Overview:

This Abzan+U +1/+1 counters deck leverages Ishai's natural scaling and Reyhan's counter redistribution to build overwhelming board states through synergistic counter doubling and proliferation. The strategy combines combat overruns with combo via via Walking Ballista and Herald of Secret Streams, supported by high-quality interaction and tutor density.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck aims to flood the board with +1/+1 counters through synergistic enablers like Hardened Scales and Branching Evolution, converting them into lethal threats via evasion (Herald of Secret Streams) or infinite combos. Key phases:

1. Counter Engine Setup: Deploy counter multipliers (T2-T4) using mana dorks and tutors. Critical mass achieved with 2+ doublers.
2. Threat Amplification: Use proliferate effects (Karn's Bastion, Ripples of Potential) and counter-moving synergies (Ozolith) to create unblockable giants.
3. Win Conversion: Either swing with evasive 20/20+ creatures or deploy Walking Ballista with infinite counters via Ghave, Guru of Spores/Kami of Whispered Hopes mana loops.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with T1-T2 ramp (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet)
• Prioritize counter engines over standalone threats
• Reject hands lacking green mana sources

Key Tips:

• Sequence counter doublers before token generators
• Use Teferi's Protection/Heroic Intervention proactively when committing to board
• Tutor for Herald of Secret Streams as primary wincon enabler

Weaknesses:

Moderate:

• Vulnerable to staggered removal targeting counter engines
• Limited graveyard recursion beyond Evolution Witness
• No native answer to The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale-style effects

Most Important Cards:

• Hardened Scales
• Branching Evolution
• Ozolith, the Shattered Spire
• Walking Ballista
• Herald of Secret Streams
• Kalonian Hydra
• Prime Speaker Zegana
• The Great Henge
• Demonic Tutor
• Fierce Guardianship

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Can goldfish T6 kills via Ballista combos or T7 combat overruns
• Slower than pure combo decks but accelerated by mana dorks

Resilience: 6/10

• 8 protection spells and 3 recursion engines
• Vulnerable to back-to-back board wipes

Consistency: 7/10

• 2 tutors + 10 card draw engines
• Redundant counter sources but combo pieces are singleton

Interaction: 8/10

• 14 interaction spells including free counters
• Answers to all permanent types at instant speed

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at the high end of Optimized (T6-7) with Focused Competitive elements via its interaction suite. While lacking cEDH's turbo elements, it surpasses typical T7-8 Focused decks through combo redundancy and free counterspells. Comparable to stronger casual decks but slower than T5 wincons.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0