Overview:

This Dimir Rat tribal deck helmed by Vren, the Relentless focuses on generating exponential Rat tokens while disrupting opponents' graveyard strategies. The core strategy leverages forced sacrifice effects (Grave Pact, Braids, Arisen Nightmare) to fuel Vren's token generation, then amplifies the swarm with tribal synergies like Coat of Arms and Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm. Secondary win conditions include incremental life drain via Ayara, First of Locthwain and Valley Rotcaller, with Kindred Dominance serving as a one-sided board wipe. Vren acts as both an engine (exiling opponents' creatures to create tokens) and a value multiplier, but the deck can function temporarily without it through its robust Rat tribal package.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Herald's Horn), key Rat generators (Chittering Witch, Lord Skitter), and card advantage engines (Phyrexian Arena, Black Market Connections).
2. Midgame Pressure (Turns 4-7): Cast Vren and activate sacrifice outlets (Braids, Piper of the Swarm). Use forced-sacrifice effects to trigger Vren's token production. Boost Rat armies with Adaptive Automaton or Vanquisher's Banner.
3. Endgame Closers: Overwhelm with Coat of Arms-enhanced swarms, drain life via Ayara/Valley Rotcaller, or reset boards with Kindred Dominance followed by immediate token generation.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including black sources
• Prioritize early Rat generators (Lord Skitter, Twisted Sewer-Witch) or sacrifice outlets
• Ensure at least one card draw engine or tutor (Ratcatcher, Kindred Discovery)
• Avoid hands without early plays or excessive high-CMC cards

Key Tips:

• Use Skullclamp on 1/1 Rats for explosive card draw
• Time Grave Pact/Dictate of Erebos triggers before opponents' combat phases
• Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni can steal key creatures from opponents' graveyards
• Cavern of Souls ensures uncounterable Rat plays in critical turns

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Devastated by board wipes (Blasphemous Act, Damnation) with limited recovery outside Patriarch's Bidding
• Heavy reliance on Vren's exile-to-token conversion for scaling threats

Moderate

• Cursed Totem/Linvala nullifies key activated abilities (Marrow-Gnawer, Piper of the Swarm)
• Struggles against flying-heavy decks without deathtouch enablers

Minor

• Slow to rebuild after early commander removal
• Limited stack interaction beyond counterspells

Most Important Cards:

• Marrow-Gnawer (Exponential token generation)
• Grave Pact (Forced sacrifice engine)
• Coat of Arms (Tribal finisher)
• Skullclamp (Card draw from tokens)
• Ayara, First of Locthwain (Life drain & card advantage)
• Kindred Dominance (One-sided board wipe)
• Phyrexian Arena (Sustained card advantage)
• Cavern of Souls (Uncounterable Rat plays)
• Cabal Coffers (Mana scaling)
• Black Market Connections (Flexible resource generation)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10
Can establish threatening boards by T6-8 but lacks turbo starts. Relies on incremental value over explosive combos.

Resilience: 6/10
Multiple recursive elements (Oversold Cemetery, Whip of Erebos) and protection (Lightning Greaves), but token strategies inherently vulnerable to wipes.

Consistency: 7/10
Strong tribal synergy with 28 Rats, 7 tutors/dig effects, and robust card draw engines ensure key pieces are found reliably.

Interaction: 5/10
Moderate removal suite (Deadly Rollick, Sheoldred's Edict) and 4 counterspells, but lacks instant-speed board interaction for established threats.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates focused tribal synergy with multiple win paths but operates at a casual-combat speed (T7-9 wins) with moderate resilience. Its board-centric strategy aligns with the "Focused Casual" tier, though its interaction suite and vulnerability to wipes prevent higher optimization.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0