Overview:

This Abzan (W/B/G) deck helmed by Betor, Ancestor's Voice synergizes life gain and life loss mechanics to fuel +1/+1 counter proliferation and reanimation. The strategy leverages small life-gain triggers from cards like Soul Warden and Essence Warden to power Betor's counter distribution, while life-loss engines like Necropotence and Dark Confidant enable graveyard recursion. The deck combines midrange value with explosive reanimation targets like Archon of Cruelty and combo potential via Heliod, Sun-Crowned + Walking Ballista. Betor serves as a critical enabler for both strategies but isn't strictly essential due to redundant lifegain and reanimation tools.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy lifegain engines (Soul Warden, Essence Warden), ramp (Birds of Paradise, Farseek), and card advantage engines (Sylvan Library, Esper Sentinel). Use Buried Alive or Entomb to set up key reanimation targets.
2. Midgame Value (Turns 4-6): Cast Betor to amplify +1/+1 counter distribution. Reanimate high-impact creatures (Archon of Cruelty, Vilis, Broker of Blood) using Reanimate or Necromancy. Activate Necropotence for card advantage.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 5-8):
   • Combat: Overwhelm with creatures boosted by Archangel of Thune and Lathiel, the Bounteous Dawn.
   • Combo: Assemble Heliod, Sun-Crowned + Walking Ballista for infinite damage.
   • Reanimation Value: Lock opponents out with repeated Archon of Cruelty triggers via Priest of Fell Rites or Celestine, the Living Saint.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Prioritize hands with 2-3 lands (including color fixing), 1-2 ramp pieces, and at least one lifegain engine or card advantage tool.
• Keep hands with Buried Alive/Entomb + reanimation spells for explosive starts.
• Avoid hands lacking early plays or color sources for Betor's W/B/G cost.

Key Tips:

• Use Unspeakable Symbol to manipulate life totals for Betor's triggers while buffing key creatures.
• Teferi's Protection protects against board wipes during critical turns.
• Mesmeric Orb fuels graveyard setup while pressuring opponents.
• Eerie Ultimatum serves as a late-game reset button, recovering multiple value pieces.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) cripples reanimation strategies and Betor's recursion.
• Torpor Orb/Hushbringer nullifies ETB value from Archon of Cruelty, Priest of Fell Rites, etc.
• Lacks fast interaction to stop T3-4 combo wins from higher-tier decks.

Moderate

• Board wipes disrupt +1/+1 counter synergies and lifegain triggers.
• Struggles against Drannith Magistrate/Opposition Agent due to reliance on commanders and tutors.
• High life-payment engines (Necropotence, Unspeakable Symbol) can backfire against aggressive strategies.

Minor

• Mana base includes several tapped lands, slowing early development.
• Limited stack interaction beyond Grand Abolisher for protection.

Most Important Cards:

• Necropotence (Card advantage engine and life-loss enabler)
• Heliod, Sun-Crowned (Combo piece and counter generator)
• Archon of Cruelity (Reanimation payoff and value engine)
• Walking Ballista (Primary combo finisher)
• Buried Alive (Graveyard setup)
• Teferi's Protection (Board protection)
• Sylvan Library (Card selection/advantage)
• Vilis, Broker of Blood (Card draw and removal)
• Archangel of Thune (Scaling threat amplifier)
• Grand Abolisher (Protection during critical turns)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten wins via reanimation or Heliod/Ballista combo by T6-7, but lacks the fast mana to consistently go faster.

Resilience: 5/10

• Recovers well from single-target removal but folds to graveyard hate. Protection spells like Heroic Intervention provide limited coverage.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong tutor density (7 tutors) and card draw engines (Necropotence, Sylvan Library) ensure key pieces are accessible.

Interaction: 5/10

• Targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Assassin's Trophy) is efficient but lacks counterspells or stax to disrupt opponents' combos.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a high-power casual level with T6-8 win potential through resilient combos and reanimation value, but its reliance on vulnerable graveyard strategies and moderate interaction keep it below optimized tiers. The rubric aligns this with Focused to Optimized Casual ranges.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0