Overview:

This Golgari Squirrel tribal deck helmed by Chatterfang, Squirrel General focuses on explosive token generation amplified by doubling effects like Doubling Season and Parallel Lives. The commander serves as both a token multiplier and sac outlet, enabling combos with Ashnod's Altar for infinite mana/tokens and Mirkwood Bats for lethal drain effects. Secondary win conditions include combat overruns with anthems like Beastmaster Ascension and life-drain synergies with Pitiless Plunderer. The deck leverages Squirrel synergies and token-for-value engines to overwhelm opponents through both swarm tactics and combo finishes.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Token Engine Setup (Turns 1-4):
   • Deploy key token generators: Squirrel Nest, Deep Forest Hermit, or Scute Swarm.
   • Cast Chatterfang early to double token output. Prioritize protection (Heroic Intervention) if removal is expected.
2. Doubling Effects & Synergies (Turns 3-5):
   • Resolve Doubling Season, Parallel Lives, or Peregrin Took to amplify token production.
   • Use Jaheira, Friend of the Forest or Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx to convert tokens into mana acceleration.
3. Combo/Overrun (Turns 5-8):
   • Infinite Combo: With Chatterfang + token doubler + Ashnod's Altar, sacrifice Squirrels to generate infinite colorless mana and tokens. Use Mirkwood Bats or Gruesome Fate to drain opponents.
   • Combat Win: Deploy Beastmaster Ascension, Squirrel Sovereign, or Champion of Lambholt to swing with an overwhelming board.
   • Sacrifice Payoffs: Leverage Marionette Apprentice or Valley Rotcaller to convert tokens into direct damage.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including green/black sources).
• Prioritize early token generators (e.g., Squirrel Nest, Chatter of the Squirrel) or ramp (Sol Ring, Birds of Paradise).
• Look for at least one payoff card (Mirkwood Bats, Doubling Season) or protection (Heroic Intervention).

Key Tips:

• Use Skullclamp on 1-toughness tokens for explosive card draw.
• Plumb the Forbidden synergizes with token deaths, enabling both draw and combo setups.
• Eldritch Evolution can upgrade early tokens into key pieces like Pitiless Plunderer or Deep Forest Hermit.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board wipes (e.g., Blasphemous Act) cripple the token strategy with limited recovery outside Heroic Intervention.
• Anti-token hate (Cursed Totem, Torpor Orb) shuts down sac outlets and ETB token generators.

Moderate

• Graveyard reliance for recursion (Eternal Witness absent; limited recursion outside Mudflat Village).
• Artifact/enchantment removal disrupts key combo pieces (Ashnod's Altar, Doubling Season).

Minor

• Single-target removal is manageable due to token redundancy but can slow critical engines like Pitiless Plunderer.

Most Important Cards:

• Chatterfang, Squirrel General (Token doubling and sac outlet)
• Doubling Season/Parallel Lives (Token/combo multiplier)
• Ashnod's Altar (Infinite mana/combo enabler)
• Mirkwood Bats (Primary combo payoff)
• Pitiless Plunderer (Sacrifice value engine)
• Skullclamp (Card draw from tokens)
• Deep Forest Hermit (Mass token generation)
• Jaheira, Friend of the Forest (Mana acceleration from tokens)
• Eldritch Evolution (Tutor for combo pieces)
• Heroic Intervention (Critical protection)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten infinite combos or lethal combat by turns 6-8, but relies on assembling 3+ pieces for the primary win.

Resilience: 5/10

• Vulnerable to board wipes and targeted hate, though protection spells and redundancy in token generators provide some recovery.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong card draw (Skullclamp, Toski, Bearer of Secrets) and tutors (Eldritch Evolution, Thornvault Forager) ensure access to key pieces.

Interaction: 5/10

• Limited removal (Putrefy, Bitter Triumph) and no counterspells, but Culling Ritual and Swarmyard Massacre offer situational board control.

Rating Justification:

This deck has a focused gameplan with combo potential and strong synergy density, but its reliance on board presence and vulnerability to common interaction caps its speed and resilience. It operates efficiently in the mid-game (T6-8 wins) but lacks the protection and speed of higher-tier decks.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5