Overview:

This Esper deck helmed by Hashaton, Scarab's Fist focuses on discarding high-impact creature cards to generate 4/4 Zombie token copies, amplified by token doublers like Anointed Procession and Mondrak, Glory Dominus. The strategy combines graveyard recursion, value engines like The Scarab God, and explosive token-based combat finishes with Moonshaker Cavalry. Hashaton acts as both an enabler and payoff, requiring careful management of discard outlets and protection from removal to maintain momentum.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3):
   • Deploy discard outlets: Putrid Imp, Bog Witch, Tireless Tribe, or Skirge Familiar.
   • Cast enablers like Rhystic Study, Esper Sentinel, or Ledger Shredder for card advantage.
   • Use Careful Study or Faithful Mending to discard key creatures (e.g., Gray Merchant of Asphodel, Archon of Cruelty).

2. Midgame Value (Turns 4-6):

   • Activate Hashaton’s ability to create 4/4 Zombie tokens from discarded creatures. Double tokens with Anointed Procession/Mondrak.
   • Recur threats via Tortured Existence, The Scarab God, or Reya Dawnbringer.
   • Tutor for combo pieces (Peregrine Drake + Deadeye Navigator not present, but Razaketh, the Foulblooded can fetch finishers).

3. Win Conditions (Turns 6-8+):

   • Combat Overkill: Deploy Moonshaker Cavalry or Craterhoof Behemoth (not listed but implied via token copies) for lethal swings.
   • Gray Merchant Loops: Copy multiple 4/4 Zombie Gray Merchants for massive life drain.
   • Control Lock: Use Avacyn, Angel of Hope + Teferi's Protection to phase out an indestructible board.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Prioritize hands with 1-2 discard outlets, 3 lands (including duals), and a value engine (e.g., Rhystic Study, The Scarab God).
• Avoid hands without early plays or discard synergies.

Key Tips:

• Use Sakashima of a Thousand Faces to clone Hashaton or token doublers for exponential value.
• Toxic Deluge and Cyclonic Rift reset opponents while preserving your indestructible tokens (if Avacyn is active).
• Smothering Tithe fuels discard activations and combos with An Offer You Can't Refuse.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) cripples discard synergies and recursion.
• Commander-dependent strategy: Repeated removal of Hashaton stalls the engine.

Moderate

• Limited instant-speed interaction against noncreature combos.
• High mana demands for token generation (2U per activation + discard cost).

Minor

• Token armies vulnerable to mass -X/-X effects (Toxic Deluge mirrors).

Most Important Cards:

• Hashaton, Scarab's Fist (Token generator)
• Anointed Procession/Mondrak, Glory Dominus (Token doubling)
• Moonshaker Cavalry (Combat finisher)
• Gray Merchant of Asphodel (Life drain payoff)
• The Scarab God (Recursion and value)
• Rhystic Study (Card advantage)
• Putrid Imp/Bog Witch (Discard outlets)
• Teferi's Protection (Board protection)
• Demonic Tutor/Enlightened Tutor (Tutoring)
• Cyclonic Rift (Board reset)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten wins via token swarms or Gray Merchant loops by turns 7-8, but lacks fast infinite combos.

Resilience: 5/10

• Recursion and protection spells help, but graveyard reliance and commander dependency create fragility.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong tutors and card selection (12+ draw/filter effects) ensure access to key pieces.

Interaction: 6/10

• Efficient removal (Swords to Plowshares, Anguished Unmaking) and counterspulls, but light on stack control outside blue.

Rating Justification:

This deck combines potent value engines and late-game finishers but lacks the speed and redundancy of top-tier strategies. Its reliance on incremental token generation and vulnerability to graveyard hate place it in the optimized casual tier, capable of winning via combat or synergy-driven value by turns 7-8.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0