Overview:

This Esper deck helmed by Alela, Artful Provocateur combines Faerie tribal synergies with artifact/enchantment value engines. The strategy focuses on generating flying Faerie tokens through casting artifacts/enchantments (e.g., Bitterblossom, Smothering Tithe, Mondrak, Glory Dominus), then amplifying their impact with anthem effects like Glen Elendra Liege and Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite. Alela serves as both a token generator and a flying lord, while control elements (Propaganda, Cyclonic Rift, counterspells) slow opponents. Win conditions include combat swarm, incremental life loss via Obyra, Dreaming Duelist, and card advantage engines like Kindred Discovery to outvalue opponents.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Talisman of Dominance), token generators (Bitterblossom, Alela, Cunning Conqueror), and stax pieces (Blind Obedience, Ghostly Prison). Prioritize casting Alela on curve (T3-T4) to begin token generation.
2. Midgame Value (Turns 5-7): Resolve key enchantments/artifacts (Rhystic Study, Dire Undercurrents, The One Ring) and anthem effects (Metallic Mimic, Spear of Heliod). Use Zur the Enchanter to fetch critical pieces like Mondrak, Glory Dominus or Phyrexian Arena.
3. Win Conditions:
   • Combat Overwhelm: Flood the board with 1/1 Faeries buffed by Alela and anthems, leveraging evasion (flying) and Vault of the Archangel for lifelink/deathtouch.
   • Life Drain: Obyra, Dreaming Duelist and Faerie Bladecrafter chip away at opponents’ life totals.
   • Card Advantage Lock: Kindred Discovery and Distant Melody draw into interaction/finishers while Grand Abolisher protects your turn.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (prioritize untapped Esper sources).
• Ensure at least 1-2 early plays: mana rock, Faerie generator (Faerie Seer, Cloud of Faeries), or interaction (Counterspell, Swords to Plowshares).
• Avoid hands without early token generation or excessive high-CMC cards.

Key Tips:

• Use Mystical Tutor/Enlightened Tutor to fetch Cyclonic Rift for board resets or Mondrak, Glory Dominus for exponential token production.
• Academy Ruins can recur The One Ring for sustained card advantage.
• Swiftfoot Boots/Lightning Greaves protect Alela and key value engines like Zur the Enchanter.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board Wipes: Lacks mass recursion; Toxic Deluge/Damn can reset progress with minimal recovery tools.
• Anti-Token Tech: Cursed Totem/Torpor Orb nullifies token generation and ETB synergies.

Moderate

• Artifact/Enchantment Removal: Smothering Tithe, Bitterblossom, and Mondrak are high-value targets.
• Graveyard Hate: Disrupts Snapcaster Mage, Academy Ruins, and Hanna, Ship's Navigator.

Minor

• Slow Start: Relies on Alela staying alive for token generation; early removal can delay the engine.
• Mana Constraints: Limited fast mana beyond Sol Ring; color-intensive spells (e.g., Elesh Norn) may stall casting.

Most Important Cards:

• Mondrak, Glory Dominus (Token doubler, amplifies all generators)
• Alela, Cunning Conqueror (Secondary token generator + disruption via goad)
• Bitterblossom (Uninterrupted Faerie production)
• Cyclonic Rift (Board reset + win enabler)
• Kindred Discovery (Draw engine tied to Faerie triggers)
• Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite (Anthem + board control)
• Zur the Enchanter (Tutor for key enchantments)
• Grand Abolisher (Protects critical turns)
• Dire Undercurrents (Card advantage/disruption on creature ETBs)
• The One Ring (Sustained card draw + protection)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can establish a threatening board by T5-7 but lacks fast combo finishers. Relies on incremental damage.

Resilience: 6/10

• Counterspells and hexproof equipment provide protection, but token strategies are vulnerable to sweepers. Limited recursion outside Academy Ruins.

Consistency: 7/10

• Multiple tutors (Enlightened Tutor, Zur the Enchanter) and card draw engines (Rhystic Study, Kindred Discovery) ensure access to key pieces.

Interaction: 7/10

• Robust suite of counterspells (Fierce Guardianship, Disallow), targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares), and stax (Blind Obedience).

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a synergistic midrange strategy with strong consistency and interaction, but its reliance on combat and vulnerability to sweepers caps its speed. It can threaten wins via flying swarms or value locks by T7-9, aligning with the "Focused" tier (6.0).

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5