Overview:

This Bant (G/W/U) deck helmed by Helga, Skittish Seer focuses on +1/+1 counter synergy and high-impact creature strategies. The deck leverages Helga's card draw, life gain, and mana acceleration (scaling with her power) to deploy large creatures or X-cost threats like The Goose Mother. Key themes include counter doubling (Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider, Branching Evolution), creature-based value engines (Prime Speaker Zegana, Archangel of Thune), and alternate win conditions like Simic Ascendancy and Twenty-Toed Toad. Helga acts as both an enabler and payoff, though the deck can function via "hidden commanders" like Prime Speaker Vannifar and Koma, World-Eater.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Ramp (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana dorks (Noble Hierarch, Birds of Paradise) and land-based ramp (Utopia Sprawl, Wild Growth). Use Neoform/Eldritch Evolution to upgrade early creatures into key pieces like Faeburrow Elder or Master Biomancer.
2. Counter Synergy (Turns 3-5): Cast high-value creatures (The Goose Mother, Koma, World-Eater) to trigger Helga's draw and buff her power. Use Hardened Scales and The Ozolith to amplify +1/+1 counters.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 5-8):
   • Combat: Overwhelm with Moonshaker Cavalry, Archangel of Thune-enhanced boards, or Finale of Devastation (X=10+).
   • Alternate Wins: Activate Simic Ascendancy via proliferated counters or Twenty-Toed Toad through hand size/combat triggers.
   • Value Lock: Deploy Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider + Linvala, Keeper of Silence to stifle opponents while doubling your counters.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands and at least one ramp source (e.g., Birds of Paradise, Utopia Sprawl).
• Prioritize early interaction (Swords to Plowshares, Force of Will) in unknown metas.
• Avoid hands without a clear path to casting 4+ MV creatures by turn 4.

Key Tips:

• Use Prime Speaker Vannifar to chain creatures into Koma, World-Eater or Archangel of Thune.
• Teferi's Protection and Heroic Intervention protect against board wipes during critical turns.
• Alchemist's Refuge enables surprise Simic Ascendancy activations or Moonshaker Cavalry flashes.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board Wipes: Relies heavily on creature-based value; recovery without The Ozolith/Evolution Witness is slow.
• Anti-Counter Tech: The Ozolith and counter doublers are vulnerable to artifact/enchantment removal.

Moderate

• Stax Effects: Rule of Law/Deafening Silence limits creature-spell synergy and combo potential.
• Graveyard Hate: Disrupts Evolution Witness and Finale of Devastation recursion.

Minor

• Fliers: Limited evasion outside Koma's Coil tokens and Moonshaker Cavalry.

Most Important Cards:

• Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider (Doubles counters, disrupts opponents)
• Prime Speaker Vannifar (Tutor chain for combo/win conditions)
• The Ozolith (Counter preservation/redistribution)
• Finale of Devastation (Tutor + finisher)
• Simic Ascendancy (Alternate win condition)
• Moonshaker Cavalry (Combat finisher)
• Force of Will (Free interaction for critical turns)
• Archangel of Thune (Scaling lifegain/counter engine)
• Koma, World-Eater (Board-stalling threat)
• Hardened Scales (Counter amplification)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Threatens T6-7 wins via combat or Simic Ascendancy, accelerated by explosive mana from Helga/Vorinclex.

Resilience: 6/10

• Robust protection (Teferi's Protection, counterspells) but struggles to rebuild after multiple wipes.

Consistency: 8/10

• High tutor density (Finale, Prime Speaker Vannifar) and card draw (Helga, The Great Henge) ensure reliable access to key pieces.

Interaction: 7/10

• Efficient removal (Swords to Plowshares, Bant Charm) and free counters (Force of Will, Fierce Guardianship) disrupt opponents while protecting your board.

Rating Justification:

This deck combines high synergy, efficient tutors, and potent interaction to threaten wins by T6-7. While lacking cEDH-speed combos, its resilience and consistency place it above casual tiers but below fully optimized lists.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0