Overview:

This Tinybones discard deck employs a relentless discard strategy to strip opponents' hands while draining life through punishing enchantments. The commander synergizes with forced discard effects to generate card advantage and eventually activate its game-ending ability. The deck combines symmetrical discard engines (Necrogen Mists, Oppression) with asymmetric payoffs (Liliana's Caress, Waste Not), while leveraging reanimation and big mana plays (Bolas's Citadel, Crypt Ghast) as alternative win paths. Tinybones serves as both the primary card engine and a potential finisher, though the deck can function without it through its robust discard synergy package.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Disruption (Turns 1-3): Deploy discard enablers like Cunning Lethemancer, Hopeless Nightmare, or Thoughtseize. Use fast mana (Dark Ritual, Culling the Weak) to accelerate into key 3CMC enchantments.
2. Midgame Lock (Turns 4-6): Establish recurring discard with Necrogen Mists/Bottomless Pit alongside payoffs like Waste Not or Syr Konrad. Protect critical pieces with Lightning Greaves. Activate Tinybones' draw engine by maintaining at least one discard per opponent turn.
3. Endgame (Turns 7+):
   • Life Drain: Amplify discard triggers with Bloodletter of Aclazotz and Megrim.
   • Big Mana Plays: Use Crypt Ghast/Cabal Coffers to power Peer into the Abyss or Rise of the Dark Realms.
   • Commander Finish: Activate Tinybones' 10-life ability once hands are empty.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including black sources
• Prioritize early discard (Duress, Cunning Lethemancer) + payoff (Liliana's Caress)
• Ensure at least one mana accelerator (Jet Medallion, Sol Ring)
• Avoid hands lacking both discard enablers and payoffs

Key Tips:

• Time symmetrical discard effects after opponents' draw steps for maximum impact
• Use Waste Not mana to fuel Bolas's Citadel or Peer into the Abyss
• Tergrid, God of Fright transforms discard into permanent advantage
• Ensnaring Bridge protects against combat damage while you empty hands
• Bloodchief Ascension becomes a game-ending engine once active

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Foldsto decks with native card advantage engines or graveyard recursion
• Helpless against empty-handed opponents (fails to trigger key abilities)
• Heavily reliant on maintaining critical mass of discard enchantments

Moderate

• Vulnerable to enchantment removal targeting key pieces (Waste Not, Painful Quandary)
• Limited answers to resolved planeswalkers or artifacts
• Struggles against token strategies bypassing discard

Minor

• Some life loss from own effects (Infernal Grasp, Peer into the Abyss)
• Mana base has several tapped lands slowing early turns

Most Important Cards:

• Waste Not (Mana/card engine from discards)
• Necrogen Mists (Recurring discard pressure)
• Bolas's Citadel (Top-deck cheat & finisher)
• Bloodletter of Aclazotz (Life loss amplifier)
• Painful Quandary (Discard enabler + damage)
• Tergrid, God of Fright (Permanent theft engine)
• Syr Konrad, the Grim (Graveyard ping damage)
• Demonic Tutor (Key piece fetcher)
• Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (Passive life drain)
• Oppression (Asymmetric discard trigger)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10
Can establish game-winning positions by T7-8 through discard attrition, but lacks fast combos. Big mana turns via Cabal Coffers/Peer into the Abyss enable explosive late-game plays.

Resilience: 6/10
Multiple redundant discard effects and recursive threats (Gixian Puppeteer, Reanimate), but core strategy falters if key enchantments are removed.

Consistency: 7/10
Strong tutor density (Beseech the Mirror, Demonic Tutor) and Tinybones' inherent card draw ensure reliable access to strategy pieces.

Interaction: 5/10
Targeted removal (Deadly Rollick, Infernal Grasp) and niche counterspells (Withering Boon), but lacks board wipes and struggles against non-creature threats.

Rating Justification:

The deck demonstrates focused discard synergy with optimized card selection and tutors, capable of T8-10 wins through sustained life drain. While resilient to single-target removal, its reliance on maintaining multiple enchantments and vulnerability to empty-handed opponents keeps it below high-power tiers.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5