Overview:

This Grixis Rats/Shapeshifter deck leverages Wick, the Whorled Mind to create a Snail token engine, using Rat tribal synergies and changeling effects to fuel damage-dealing sacrifices and value generation. While featuring some strong individual cards and synergistic elements, the deck lacks focused win conditions, efficient tutors, and robust protection, positioning it as a mid-power casual build.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck aims to flood the board with Rats and changelings to trigger Wick's Snail creation, then use these Snails as sac fodder for direct damage and card advantage. Backup plans include stealing opponents' creatures and leveraging changeling synergies with cards like Maskwood Nexus.

Key Phases:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Play mana rocks (Sol Ring, Signets), Rat generators (Piper of the Swarm), and changelings. Cast Wick by turn 4.
2. Engine Activation (Turns 5-6): Generate multiple Snails through Rat tokens. Use Skullclamp and sacrifice outlets to convert creatures into cards.
3. Closing (Turns 7+): Either chip damage through repeated Snail sacrifices or swing with stolen/overwhelming creatures.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands and early Rat generators
• Prioritize Maskwood Nexus and mana acceleration
• Avoid hands without black mana or creature sources

Key Tips:

• Use changelings like Cairn Wanderer as both Rat and Snail enablers
• Time theft effects (Molten Primordial) with sacrifice outlets
• Protect Wick with equipment like Mask of Avacyn

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Relies heavily on commander staying alive
• No infinite combos/instant-win conditions

Moderate:

• Slow recovery from board wipes
• Limited tutor density for key pieces

Minor:

• Vulnerable to graveyard hate (though not primary strategy)
• Medium creature quality without tribal boosts

Most Important Cards:

• Maskwood Nexus
• Piper of the Swarm
• Skullclamp
• Marrow-Gnawer
• Pack Rat
• Rhystic Study
• Thraximundar
• Graveshifter
• Sol Ring
• Black Market Connections

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10
Requires 4-5 turns to establish engine, with T8+ typical for lethal. Some explosive starts possible with early Maskwood Nexus + token generators.

Resilience: 4/10
Limited protection for Wick and key pieces. Some recursion (Graveshifter, Memorial to Folly) but easily disrupted.

Consistency: 5/10
Moderate card draw (Rhystic Study, Skullclamp) but only 2 tutors (Black Market Connections, Imperial Seal missing). Redundant Rat generators help.

Interaction: 5/10
Basic suite (Counterspell, Terminate, Snap) but lacks free interaction. Theft effects provide pseudo-removal.

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between "Focused Casual" (4.5) and "Optimized Casual" (5.0) on the rubric. While it has clear synergies and some powerful cards, it lacks:

• Fast mana beyond Sol Ring
• Game-ending combos
• Consistent T8-10 wins
• Robust protection suite

The reliance on combat damage and incremental value aligns with T10-12 win benchmarks. It outperforms precons through synergistic card quality but can't match tuned combo decks.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5