Overview:

This Naya (RGW) deck helmed by Rocco, Street Chef focuses on exile-based value generation, token synergies, and +1/+1 counter proliferation. Rocco serves as the central engine, incentivizing players to cast from exile while rewarding you with Food tokens and creature buffs. The deck leverages artifact synergies (Food/Treasure/Thopters), counter doublers like Doubling Season, and exile payoffs like Wild-Magic Sorcerer to create overwhelming board states. Win conditions include explosive combat turns with Craterhoof Behemoth, artifact pingers like Reckless Fireweaver, and token swarms enhanced by Akroma's Memorial.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-4):
   • Ramp with Sol Ring, Incubation Druid, or land-fetch spells.
   • Deploy Rocco ASAP to start exiling cards and generating Food/Counters.
   • Establish key enablers: Academy Manufactor (triple tokens), Hardened Scales, or Parallel Lives.

2. Mid-Game Value (T4-7):

   • Activate Rocco’s exile trigger to fuel Pia Nalaar, Consul of Revival (Thopters), Wild-Magic Sorcerer (cascade), and Laelia, the Blade Reforged.
   • Use Food for mana (Nuka-Cola Vending Machine, Gilded Goose), card draw (Caretaker's Talent), or buffs (Banquet Guests).
   • Deploy counter synergies: Champion of Lambholt, Generous Pup, Yotian Dissident.

3. Win Conditions (T6+):

   • Combat Overkill: Craterhoof Behemoth, Akroma's Memorial, or Chandra's Ignition on a pumped creature.
   • Artifact Burn: Reckless Fireweaver + Ingenious Artillerist with token spam.
   • Infinite Mana Potential: Incubation Druid + Ozolith, the Shattered Spire + untappers (requires setup).

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, including at least one green source.
• Prioritize early Rocco enablers: ramp, Academy Manufactor, or protection like Swiftfoot Boots.
• Avoid hands lacking ramp or with only high-CMC bombs.

Key Tips:

• Use Share the Spoils and Uba Mask to amplify exile synergies.
• Peregrin Took triples Food output; pair with Doubling Season for exponential gains.
• Soul Partition and Aerial Extortionist can exile opponents’ threats while triggering Rocco.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander Dependency: Rocco’s removal cripples the engine, and the deck lacks redundancy for his Food/+1 counter generation.
• Artifact Wipes: Vandalblast or Farewell annihilate Food/Treasure/Thopter synergies.
• Counter Hate: The Ozolith and counter doublers are vulnerable to Krosan Grip/Force of Vigor.

Moderate

• Exile Disruption: Opposition Agent or Drannith Magistrate blocks Rocco’s card advantage.
• Combo Speed: Lacks fast infinite combos; relies on gradual value against faster decks.

Minor

• Limited stack interaction (only 5 targeted removal spells).
• Token strategies struggle against Toxic Deluge/Crawlspace.

Most Important Cards:

• Rocco, Street Chef (Engine: Exile value, Food/Counters)
• Academy Manufactor (Triples token output)
• Doubling Season/Parallel Lives (Exponential token/counter scaling)
• Craterhoof Behemoth (Primary combat finisher)
• Reckless Fireweaver (Artifact ping damage)
• Peregrin Took (Food multiplier)
• Wild-Magic Sorcerer (Free cascade spells from exile)
• Incubation Druid (Mana acceleration with counters)
• Champion of Lambholt (Unblockable threats)
• The Ozolith (Counter preservation/redistribution)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten wins via Craterhoof or artifact burn by T7-8, but lacks early combo consistency.

Resilience: 5/10

• Moderate protection (Swiftfoot Boots, recursion via Savvy Trader), but key pieces are fragile to removal.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong card draw (Rocco triggers, Caretaker's Talent) and token/counter redundancy, but limited tutors for combo pieces.

Interaction: 5/10

• Efficient targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Beast Within) but minimal counterspells/board wipes.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a focused midrange strategy with strong synergy density but lacks the speed (T7-8 wins) and protection of optimized lists. Its reliance on incremental value and vulnerability to artifact/commander hate place it between upgraded precon and focused casual tiers.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0