Overview:

This Bant (WUG) deck helmed by Helga, Skittish Seer focuses on +1/+1 counter synergies and high-CMC creature deployment. Helga serves as both a card advantage engine and a mana battery – her triggered ability draws cards and scales her power, while her tap ability fuels explosive plays. The deck combines creature-based ramp, counter-doublers like Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider, and multiple win conditions including combat overruns, Simic Ascendancy, and Twenty-Toed Toad alt-wins. Hidden commanders like Chulane, Teller of Tales and Prime Speaker Vannifar provide additional value and toolbox capabilities.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-3): Deploy mana dorks (Birds of Paradise, Llanowar Elves) and counter accelerants (Hardened Scales, Branching Evolution). Use Neoform/Eldritch Evolution to upgrade creatures into key pieces like Master Biomancer.
2. Midgame Engine (T4-6): Cast Helga alongside 4+ CMC creatures to trigger draws. Use The Ozolith to preserve counters and Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner for untap synergies. Activate Helga's mana ability to fuel X-spells like The Goose Mother.
3. Win Conditions:
   • Combat: Overrun with Moonshaker Cavalry or Archangel of Thune-enhanced boards
   • Alt-Wins: Charge Simic Ascendancy via counter proliferation or achieve Twenty-Toed Toad's 20-counter/20-card conditions
   • Infinite Mana: Kiora's Follower + Minamo, School at Water's Edge + high-power Helga enables game-ending X-spells

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including green sources
• Prioritize 1-2 ramp pieces (dorks or Utopia Sprawl)
• Look for early counter synergies (Hardened Scales, The Ozolith) or key tutors
• Avoid hands lacking early plays or oversaturated with high-CMC threats

Key Tips:

• Use Prime Speaker Vannifar to chain creatures into Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider for exponential counter growth
• Teferi's Protection protects against board wipes during critical setups
• Alchemist's Refuge enables surprise Koma, World-Eater or Finale of Devastation casts
• Derevi, Empyrial Tactician untaps Helga or key lands for mana bursts

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Extreme vulnerability to board wipes – limited mass recursion outside Evolution Witness
• Cursed Totem/Linvala, Keeper of Silence disable mana dorks and Helga's tap ability
• Struggles against Drannith Magistrate shutting off commander-centric strategies

Moderate

• Rule of Law effects hinder creature-spam and combo potential
• Graveyard hate disrupts Finale of Devastation recursion and Evolution Witness
• Darksteel Mutation-style effects neuter Helga's utility

Minor

• Limited flyer defense before deploying Moonshaker Cavalry
• Back to Basics pressures the greedy mana base

Most Important Cards:

• Helga, Skittish Seer (Card draw engine & mana generator)
• Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider (Counter doubling & opponent restriction)
• The Ozolith (Counter preservation & burst potential)
• Finale of Devastation (Tutor & game-ending overrun)
• Moonshaker Cavalry (Primary combat finisher)
• Simic Ascendancy (Alternate win condition)
• Prime Speaker Vannifar (Creature toolbox enabler)
• Koma, World-Eater (Self-replicating threat)
• Hardened Scales (Counter multiplier)
• Teferi's Protection (Board wipe insurance)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Can threaten T6-8 wins through combat or alt-wins, with explosive T4-5 plays possible via Helga mana.

Resilience: 5/10

• Multiple protection spells and some recursion, but over-reliant on board presence makes it vulnerable to sweepers.

Consistency: 8/10

• Abundant tutors (11), card draw engines, and redundant counter synergies ensure reliable access to key pieces.

Interaction: 6/10

• Robust stack interaction (Force of Will, Dovin's Veto) and targeted removal, but light on permanent-based stax.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates focused optimization with T6-8 win potential through multiple redundant paths, but its creature-dependent strategy and moderate interaction keep it below cEDH thresholds. The combination of high consistency and versatile threats aligns with the "Focused Competitive" tier, though resilience issues prevent higher placement.

Power level: 7.0 - 7.5