Overview:

This Simic deck helmed by Zimone, Mystery Unraveler combines landfall synergies with manifest mechanics to create a value engine that floods the board with threats. The strategy leverages multiple land drops per turn (via Azusa, Lost but Seeking, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove, and Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait) to trigger Zimone's double-faced manifest ability, generating 2/2 bodies while setting up creature reveals. Key payoffs include token armies from Avenger of Zendikar/Rampaging Baloths, massive creature synergies with Craterhoof Behemoth, and recursive land-based value from Ancient Greenwarden/Yedora, Grave Gardener. Zimone acts as both an engine (enabling face-down creature flips) and a value generator, though the deck can function through alternative landfall payoffs if she's removed.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Prioritize land-ramp spells (Rampant Growth, Cultivate) and mana dorks (Lotus Cobra, Sakura-Tribe Elder). Use Zimone's first landfall trigger each turn to manifest creatures.
2. Midgame Engine (Turns 4-7): Deploy land multipliers (Azusa, Dryad) and card advantage engines (Tatyova, Benthic Druid, Aesi). Activate Zimone's secondary ability to flip manifested bombs like Cultivator Colossus or Koma, Cosmos Serpent.
3. Endgame (Turns 7+): Overwhelm with token swarms amplified by Craterhoof Behemoth/Overwhelming Stampede or outvalue opponents with recursive threats via Yedora, Grave Gardener (turning deaths into Forests) and Ancient Greenwarden.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3+ lands and at least one ramp spell
• Prioritize early land-fetch (Fabled Passage, Kodama's Reach) over high-CMC bombs
• Ensure blue sources for interaction (Counterspell, Arcane Denial)

Key Tips:

• Use Scroll of Fate to cheat in high-CMC creatures face-down, then flip them instantly with Zimone's ability
• Yedora, Grave Gardener turns all creature deaths into Forests, triggering landfall for Zimone/Lotus Cobra
• Ashaya, Soul of the Wild makes non-token creatures into Forests, enabling explosive Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx activations
• Paranormal Analyst turns every manifest into card selection

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Complete shutdown from Rest in Peace/Leyline of the Void (disables manifest recursion, Yedora, Ramunap Excavator)
• Blood Moon effects cripple the mana base's color-fixing lands
• Torpor Orb nullifies ETB triggers from Avenger, Tatyova, and key flips

Moderate

• Board wipes reset token armies and manifest investments
• Confounding Conundrum disrupts land-drop engines
• Cursed Totem shuts off mana dorks and Lotus Cobra

Minor

• Limited stack interaction for back-to-back threats
• Slow starts against hyper-aggressive decks
• Vulnerable to flyers before deploying Elder Gargaroth/Territory Culler

Most Important Cards:

• Zimone, Mystery Unraveler (Manifest engine/flip enabler)
• Dryad of the Ilysian Grove (Land multiplier + fixing)
• Craterhoof Behemoth (Primary finisher)
• Ancient Greenwarden (Landfall amplifier + recursion)
• Yedora, Grave Gardener (Recursive engine)
• Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait (Card draw + land drops)
• Avenger of Zendikar (Token generator)
• Scroll of Fate (Manifest cheat)
• Cultivator Colossus (Land-to-hand engine)
• Koma, Cosmos Serpent (Board control + threat)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can establish lethal boards by T7-8 through landfall tokens or flipped threats, but lacks fast mana for earlier explosive plays.

Resilience: 7/10

• Multiple recursion engines (Yedora, Ramunap Excavator) and protection (Lightning Greaves) mitigate removal, though board wipes remain problematic.

Consistency: 8/10

• 14 land-fetch effects and 10 card draw engines ensure reliable access to key pieces.

Interaction: 5/10

• Limited to 7 targeted removal/counters, relying more on board presence than stack control.

Rating Justification:

The deck demonstrates focused landfall/manifest synergy with strong consistency and midrange resilience, capable of threatening wins via combat around T7-8. While lacking the speed and interaction density of higher tiers, its redundant value engines place it above precon-level decks.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5