Overview:

This Dimir deck leverages Ultimecia, Time Sorceress as a surveil engine and extra turn payoff. The primary strategy involves self-mill, graveyard recursion, and extra turns to overwhelm opponents. Ultimecia enables graveyard setup via surveil, culminating in her transformation for extra turns. The deck wins through reanimated threats (e.g., Massacre Wurm, Sepulchral Primordial), value loops (e.g., Deadeye Navigator + Scholar of the Lost Trove), and Ultimecia's extra turns. She is essential for acceleration and the core win condition but is vulnerable to removal due to high recast costs.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Cast surveil enablers (Stitcher's Supplier, Otherworldly Gaze) or self-mill (Buried Alive) to fill the graveyard. Ramp with Sol Ring, Dimir Signet, or Collector's Vault.
2. Midgame Value (Turns 4-7): Reanimate key creatures (Victimize, Whip of Erebos) or deploy recursion engines (Mirko, Obsessive Theorist, Ruthless Technomancer). Use Ultimecia to surveil and dig for combo pieces/extra turns.
3. Win Condition Execution:
   • Extra Turns: Transform Ultimecia (exile 8 cards from GY) for extra turns, supported by Temporal Manipulation/Time Warp.
   • Reanimation Swarms: Recur high-impact creatures (Sepulchral Primordial, Overseer of the Damned) for board dominance.
   • Combos: Deadeye Navigator + Scholar of the Lost Trove to recur extra turn spells infinitely.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including UB sources) and early surveil/self-mill (e.g., Stitcher's Supplier, Careful Study).
• Prioritize ramp (Arcane Signet, Talisman of Dominance) or a reanimation spell (Victimize, Blood for Bones).
• Avoid hands lacking graveyard setup or exceeding 5 CMC without ramp.

Key Tips:

• Graveyard Management: Use Enhanced Surveillance to optimize surveil. Exile non-creatures with Ultimecia’s transform ability to preserve reanimation targets.
• Protect Ultimecia: Recast costs are steep. Use Teferi's Time Twist to dodge removal or Strionic Resonator to double her ETB.
• Combo Lines: Deadeye Navigator pairs with ETB threats (e.g., Sepulchral Primordial) for repeated value. Lithoform Engine copies extra turn spells or reanimation triggers.
• Recursion Loops: Master of Death and Dogged Detective provide recurring card advantage. Sacrifice fodder to Ruthless Technomancer for mana.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void cripples recursion, surveil payoffs, and Ultimecia’s transform ability.
• Commander Reliance: Ultimecia’s high recast cost makes her removal devastating. The deck stalls without her surveil engine or extra turns.
• Board Wipes: Limited recovery from mass removal (e.g., Damnation); reanimation targets are often single-use (e.g., Whip of Erebos exile).

Moderate

• Stax Effects: Rule of Law limits spell sequencing; Cursed Totem shuts down Deadeye Navigator and Ruthless Technomancer.
• Slow Start: Minimal early ramp delays Ultimecia/recursion until turns 5-7, allowing faster decks to pressure.
• Limited Interaction: Few counterspells/removal spells; relies on situational answers like Swallowed by Leviathan.

Minor

• Artifact/Enchantment Removal: Key pieces like Lithoform Engine or Whip of Erebos are vulnerable but replaceable.
• Hand Disruption: Wheels (e.g., Windfall) can disrupt combo setups but feed the graveyard.

Most Important Cards:

• Ultimecia, Time Sorceress (Surveil engine, extra turns wincon)
• Deadeye Navigator (Infinite ETB combo enabler)
• Buried Alive (Tutors 3 key creatures to GY)
• Scholar of the Lost Trove (Recurs extra turn spells/combo piece)
• Victimize (Efficient reanimation for two targets)
• Mirko, Obsessive Theorist (Recurrence engine for small creatures)
• Temporal Manipulation (Extra turn for Ultimecia synergy)
• Sepulchral Primordial (Game-ending reanimation target)
• Lithoform Engine (Copies extra turns/reanimation triggers)
• Stitcher's Supplier (Early mill/surveil enabler)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10
Can win via extra turns or reanimation on turns 7-9, but high-CMC spells and setup delay faster kills.

Resilience: 4/10
Graveyard dependency and commander reliance create severe vulnerabilities; recursion exists but is slow against hate.

Consistency: 5/10
Surveil/draw provides filtering, but lacks tutors for combo pieces beyond Buried Alive.

Interaction: 3/10
Minimal counters/removal (e.g., Unauthorized Exit); relies on situational answers and board presence.

Rating Justification:

The deck aims for T7-9 wins through extra turns or reanimation but suffers from critical vulnerabilities to graveyard hate and slow setup. Its speed aligns with Focused Casual (5.0), but low resilience and interaction prevent higher optimization.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0