Overview:

This Sultai (BUG) deck helmed by Glarb, Calamity's Augur combines topdeck manipulation, land synergy, and high-impact permanents to generate overwhelming value. The strategy leverages Glarb's ability to cheat mana value 4+ spells from the top of the library while using land ramp engines like Azusa, Lost but Seeking and Dryad of the Ilysian Grove to accelerate into game-ending threats. The deck employs multiple reanimation packages, landfall payoffs, and combo finishes like Bolas's Citadel + Sensei's Divining Top to secure victories. Glarb acts as both an enabler for free spellcasting and a value engine with its surveil ability, though the deck can function independently through its robust recursion suite.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy land accelerators (Exploration, Oracle of Mul Daya) and setup pieces like Sensei's Divining Top. Use fetches to enable landfall triggers from Tireless Provisioner and Tatyova, Benthic Druid.
2. Midgame Value (Turns 4-6): Cast Glarb to enable free casts from the topdeck. Use Sylvan Library/Rhystic Study for card advantage. Deploy recursive engines like Muldrotha, the Gravetide or Sheoldred, Whispering One.
3. Endgame (Turns 7+):
   • Combo: Activate Bolas's Citadel with Top to play the entire library, finishing with Torment of Hailfire or Finale of Devastation.
   • Reanimation: Recur Archon of Cruelty or Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur using Animate Dead/Reanimate.
   • Landfall Overrun: Flood the board with Field of the Dead tokens and pump with Zopandrel, Hunger Dominus effects.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands and at least one ramp spell (Nature's Lore, Farseek).
• Prioritize early topdeck manipulation (Top, Sylvan Library) or land accelerators.
• Avoid hands without green mana sources or excessive high-CMC cards without setup.

Key Tips:

• Use Glarb's surveil ability to set up Bolas's Citadel activations or fuel reanimation targets.
• Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth + Cabal Coffers generates explosive black mana for Torment of Hailfire.
• Shifting Woodland can copy key permanents like Field of the Dead or The Gitrog Monster in late game.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) cripples reanimation lines and land recursion.
• Drannith Magistrate/Opposition Agent blocks Glarb's casting-from-top ability and tutors.

Moderate

• Artifact removal targeting Bolas's Citadel or Sensei's Divining Top disrupts combo potential.
• Fast aggro decks can outpace the setup-heavy strategy.

Minor

• Limited stack interaction beyond Mana Drain/Arcane Denial.
• High dependency on nonbasic lands makes Blood Moon effects problematic.

Most Important Cards:

• Bolas's Citadel (Combo engine with Top, free spellcasting)
• The Gitrog Monster (Land synergy engine, card advantage)
• Sensei's Divining Top (Topdeck manipulation, Citadel combo piece)
• Finale of Devastation (Tutor + Overrun finisher)
• Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth (Mana amplification with Coffers)
• Muldrotha, the Gravetide (Recurrence engine)
• Tatyova, Benthic Druid (Landfall value generator)
• Sheoldred, Whispering One (Recurrence + board control)
• Cabal Coffers (Mana scaling for X-spells)
• Torment of Hailfire (Primary combo finisher)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Capable of T5-6 wins via Citadel/Top combo or reanimated Archon of Cruelty, though typically operates at midrange pace.

Resilience: 7/10

• Multiple recursion engines and land-based recovery mitigate disruption, but core combos remain vulnerable to specific hate.

Consistency: 8/10

• Extensive tutor suite (Finale, Razaketh, land search), topdeck control, and card draw ensure key pieces are accessible.

Interaction: 6/10

• Targeted removal (Assassin's Trophy, Drag to the Roots) and counterspounds are present but limited in quantity.

Rating Justification:

This deck combines cEDH-level combo potential (Citadel/Top) with resilient midrange value engines, capable of threatening T5-6 wins while maintaining strong recovery options. However, its reliance on sorcery-speed setups and vulnerability to specific stax pieces keep it below top-tier competitive viability.

Power level: 7.0 - 7.5