Overview:

This Izzet deck helmed by Gut, True Soul Zealot and Sword Coast Sailor combines creature theft, sacrifice synergies, and spell-slinging to generate value. The primary strategy revolves around stealing opponents' creatures, sacrificing them to Gut's attack trigger for 4/1 Skeleton tokens, and leveraging those tokens for further sacrifice payoffs (e.g., Makeshift Munitions damage) or unblockable commander damage via Sword Coast Sailor. Secondary elements include instant/sorcery recursion (Archaeomancer, Volcanic Vision) and burn via spell triggers like Fiery Inscription. Gut acts as both a token generator and a voltron threat, while the deck relies heavily on temporary creature theft to fuel its engine.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Izzet Signet), cast Gut, and use low-cost theft spells (Act of Treason, Sibling Rivalry) to steal opponents' creatures. Sacrifice stolen creatures during attacks to create Skeleton tokens.
2. Mid-Game Value (Turns 5-7): Recur key spells with Archaeomancer or The Mirari Conjecture, amplify damage with Fiery Inscription, and chain theft effects (Spreading Insurrection) to overwhelm opponents. Use Sword Coast Sailor to make Gut unblockable for commander damage.
3. Win Conditions:
   • Combat: Swing with unblockable Gut (lethal in 3 hits) or Skeleton swarms enhanced by Hypersonic Dragon haste.
   • Burn: Sacrifice tokens to Makeshift Munitions/Barrage of Expendables or leverage spell triggers (Fiery Inscription, Cerebral Vortex).
   • Theft Storm: Use Spreading Insurrection with storm copies to steal multiple creatures for a decisive swing.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Prioritize hands with Gut, 2-3 lands, and early interaction/theft (Act of Treason, Lightning Bolt).
• Keep hands with mana rocks (Sol Ring, Izzet Signet) or card draw (Chart a Course, Chemister's Insight).
• Avoid hands lacking red sources or theft/sacrifice outlets.

Key Tips:

• Sacrifice stolen creatures before the end step to deny opponents their return.
• Use Dualcaster Mage to copy key spells like Volcanic Vision for board control.
• Firemind's Foresight can fetch Counterspell, Dispel, and Lightning Bolt for critical interaction.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander-dependent strategy: Repeated removal of Gut cripples token generation and voltron plans.
• Limited protection: Only 3 counterspells (Counterspell, Negate, Disdainful Stroke) to defend key pieces.

Moderate

• Temporary theft reliance: Falters against decks with few creatures or hexproof/shroud.
• Fragile tokens: 4/1 Skeletons die to incidental 1-damage effects (e.g., End the Festivities).

Minor

• Slow mana base: 10+ tapped lands (e.g., Izzet Boilerworks, Myriad Landscape) delay early plays.
• Low permanent-based card draw: Relies on situational spells (Fact or Fiction, Steam Augury).

Most Important Cards:

• Gut, True Soul Zealot (Token generator and voltron threat)
• Sword Coast Sailor (Enables unblockable commander damage)
• Makeshift Munitions (Sacrifice payoff for direct damage)
• Spreading Insurrection (Mass theft for lethal swings)
• Fiery Inscription (Burn engine for spell-heavy deck)
• Archaeomancer (Recur key instants/sorceries)
• Volcanic Vision (Board wipe + spell recursion)
• Firemind's Foresight (Tutor critical interaction)
• Dualcaster Mage (Copy game-changing spells)
• The Mirari Conjecture (Recur and amplify spells)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Threatens lethal via commander damage or token swarms by turns 8-10 but lacks fast mana or combo acceleration.

Resilience: 4/10

• Heavily reliant on Gut staying on board and vulnerable to creature-light metas. Limited recursion for permanents.

Consistency: 6/10

• Moderate card draw and recursion for spells, but few tutors for key artifacts/enchantments.

Interaction: 6/10

• Efficient counterspells and targeted removal (Vandalblast, Resculpt), but lacks board wipes beyond Aetherize.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a Casual/Focused Casual level, capable of winning via combat or burn around T8-10 but struggles against disruption targeting Gut or its theft engine. Its moderate consistency and interaction place it just above precon-level decks but below optimized lists.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5