Overview:

This Sultai deck helmed by The Wise Mothman synergizes mill strategies with +1/+1 counter proliferation and rad counter manipulation. The commander amplifies the deck's core engine by distributing rad counters to all players through its ETB/attack triggers, then converting milled cards into creature buffs. Key themes include mass milling (Mesmeric Orb, Fractured Sanity), graveyard recursion (Meren of Clan Nel Toth, Muldrotha, the Gravetide), and exponential counter growth (Corpsejack Menace, Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider). Secondary win conditions include Syr Konrad pings, Rise of the Dark Realms reanimation, and commander-enabled combat pressure.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mill engines (Ruin Crab, Altar of the Brood) and counter enablers (Evolution Sage, Kami of Whispered Hopes). Use land drops to trigger landfall mill/proliferation.
2. Midgame Engine (Turns 5-7): Cast The Wise Mothman to accelerate rad counters. Activate mass mill spells (Maddening Cacophony, Nemesis of Reason) to fuel +1/+1 counters. Deploy counter doublers and recursion engines.
3. Endgame (Turns 8+): Overwhelm with massive creatures (Consuming Aberration, Strong, the Brutish Thespian), drain with Syr Konrad, the Grim, or reanimate entire yards with Rise of the Dark Realms. Use proliferate triggers to maintain rad counters and amplify damage from Nuclear Fallout.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands (including color fixing)
• Prioritize early mill enablers (Ruin Crab/Mesmeric Orb) or counter engines (Evolution Sage/Kami)
• Ensure access to at least one recursion tool (Meren, Conduit of Worlds) or protection (Swiftfoot Boots)
• Avoid hands lacking mill outlets or counter synergies

Key Tips:

• Time Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider to double rad and +1/+1 counter outputs
• Use Muldrotha, the Gravetide to recur Altar of the Brood/Mesmeric Orb for persistent mill
• Mutational Advantage protects key creatures while proliferating rad counters
• Bloodchief Ascension converts mill into life drain once active
• Archetype of Imagination ensures unblockable attacks for Mothman/rad triggers

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) cripples recursion and Syr Konrad/Meren value
• Anti-counter measures (The Ozolith, Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger) disrupt core synergy
• Board wipes reset hard-earned +1/+1 counter investments

Moderate

• Fast combo decks outpace this midrange strategy
• Torpor Orb nullifies ETB-based mill from Ruin Crab/Nemesis of Reason
• Grafdigger's Cage blocks Muldrotha/Meren recursion

Minor

• Single-target removal on key enablers (easier to recur than rebuild)
• Life gain strategies mitigate Syr Konrad/Bloodchief Ascension damage

Most Important Cards:

• The Wise Mothman (Engine catalyst for rad/mill/counter synergy)
• Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider (Doubles counter output, halves opponents')
• Syr Konrad, the Grim (Alternative wincon via mill-triggered damage)
• Mesmeric Orb (Persistent mill engine)
• Muldrotha, the Gravetide (Graveyard recursion backbone)
• Corpsejack Menace (Exponential +1/+1 counter growth)
• Rise of the Dark Realms (Game-ending reanimation)
• Bloodchief Ascension (Passive life drain)
• Fractured Sanity (Mass mill with cycling flexibility)
• Kami of Whispered Hopes (Counter amplification & mana acceleration)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can establish threatening boards by T6-8 but lacks fast combo kills. Primary wincons typically require multiple setup turns.

Resilience: 6/10

• Strong recursion (Meren/Muldrotha) and protection (Mutational Advantage) offset some disruption, but core engine remains vulnerable to grave hate.

Consistency: 7/10

• Multiple redundant mill engines and tutor support (Grim Tutor/Diabolic Tutor) ensure key pieces are found, though reliant on 3-card synergies.

Interaction: 5/10

• Targeted removal (Drown in the Loch, Casualties of War) and board control (Aetherize) present but lacks stack interaction beyond Repulsive Mutation.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a focused midrange strategy with T8-10 win potential through combat or Syr Konrad drains, demonstrating strong synergy but vulnerable to common disruption. Its balance of recursion and tutor density aligns with optimized casual play, though speed limitations prevent higher tiers.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5