Overview:

This Azorius deck helmed by Ranar the Ever-Watchful focuses on foretell synergies and exile/flicker effects to generate value and create an army of Spirit tokens. The strategy revolves around leveraging Ranar's ability to produce 1/1 flyers whenever cards are exiled from hand or permanents are exiled from the battlefield. Key themes include incremental value through foretold spells, flicker/blink effects to trigger Ranar repeatedly, and flying tribal synergies. Ranar serves as both an enabler (reducing foretell costs) and payoff (token generation), though the deck can function without him through alternative flicker engines like Brago, King Eternal and Yorion, Sky Nomad.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Azorius Signet), foretell setup cards (Behold the Multiverse, Saw It Coming), and value creatures (Wall of Omens, Sea Gate Oracle). Use low-cost flicker effects like Momentary Blink to trigger ETB value.
2. Midgame Value (Turns 4-7): Activate Ranar's token engine with foretold spells and targeted exile effects (Skyclave Apparition, Flickerwisp). Deploy key synergy pieces like Empyrean Eagle and Drogskol Captain to buff Spirits. Use mass exile/flicker (Eerie Interlude, Semester's End) to protect creatures and trigger Ranar multiple times.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 8+):
   • Combat Overload: Overwhelm with flying tokens amplified by Starnheim Unleashed (foretold for X=3+), Day of the Dragons, or Hero of Bretagard growing via exile triggers.
   • Infinite Mana Potential: Peregrine Drake + Ghostly Flicker/Brago, King Eternal creates infinite mana, though the deck lacks direct outlets to convert this into an instant win.
   • Value Lock: Use recurring flicker effects with Conjurer's Closet and Soulherder to out-resource opponents.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands and at least one foretell/flicker enabler
• Prioritize early interaction (Saw It Coming, Depart the Realm) or value engines (Bident of Thassa, Reconnaissance Mission)
• Avoid hands with only high-CMC spells like Day of the Dragons without ramp

Key Tips:

• Use Cosmos Charger to foretell on opponents' turns for surprise interaction
• Chain flicker effects with Soulherder to grow it exponentially
• Save Mystic Reflection to copy key threats like Sun Titan or opponent's creatures
• Rest in Peace doubles as both graveyard hate and a Ranar trigger engine

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Lacks definitive wincons beyond combat damage; struggles to close games quickly
• Overly reliant on maintaining a board presence for victory
• Minimal protection for Ranar despite his importance to the strategy

Moderate

• Vulnerable to flyer-specific hate (Sandwurm Convergence, Spidersilk Armor)
• Limited instant-speed interaction outside foretold counterspells
• High mana curve with multiple 5+ CMC spells

Minor

• Some anti-synergy between Rest in Peace and recursion pieces
• Foretell mechanic creates card advantage delays

Most Important Cards:

• Brago, King Eternal (Mass flicker engine)
• Starnheim Unleashed (Scalable token generator)
• Empyrean Eagle (Flying tribal anthem)
• Yorion, Sky Nomad (Recurring mass flicker)
• Peregrine Drake (Mana engine with flicker)
• Drogskol Captain (Hexproof for Spirit army)
• Ethereal Valkyrie (Foretell enabler + card advantage)
• Skyclave Apparition (Removal + Ranar trigger)
• Conjurer's Closet (Recurring flicker value)
• Hero of Bretagard (Scaling threat from exile triggers)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 4/10

• Wins typically occur T8+ through incremental combat damage. No fast combos or explosive mana to threaten earlier victories.

Resilience: 6/10

• Multiple flicker effects protect key permanents, and foretell provides some hidden interaction. However, reliance on board presence makes it vulnerable to wipes.

Consistency: 5/10

• Moderate card draw and foretell filtering, but lacks tutors for key pieces like Brago or Starnheim Unleashed.

Interaction: 6/10

• Decent removal suite (Grasp of Fate, Curse of the Swine) and foretold counterspells, but limited stack control and no stax elements.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a tuned casual build with clear synergies but lacks the speed and wincon density of optimized lists. Its T8+ combat-focused wins and moderate resilience align with the "Focused Casual" tier, though it struggles against faster combo decks.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0