Overview:

This Sefris of the Hidden Ways deck utilizes dungeon venturing and reanimation synergies to grind value and win through incremental advantage. While capable of explosive reanimation plays, it lacks deterministic combos and relies heavily on commander availability for consistent dungeon progression.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck aims to fill its graveyard with creatures (via self-discard/sacrifice), trigger Sefris's dungeon venturing, and reanimate key threats. Gameplay unfolds in three phases:

1. Setup: Use looting effects (Merfolk Looter, Curator of Mysteries) and self-sacrifice creatures (Reassembling Skeleton, Plaguecrafter) to stock the graveyard while advancing dungeon rooms
2. Value Engine: Complete dungeons with Radiant Solar and Thorough Investigation triggers to reanimate midrange threats (Sun Titan, Karmic Guide)
3. Endgame: Leverage repeated ETB value from recursive creatures (Shriekmaw, Ashen Rider) and dungeon completion bonuses to overwhelm opponents

Mulligan Priorities:

• 3 lands (prioritize untapped sources)
• 1+ graveyard enabler (looter/sac outlet)
• 1+ early creature for venturing Avoid hands without graveyard interaction or excessive tapped lands

Key Tips:

• Time dungeon completion triggers to maximize reanimation targets
• Use Immovable Rod as both interaction and dungeon accelerator
• Chain Victimize/Unburial Rites with Reassembling Skeleton for recursive value
• Protect Sefris with Lightning Greaves once key creatures are in graveyard

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace/Leyline of the Void) cripples primary strategy
• Limited protection for Sefris (only 1 shroud source)

Moderate:

• Slow dungeon progression without commander
• Minimal fast mana for explosive starts

Minor:

• Some high-CMC cards (Arcane Endeavor, Grave Endeavor) risk being dead draws

Most Important Cards:

• Radiant Solar
• Ashen Rider
• Sun Titan
• Karmic Guide
• Victimize
• Reassembling Skeleton
• Thorough Investigation
• Unburial Rites
• Phantasmal Image
• Solemn Simulacrum

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Goldfish win ~T7-8 through incremental reanimation value
• No turbo dungeon completion or infinite loops

Resilience: 4/10

• Vulnerable to graveyard hate and commander removal
• Limited protection spells (1 greaves, 0 counterspells)

Consistency: 5/10

• Moderate card draw but minimal tutors (only 3 recursion tutors)
• Redundant ETB creatures provide some backup lines

Interaction: 4/10

• 7 targeted removals (Swords, Utter End)
• 2 board wipes (Necromantic Selection, Sunblast Angel)
• No free/instant-speed protection

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at the upper end of Optimized Casual (5.0) approaching High-Power Casual (5.5). While it has clear synergies and recursion engines, the lack of:

• Fast mana (<4 ramp sources)
• Free interaction
• Combo finishers
• Commander redundancy

prevents it from reaching focused/optimized tiers. Its T7-8 win clock and vulnerability to common interaction aligns with the 5.0-5.5 range ("T8-10 via combat/combos/overwhelming value").

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5