leviathan. Activate Runo's upkeep trigger to flip into Krothuss once a 6+ MV creature is revealed.
3. Token Duplication (Turns 5+): Attack with Krothuss and a high-impact creature (e.g., Spawning Kraken) to create 2x tapped/attacking tokens. Use Roaming Throne (naming Kraken) to double token-generating triggers.
4. Win Conditions:
   • Overwhelm with token armies from Spawning Kraken/Kiora Bests the Sea God enhanced by Serpent of Yawning Depths evasion.
   • Lock down boards with Stormtide Leviathan/Breaching Leviathan and Junk Winder tap synergies.
   • Marit Lage (via Dark Depths) as an alternate 20/20 finisher.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with at least 3 lands, preferably including a dual land or artifact ramp.
• Prioritize early interaction (Counterspell, Pongify) or enablers (Entomb, Quicksilver Amulet).
• Avoid hands without ramp or graveyard setup tools.

Key Tips:

• Use Whelming Wave as a one-sided reset that spares your sea creatures.
• The Key to the Vault on an unblockable creature (e.g., Lochmere Serpent) can cheat game-ending spells.
• Roaming Throne doubles Krothuss’ token generation and other Kraken/Leviathan triggers.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) cripples reanimation lines and Runo’s recursion.
• Artifact destruction disrupts key mana sources (Thran Dynamo, Quicksilver Amulet) and combo enablers.

Moderate

• Board wipes bypassing indestructible/hexproof reset progress, though Whelming Wave provides partial recovery.
• Torpor Orb nullifies ETB effects from critical creatures like Scourge of Fleets and Hullbreaker Horror.

Minor

• Struggles against flyer-heavy decks without Stormtide Leviathan in play.
• High-CMC threats can lead to awkward draws without sufficient ramp.

Most Important Cards:

• Hullbreaker Horror (Board control + combo potential with cheap spells)
• Spawning Kraken (Token generation engine)
• Dark Depths + Thespian's Stage (Alternate 20/20 win condition)
• Quicksilver Amulet (Cheats high-CMC threats)
• Roaming Throne (Doubles tribal triggers)
• Reanimate/Animate Dead (Key reanimation enablers)
• Stormtide Leviathan (Combat lockdown)
• Kiora Bests the Sea God (Token generation + permanent theft)
• Entomb (Tutors for graveyard targets)
• Whelming Wave (One-sided board reset)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Capable of deploying game-ending threats by turns 6-8 via reanimation/cheating, but lacks fast mana for explosive starts.

Resilience: 6/10

• Redundant reanimation and card selection (Brainstorm, Sensei's Divining Top) mitigate disruption, but over-reliant on graveyard.

Consistency: 5/10

• Limited tutors beyond Entomb and Quicksilver Amulet, but card draw/filtering helps assemble pieces.

Interaction: 6/10

• Solid suite of counterspells (Counterspell, Negate), targeted removal (Feed the Swarm), and board control (Junk Winder).

Rating Justification:

This deck operates optimally in the T7-9 range, leveraging reanimation and tribal synergies to establish control or overwhelming boards. While it has potent finishers and interaction, its reliance on high-CMC creatures and vulnerability to graveyard hate caps its ceiling.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5