Overview:

This Temur (U/R/G) deck helmed by Jenny Flint and Madame Vastra combines Clue/Food token generation with +1/+1 counter synergies and artifact-driven combos. The strategy revolves around creating a critical mass of artifact tokens via investigation effects, amplified by Academy Manufactor and Peregrin Took, then leveraging them for value, counters, and win conditions. The commanders enable incremental growth through token sacrifices and act as enablers rather than core threats. The deck can win through combat with evasive, scaled creatures (enabled by Herald of Secret Streams), infinite turns via Sage of Hours, direct damage with Walking Ballista, or alt-win cons like Simic Ascendancy and Mechanized Production.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Token Engine Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy early token generators like Erdwal Illuminator, Tireless Tracker, or Lonis, Cryptozoologist. Use ramp (Birds of Paradise, Three Visits) to accelerate into key pieces like Academy Manufactor or Adrix and Nev, Twincasters.
2. Counter Synergy (Turns 3-6): Activate +1/+1 counter multipliers (Hardened Scales, Ozolith, the Shattered Spire) while sacrificing tokens to Jenny Flint's ability. Use Zimone, Paradox Sculptor or Deepglow Skate for explosive counter growth.
3. Win Condition Assembly:
   • Combat: Deploy unblockable threats via Herald of Secret Streams or Tangletrove Kelp-animated Clues.
   • Combo: Pair Sage of Hours with +1/+1 counter engines (e.g., Jenny Flint + token sacrifice loops) for infinite turns. Use Walking Ballista with infinite mana from Kami of Whispered Hopes + Staff of Domination (if present) or Radiant Lotus sacrifices.
   • Alt-Wins: Charge Simic Ascendancy via counter synergies or create 8+ Clues with Mechanized Production.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands and early token generators (Erdwal Illuminator, Gilded Goose).
• Prioritize enablers like Academy Manufactor or Hardened Scales over high-CMC cards.
• Ensure access to at least one counter synergy piece (e.g., Kami of Whispered Hopes, Zimone).

Key Tips:

• Use Tamiyo's Journal to tutor combo pieces or Mechanized Production for critical turns.
• Sacrifice Food tokens from Peregrin Took to Crime Novelist for mana bursts.
• Heroic Intervention protects against board wipes that otherwise cripple your counter/token investments.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Artifact Wipes: Vandalblast or Farewell devastates Clue/Food infrastructure and key artifacts like Ozolith.
• Instant-Speed Interaction: Swords to Plowshares on Sage of Hours or Herald of Secret Streams disrupts primary win paths.

Moderate

• Counter Hate: The Ozolith or Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider undermines +1/+1 synergies.
• Tax Effects: Thalia, Guardian of Thraben slows down the deck’s token-sacrifice engine.

Minor

• Graveyard Reliance: Limited recursion outside Eternal Witness-like effects.
• Mana Intensity: Key combos (e.g., City on Fire) require significant setup.

Most Important Cards:

• Academy Manufactor (Token tripling enables all synergies)
• Sage of Hours (Primary infinite turns combo piece)
• Herald of Secret Streams (Enables combat victory)
• Simic Ascendancy (Alt-win condition)
• Hardened Scales (Doubles counter output)
• Adrix and Nev, Twincasters (Doubles token generation)
• Mechanized Production (Clue-based alt-win)
• Zimone, Paradox Sculptor (Counter doubling)
• Walking Ballista (Modular finisher)
• Tamiyo's Journal (Tutoring and Clue synergy)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten infinite turns or alt-wins by T7-8 with optimal draws, but relies on assembling multiple pieces.

Resilience: 5/10

• Limited protection beyond Heroic Intervention; key engines (Manufactor, Herald) are fragile to removal.

Consistency: 7/10

• Redundant token generators and card draw from Clues provide steady value, but combo tutors are sparse.

Interaction: 5/10

• Spot removal (Beast Within, Chaos Warp) and counterspulls (Counterspell) exist but lack density.

Rating Justification:

The deck’s T7-8 win potential via combos or scaled combat aligns with Focused tiers, but its vulnerability to disruption and slower setup compared to top-tier lists caps its ceiling. Resilience issues prevent higher optimization marks.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0