Overview:

This Abzan (WBG) lifegain/counters deck helmed by Betor, Ancestor's Voice focuses on incremental value through life manipulation. The strategy leverages lifegain triggers to fuel +1/+1 counters via Betor's first ability while using life loss from opponents to reanimate key creatures. Secondary themes include extort synergies, life-drain payoffs, and X-spell finishers. Betor serves as an engine rather than the core wincon, enabling value generation but remaining vulnerable to removal at 5 CMC with no inherent protection.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy lifegain enablers (Soul Warden, Blood Artist), ramp (Arcane Signet, Cultivate), and value pieces (Phyrexian Arena, Well of Lost Dreams).
2. Midgame Engine (Turns 5-7): Cast Betor to amplify +1/+1 counter distribution. Activate life-drain payoffs like Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose and Sanguine Bond. Use Rhox Faithmender to double lifegain.
3. Endgame (Turns 8+): Close with X-spells (Exsanguinate, Debt to the Deathless), Aetherflux Reservoir, or amplified Gray Merchant of Asphodel. Use Bolas's Citadel for explosive plays.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands including color fixers (WBG sources)
• Prioritize early lifegain engines or ramp (Soul Warden > Arcane Signet > Cultivate)
• Ensure at least one interaction piece (Swords to Plowshares, Golgari Charm)

Key Tips:

• Time board wipes (Fumigate, Kaya's Wrath) to maximize life gain from creature deaths
• Use Corpsejack Menace/Kami of Whispered Hopes to amplify Betor's counters
• Vizkopa Guildmage's second ability triples life-drain damage when stacked with other payoffs

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Minimal protection for key engines (No Teferi's Protection/Boros Charm)
• Weak to Rest in Peace/Leyline of the Void shutting recursion

Moderate

• Slow setup with 14 taplands
• Vulnerable to artifact/enchantment hate disrupting Sanguine Bond/Aetherflux Reservoir

Minor

• Limited stack interaction (3 counterspells/protection spells)
• Over-reliance on sorcery-speed plays

Most Important Cards:

• Sanguine Bond (Life-to-damage multiplier)
• Rhox Faithmender (Lifegain doubler)
• Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose (Primary life-drain engine)
• Exsanguinate (Scaling finisher)
• Bolas's Citadel (Unchecked value engine)
• Aetherflux Reservoir (Alternate wincon)
• Gray Merchant of Asphodel (Mass life swing)
• Corpsejack Menace (Counter amplifier)
• Kami of Whispered Hopes (Mana/counter synergy)
• Well of Lost Dreams (Card advantage engine)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 4/10
Reaches critical mass of life-drain effects around T9-11. Fastest theoretical win via T6 Bolas's Citadel into X-spells.

Resilience: 5/10
Multiple redundancies in lifegain/drain effects but lacks protection for key permanents.

Consistency: 6/10
Moderate tutoring (Diabolic Tutor, Staff of Compleation) and card draw, but mana constraints limit early plays.

Interaction: 5/10
Efficient spot removal (Swords, Hero's Downfall) but minimal counterspells and slow board wipes.

Rating Justification:

The deck demonstrates focused lifegain/drain strategies with T9-11 win potential through combat or X-spells, but its slow mana base and vulnerability to disruption cap its ceiling. Aligns with Casual/Precon+ tiers adjusted for moderate resilience.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5