Overview:

This Bant deck helmed by Tidus, Yuna's Guardian focuses on synergistic +1/+1 counter proliferation and combat damage triggers. The primary strategy involves deploying creatures that generate or benefit from counters, leveraging Tidus's ability to redistribute counters at combat and draw/proliferate upon dealing damage. Key themes include counter doubling (Vorel of the Hull Clade, Zimone, Paradox Sculptor), evasion enablers (Herald of Secret Streams, Skatewing Spy), and value engines that scale with counters (Fathom Mage, Kami of Whispered Hopes). Tidus acts as both an enabler for counter movement and a card advantage engine, though the deck can function through "hidden commanders" like Denry Klin, Editor in Chief and Lae'zel, Vlaakith's Champion.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Prioritize ramp (Sol Ring, Farseek, Incubation Druid) and counter generators (Luminarch Aspirant, Duskshell Crawler). Mulligan for hands with acceleration and at least one counter source.
2. Board Development (Turns 3-6): Deploy synergistic creatures like Denry Klin, Tromell, Seymour's Butler, or Kami of Whispered Hopes. Use Hardened Scales/Lae'zel to amplify counter placement. Activate Tidus's combat trigger to optimize counter distribution before damage.
3. Value & Evasion (Mid-Game): Resolve evasion enablers (Herald of Secret Streams, Abzan Falconer) to connect combat damage. Leverage Tidus's Cheer ability and damage-triggers (Bred for the Hunt, Sphere Grid) for card draw and proliferation.
4. Win Condition Execution:
   • Combat Overrun: Amplify creatures with Sovereign Okinec Ahau, Zimone, Paradox Sculptor, or Brokers Ascendancy. Use unblockable effects to ensure damage triggers.
   • Combo Potential: Vorel of the Hull Clade/Zimone + Astral Cornucopia for infinite mana → Prime Speaker Zegana for massive draw or Walking Ballista (if added).
   • Token Swarm: Ezuri's Predation or Felidar Retreat for wide boards enhanced by counters.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, including color-fixing (e.g., Command Tower).
• Prioritize early ramp OR a 2-3 mana counter generator + protection (e.g., Protection Magic).
• Avoid hands lacking acceleration or counter synergy pieces.

Key Tips:

• Counter Management: Use Nesting Grounds/Resourceful Defense to move counters reactively. Bulwark Ox's sacrifice ability provides critical indestructible/hexproof.
• Protection: Deploy Reconnaissance to safely attack and untap key creatures. March of Swirling Mist phases out threats in response to removal.
• Draw Timing: Sequence damage-trigger draw (Tidus Cheer, Bred for the Hunt) after counter movement for maximum value.
• Proliferation Targets: Prioritize planeswalkers (Tamiyo, Field Researcher), vanishing counters (Dreamtide Whale), or stax pieces (Glen Elendra Archmage).

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board Wipes: Austere Command/Damning Verdict cripple counter-dependent boards; limited mass recursion.
• Anti-Counter Hate: Solemnity/The One Ring permanently disable the core strategy with minimal answers.
• Stack Interaction Gaps: Minimal counterspells struggle against game-winning noncreature spells.

Moderate

• Graveyard Reliance: Evolution Witness/recursion folds to Rest in Peace effects.
• Artifact/Enchantment Focus: Key engines (Hardened Scales, Brokers Ascendancy) are vulnerable to targeted removal.

Minor

• Flying Threats: Limited reach; relies on Skatewing Spy or Abzan Falconer for evasion parity.
• Mana Consistency: Some taplands (e.g., Seaside Citadel) may delay early plays.

Most Important Cards:

• Kami of Whispered Hopes (Counter multiplier & mana dork)
• Hardened Scales / Lae'zel, Vlaakith's Champion (Counter amplification)
• Herald of Secret Streams (Primary evasion enabler)
• Denry Klin, Editor in Chief (Counter distribution engine)
• Brokers Ascendancy (Scaling board-wide counters)
• Tromell, Seymour's Butler (Mass counter entry & proliferation)
• Zimone, Paradox Sculptor (Counter doubling & combat synergy)
• Sovereign Okinec Ahau (Combat damage scaler)
• Resourceful Defense (Counter protection/redistribution)
• Prime Speaker Zegana (Win condition via card draw)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can establish threatening boards by turn 5-6 but lacks fast combos; wins typically occur turns 7-9 via combat or value engines.

Resilience: 5/10

• Limited protection beyond Bulwark Ox/Protection Magic; relies on counter redistribution for recovery. Graveyard recursion is vulnerable.

Consistency: 7/10

• High density of counter synergies and tutors (Three Visits, Farseek) ensure core strategy access, but combo redundancy is low.

Interaction: 5/10

• Spot removal (Path to Exile, Beast Within) and counterspells (Negate) are present but sparse; struggles against resolved noncreature threats.

Rating Justification:

The deck demonstrates focused synergy and consistent board development but lacks the speed (T7-9 wins) and resilience to disruption required for higher tiers. Its combat-centric win conditions and vulnerability to common hate cards align with Optimized Casual/Strong Precon performance.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0