Overview:

This Abzan deck helmed by Thalia and The Gitrog Monster is a land-centric strategy focused on explosive ramp, landfall triggers, and recursive value engines. The commanders enable additional land drops while disrupting opponents with tapped nonbasics. The deck leverages sacrifice synergies, token generation via landfall (Avenger of Zendikar, Scute Swarm), and direct damage through Ob Nixilis, the Fallen. Key land recursion tools like Crucible of Worlds and Ancient Greenwarden create inevitability, while The Gitrog Monster in the 99 provides card advantage. The deck aims to overwhelm through board presence and incremental value rather than fast combos.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Game (T1-3):
   • Ramp aggressively with Exploration, Azusa, Lost but Seeking, and land-fetching sorceries like Rampant Growth.
   • Deploy land recursion enablers like Ramunap Excavator or Conduit of Worlds.
   • Use Sylvan Safekeeper/Zuran Orb to protect lands while fueling Gitrog draws.

2. Mid-Game (T4-6):

   • Activate landfall engines with Scute Swarm, Rampaging Baloths, and Titania, Protector of Argoth.
   • Sacrifice lands to Squandered Resources or Dust Bowl for mana/effects while triggering Gitrog draws.
   • Deploy haymakers like Avenger of Zendikar or Greensleeves, Maro-Sorcerer to build an overwhelming board.

3. Late Game (T7+):

   • Close with token swarms enhanced by Concordant Crossroads or Craterhoof Behemoth-style effects (though absent here, token mass suffices).
   • Leverage Ob Nixilis, the Fallen for direct damage and Emeria Shepherd for recursive threats.
   • Activate Wrenn and Realmbreaker's ultimate to play permanents from graveyard.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including at least one green source.
• Prioritize early ramp (Exploration, Elvish Reclaimer) or land recursion (Crucible of Worlds).
• Look for at least one payoff card (Scute Swarm, The Gitrog Monster) or tutor (Enlightened Tutor).

Key Tips:

• Use Glacial Chasm with land recursion to stall while building your board.
• Squandered Resources converts excess lands into mana for explosive turns.
• Constant Mists + recursion creates a soft lock against combat decks.
• Prismatic Omen supercharges Cabal Coffers and enables 5-color mana.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Lacks protection against Rest in Peace/Leyline of the Void which nullify graveyard recursion.
• Vulnerable to Blood Moon/Back to Basics due to greedy nonbasic land base.

Moderate

• Board wipes reset token armies and landfall triggers.
• Struggles against fast combo decks due to limited stack interaction.

Minor

• Collector Ouphe disrupts artifact-based land recursion (Crucible/Conduit).
• Torpor Orb nullifies ETB triggers from key creatures.

Most Important Cards:

• The Gitrog Monster (Card advantage engine)
• Crucible of Worlds (Land recursion backbone)
• Avenger of Zendikar (Primary token generator)
• Scute Swarm (Exponential threat)
• Ob Nixilis, the Fallen (Alternative win condition)
• Squandered Resources (Mana burst enabler)
• Enlightened Tutor (Key piece fetcher)
• Ancient Greenwarden (Landfall amplifier)
• Wrenn and Realmbreaker (Late-game recursion)
• Titania, Protector of Argoth (Token generator/recursion)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can deploy threats by T4-5 but lacks fast combo kills, relying on gradual board buildup.

Resilience: 7/10

• Strong recursion and multiple landfall engines provide recovery, though vulnerable to graveyard hate.

Consistency: 8/10

• Abundant land tutors, card draw from Gitrog/Horn of Greed, and redundant land-play effects ensure strategy execution.

Interaction: 5/10

• Targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Generous Gift) and stax elements (Aura Shards) present but limited counterspells.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates strong consistency and resilience through land recursion but operates at a moderate speed (T7-9 wins) typical of battlecruiser strategies. While it can generate overwhelming value, the lack of compact combos and vulnerability to common hate pieces cap its power level.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5