Overview:

This Golgari Insect tribal deck helmed by Amzu, Swarm's Hunger focuses on token generation through graveyard attrition and +1/+1 counter synergies. The strategy leverages self-mill, recursive Insects, and token doublers like Doubling Season to create overwhelming boards. Amzu acts as an enabler for token production whenever cards leave the graveyard, while alternate win conditions include infect via Plague Stinger/Necropede and midrange value from cards like Phyrexian Swarmlord. The deck struggles with consistent graveyard-fueled triggers but has strong late-game potential with land ramp like Reshape the Earth.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Prioritize ramp (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Roiling Regrowth) and self-mill/recursion enablers like Zask, Skittering Swarmlord. Deploy early Insects like Swamp Mosquito or Hornet Nest to establish board presence.
2. Graveyard Synergy (Turns 3-6): Use Zask to replay Insects from the graveyard, triggering Amzu's token generation. Activate Nihil Spellbomb or Canoptek Scarab Swarm to exile graveyard cards on-demand for token bursts.
3. Midgame Payoffs (Turns 5-8): Resolve key doublers (Doubling Season, Parallel Lives) to amplify token production. Deploy Phyrexian Swarmlord for exponential infect tokens or Living Hive for combat pressure. Use Natural Order to cheat out Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest for permanent buffs.
4. Win Conditions:
   • Token Overrun: Combine Craterhoof Behemoth-like effects from Pathbreaker Ibex (missing but implied by deck strategy) with massive Insect armies.
   • Infect: Leverage proliferate from Glistening Sphere and evasive infect creatures.
   • Recursion Loops: Use Journey to Eternity + sacrifice outlets to repeatedly trigger Amzu.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands (including green/black sources)
• Prioritize early ramp (Culling the Weak, Summer Bloom) or self-mill (Zask)
• Look for at least one graveyard interaction piece (Nihil Spellbomb, Conduit of Worlds)
• Avoid hands lacking Insects or payoff cards

Key Tips:

• Use Roaming Throne (naming Insect) to double Amzu's token trigger and other Insect abilities
• Crucible of Worlds + fetch lands enables repeated Amzu triggers
• Heroic Intervention protects critical mass token boards
• Temporal Extortion can steal games if opponents are at even life totals

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Severe vulnerability to graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) shuts down Amzu triggers and recursion
• Overreliance on 2-3 token doublers with limited protection
• Minimal instant-speed interaction for combos (only Snuff Out/Deadly Rollick as premium removal)

Moderate

• Slow setup leaves it weak to aggressive strategies
• Limited card draw beyond The Great Henge (not present) and Virtue of Persistence
• High average CMC (4.1) creates clunky hands

Minor

• Torpor Orb effects negate Hornet Nest/Saber Ants triggers
• Basic-heavy mana base struggles with color fixing pre-Reshape the Earth

Most Important Cards:

• Doubling Season (Token/counter multiplier)
• Zask, Skittering Swarmlord (Graveyard recursion engine)
• Phyrexian Swarmlord (Infect token generator)
• Reshape the Earth (Mana acceleration/landfall triggers)
• Natural Order (Tutor for game-ending threats)
• Parallel Lives (Token doubler)
• Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest (Universal +1/+1 counter source)
• Roaming Throne (Trigger amplifier)
• Heroic Intervention (Board protection)
• Journey to Eternity (Recursion loop enabler)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 4/10
Capable of threatening wins via infect or token swarm by T8-10, but lacks fast mana/dedicated combos. High-cost payoffs like Living Hive (8 CMC) slow the clock.

Resilience: 5/10
Limited recursion/protection beyond Heroic Intervention and Crucible of Worlds. Token strategies inherently vulnerable to board wipes.

Consistency: 5/10
Few tutors (only Natural Order) and situational card draw. Relies heavily on drawing token doublers or Zask for engine pieces.

Interaction: 4/10
Spot removal exists (Damnation, Snuff Out), but lacks stack interaction and artifact/enchantment removal beyond Boseiju, Who Endures.

Rating Justification:

The deck shows focused Insect tribal synergies and late-game potential but suffers from slow setup and fragility against common disruption. Its T8-10 win capability through combat/infect aligns with Casual/Precon tiers, while partial optimization via doublers and Natural Order pushes it slightly higher.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5