Overview:

This Animar, Soul of Elements deck focuses on +1/+1 counter synergy and creature-based ramp to deploy massive threats at reduced costs. Animar serves as the linchpin, enabling explosive creature chains through its cost-reduction ability. The primary win conditions involve overwhelming combat damage via buffed creatures like Voracious Hydra and Ulamog's Crusher, with secondary value engines like Warstorm Surge and Bred for the Hunt providing incremental damage and card advantage. Proliferate effects (e.g., Roalesk, Apex Hybrid, Karn's Bastion) and counter-doublers (Vorel of the Hull Clade, Biogenic Upgrade) amplify Animar’s growth, while protection tools like Swiftfoot Boots and Savage Summoning aim to safeguard the strategy.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana dorks (Llanowar Elves, Incubation Druid) and counter enablers (Hardened Scales, Forgotten Ancient). Cast Animar as early as Turn 2-3 using ramp.
2. Counter Acceleration (Turns 3-5): Chain low-cost creatures to stack counters on Animar. Use proliferate (Tezzeret's Gambit, Merfolk Skydiver) or doubling effects (Invigorating Surge) to amplify its power.
3. Threat Deployment (Turns 4-6): Cast discounted high-impact creatures like Consecrated Sphinx, Artisan of Kozilek, or Shaman of the Great Hunt. Activate Growing Rites of Itlimoc for mana bursts.
4. Closing the Game:
   • Combat: Overrun with trample enablers (Rhonas's Monument, Zegana, Utopian Speaker) and massive creatures.
   • Burn: Trigger Warstorm Surge repeatedly with creature ETBs.
   • Annihilator Pressure: Attack with Ulamog's Crusher or Artisan of Kozilek to force sacrifices.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with Animar, 1-2 ramp creatures, and a counter synergy card (e.g., Hardened Scales, Gyre Sage).
• Prioritize early protection (Swiftfoot Boots, Savage Summoning) in interactive metas.
• Avoid hands lacking green mana or creature density.

Key Tips:

• Use Bioshift to move counters from Animar to utility creatures (e.g., Incubation Druid) before recasting him.
• Roalesk, Apex Hybrid’s death trigger double-proliferates Animar’s counters and other key permanents.
• Inspiring Call protects your board while refilling your hand.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Animar Dependency: Removal-heavy metas cripple the deck; losing Animar resets cost reduction.
• Board Wipes: Limited recovery outside Artisan of Kozilek; rebuilds are slow.

Moderate

• Anti-Counter Tech: The Ozolith or Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider disrupts counter synergies.
• Artifact/Enchantment Reliance: Hardened Scales, Rhythm of the Wild, and Warstorm Surge are vulnerable to removal.

Minor

• Limited Interaction: Reactive answers (e.g., Frilled Mystic) are situational and mana-intensive.
• Slow Start: Clunky hands without early ramp delay Animar’s impact.

Most Important Cards:

• Animar, Soul of Elements (Core engine for cost reduction and scaling)
• Hardened Scales (Doubles counter accumulation)
• Voracious Hydra (Scaling threat and removal)
• Warstorm Surge (Alternate win condition via ETB damage)
• Vorel of the Hull Clade (Counter doubling for explosive growth)
• Growing Rites of Itlimoc (Mana acceleration in mid-late game)
• Roalesk, Apex Hybrid (Proliferate enabler and counter distributor)
• Beast Whisperer (Critical card draw engine)
• Swiftfoot Boots (Protects Animar and key creatures)
• Shaman of the Great Hunt (Card draw and counter distribution)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can deploy Animar by Turn 2-3 and threaten lethal via combat by Turns 7-8. Lacks fast combo finishers.

Resilience: 5/10

• Animar’s protection helps, but board wipes and targeted removal disrupt the engine. Limited recursion outside Eternal Witness-like effects.

Consistency: 7/10

• High creature density and card draw (Beast Whisperer, Garruk's Uprising) ensure steady progression, but tutors are sparse.

Interaction: 4/10

• Reactive counterspells (Mystic Snake, Fuel for the Cause) and fight spells (Domri's Ambush) are situational.

Rating Justification:

The deck’s speed aligns with optimized casual (T8-10 wins via combat/value), but its reliance on Animar and vulnerability to disruption lowers resilience. It lacks the fast mana and compact combos of higher tiers, placing it in the Focused Casual range.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5