Overview:

This Ezuri, Claw of Progress deck focuses on +1/+1 counter proliferation and experience counter accumulation through evasive small creatures. While lacking infinite combos, it leverages proliferate synergies and counter redistribution to create overwhelming board states, with secondary win conditions through direct damage via Walking Ballista/Triskelion. The deck operates as a midrange value engine but lacks the speed and redundancy of higher-tier strategies.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck aims to flood the board with ≤2 power creatures to generate experience counters, then amplify threats using proliferate effects and counter manipulation. Key phases:

• Early Setup: Play low-power value engines (Scute Swarm, Gyre Sage) while ramping with land tutors and dorks.
• Counter Engine: Deploy Ezuri and proliferate enablers (Evolution Sage, Inexorable Tide) to multiply experience and +1/+1 counters.
• Win Conversion: Use Herald of Secret Streams for unblockable attacks, The Ozolith to preserve counters, or direct damage from Ballista/Triskelion.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands and 1-2 early creatures/ramp
• Prioritize cards enabling immediate Ezuri value (Patagia Viper, Deep Forest Hermit)
• Avoid slow starts without turn 1-2 plays

Key Tips:

• Sequence proliferate triggers post-Ezuri's combat activation
• Use Bioshift/Strionic Resonator to maximize counter bursts
• Protect critical mass turns with Heroic Intervention
• Rogue's Passage enables surprise commander damage kills

Avoid Traps:

• Overextending before having counter protection
• Holding proliferate spells without payoff permanents
• Slow 4+ cmc creatures without immediate impact

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Relies heavily on maintaining creature board presence
• Limited protection for key non-creature permanents (Inexorable Tide, The Ozolith)

Moderate:

• Slow recovery from mass removal
• Minimal graveyard recursion

Minor:

• Some tapped lands delay early plays

Most Important Cards:

• The Ozolith
• Herald of Secret Streams
• Walking Ballista
• Fathom Mage
• Evolution Sage
• Avenger of Zendikar
• Inexorable Tide
• Bred for the Hunt
• Strionic Resonator
• Scute Swarm

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Goldfish win ~T8-10 through gradual counter accumulation
• No fast mana or combo acceleration

Resilience: 6/10

• Moderate protection (3 counterspells, Heroic Intervention)
• Some counter preservation (Ozolith)
• Vulnerable to repeated board wipes

Consistency: 6/10

• 8 proliferate sources and 5 card draw engines
• Limited tutors (3 land fetches, no creature tutors)

Interaction: 5/10

• 6 targeted removals (Beast Within, Pongify)
• 3 counterspells (Counterspell, Arcane Denial)
• No free interaction or stax pieces

Rating Justification:

This deck exceeds precon-level synergy with focused counter strategies but lacks the speed (T8-10 vs T7-8) and redundancy of 6.0 decks. It sits between Focused Casual (4.5) and Optimized Casual (5.5) - stronger than upgraded precons but slower than dedicated combo lists. The absence of infinite lines and reliance on combat damage place it below true optimized tiers.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0