Overview:

This Selesnya (G/W) deck helmed by Gluntch, the Bestower employs a group hug/political strategy that distributes resources (counters, cards, Treasures) to all players while building defensive layers and aiming for a Approach of the Second Sun victory. The deck leverages symmetrical card draw and ramp effects to accelerate the table, using pillow-fort elements like Ghostly Prison and Windborn Muse to mitigate aggression. Gluntch serves as a key political tool and value engine, enabling card advantage through its forced opponent allocations while occasionally benefiting from +1/+1 counter synergies via cards like Kami of Whispered Hopes.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Game (T1-4): Deploy mana dorks (Llanowar Elves, Avacyn's Pilgrim), symmetrical ramp (Rootweaver Druid, Tempt with Discovery), and group draw engines (Howling Golem, Selvala, Explorer Returned). Use pillow-fort pieces like Ghostly Prison or Baird, Steward of Argive to deter early aggression.
2. Mid Game (T5-7): Activate Gluntch's end-step triggers to manipulate opponent incentives while deploying key defensive tools (Sandwurm Convergence, Nils, Discipline Enforcer). Use political cards like Benevolent Offering and Sylvan Offering to maintain goodwill while advancing your board.
3. Win Condition Assembly:
   • Primary: Cast Approach of the Second Sun, then dig for it again using mass draw (Secret Rendezvous, Your Temple Is Under Attack).
   • Secondary: Overwhelm with token armies from Sandwurm Convergence/Sylvan Offering enhanced by Duelist's Heritage or Forgotten Ancient.
   • Alternative: Force opponent deck-out via symmetrical draw engines like Rites of Flourishing + Ghirapur Orrery.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including green/white sources.
• Prioritize early ramp (Sol Ring, Cultivate) or group draw (Howling Mine, Selvala, Explorer Returned).
• Ensure at least one defensive piece (Spore Frog, Ghostly Prison) or political tool (Benevolent Offering).
• Avoid hands lacking ramp or with only high-CMC cards.

Key Tips:

• Use Gluntch's Treasure generation to fund instant-speed interaction (Generous Gift, Riot Control) during opponents' turns.
• Time Arbiter of Knollridge to reset life totals when opponents are low, leveraging your life gain from Approach of the Second Sun and Benevolent Offering.
• Exploit "forced cooperation" cards like Pendant of Prosperity and Bucknard's Everfull Purse to maintain card advantage parity.
• Protect key engines with Promise of Loyalty or Your Temple Is Under Attack indestructible mode.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Lacks win condition redundancy beyond Approach of the Second Sun and slow token beats.
• Symmetrical acceleration/draw disproportionately benefits combo/storm opponents.
• Minimal stack interaction (only 3 counterspell-like effects) to stop opposing wins.

Moderate

• Vulnerable to artifact/enchantment removal targeting key engines (Rites of Flourishing, Ghirapur Orrery).
• Weak to Drannith Magistrate-style effects shutting down Gluntch's political allocations.

Minor

• Mediocre recovery from board wipes due to limited recursion (only Skullwinder/Jailbreak).
• Struggles against flyer-heavy metas despite Sandwurm Convergence.

Most Important Cards:

• Approach of the Second Sun (Primary win condition)
• Gluntch, the Bestower (Resource engine/political tool)
• Ghostly Prison (Critical defense layer)
• Rites of Flourishing (Symmetrical draw/ramp accelerator)
• Sandwurm Convergence (Token generation and flying defense)
• Selvala, Explorer Returned (Mana/card parity engine)
• Kami of Whispered Hopes (Counter synergy and mana scaling)
• Ghirapur Orrery (Late-game draw for Approach recursion)
• Duelist's Heritage (Combat damage amplifier)
• Tempt with Discovery (Asymmetric ramp enabler)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 3/10

• Wins rarely before T10-12 even unimpeded, relying on casting a 7-mana sorcery twice with minimal tutors.

Resilience: 5/10

• Multiple defensive layers and life gain mitigate aggression, but critical engines lack protection and the primary wincon is easily disrupted.

Consistency: 6/10

• Abundant card draw ensures access to key pieces, but lacks focused tutors for Approach of the Second Sun.

Interaction: 4/10

• Limited to spot removal (Swords to Plowshares, Path to Exile) and combat tricks, with almost no counterspells or graveyard hate.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a Casual/Precon level (T10-12 wins via combat/slow combo) due to its reliance on high-CMC win conditions and symmetrical resource acceleration. While its defensive layers provide moderate resilience, the lack of win condition redundancy and interaction cement its position in the lower tiers.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5