Overview:

This Selesnya (G/W) Cat tribal deck leverages Arahbo, Roar of the World's Eminence ability to aggressively buff Cats, focusing on combat damage amplified by +1/+1 counters and synergistic lords. The commander provides consistent, unavoidable pressure from the command zone, enabling early aggression. Secondary themes include lifegain triggers and moderate +1/+1 counter proliferation. Win conditions are primarily combat-based, utilizing wide Cat token armies or tall, trampling threats enhanced by Arahbo's activated ability. Arahbo acts as the core enabler, making commander removal impactful but not crippling due to Eminence.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy low-cost Cats (e.g., Savannah Lions, Loam Lion, Sacred Cat) and ramp (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Rampant Growth, Cultivate). Prioritize establishing board presence to trigger Arahbo's Eminence immediately.
2. Board Development & Synergy (Turns 3-5): Play key lords and engines: King of the Pride, Feline Sovereign, Regal Caracal, Felidar Retreat, or Hardened Scales. Use counter enablers like Snakeskin Veil or Fangs of Kalonia to grow threats. Activate Arahbo's trample/power boost ability when attacking.
3. Overwhelm & Finish (Turns 6+): Go wide with token generators (Leonin Warleader, Cat Collector) or go tall with pumped Cats. Leverage finishers like Felidar Sovereign (lifegain win), Sovereign Okinec Ahau (exponential counters), or Unbreakable Formation for a protected alpha strike. Use card draw (Keeper of Fables, Armorcraft Judge) to refuel.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including G/W sources) and at least 1-2 early Cats or ramp.
• Prioritize hands containing key synergy pieces: Hardened Scales, Felidar Retreat, or a lord (King of the Pride, Feline Sovereign).
• Avoid hands lacking early plays or with only high-cost cards.

Key Tips:

• Maximize Eminence: Attack every turn to force Arahbo's free +3/+3 buff. Save mana for his trample ability on key attackers.
• Protect Key Pieces: Use Seht's Tiger for instant-speed protection, Snakeskin Veil for hexproof, and Unbreakable Formation for indestructible. Temur Sabertooth can bounce threats pre-wipe.
• Leverage Lifegain: Ajani's Pridemate and Oreskos Sun Guide scale with lifegain from Cats. Felidar Sovereign is a primary alt-win.
• Manage Counters: Use Scrounging Bandar to redistribute counters strategically. Abzan Falconer grants flying to countered creatures.
• Interaction Timing: Save Path to Exile/Settle the Wreckage for critical threats. Use Dromoka's Command flexibly for fights, enchantment removal, or counters.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Severe vulnerability to board wipes (e.g., Wrath of God): Limited mass recursion/protection beyond Unbreakable Formation/Inspiring Call. Recovery is slow.
• Heavily disrupted by creature-type hate (e.g., Conspicuous Snoop, Engineered Plague): Cripples tribal synergy and Eminence value.

Moderate

• Susceptible to targeted removal on key lords/enablers (King of the Pride, Hardened Scales): Redundancy is low for non-Creature pieces.
• Struggles against flying/evasive threats: Limited reach outside Abzan Falconer; relies on combat for interaction.
• Graveyard hate disrupts Lion Sash, Adorned Pouncer, and Sacred Cat embalm.

Minor

• Artifact/Enchantment reliance: Felidar Retreat, Hardened Scales, and Lifecrafter's Bestiary are vulnerable but replaceable.
• Mana base inconsistency: High tapped-land count (e.g., Blossoming Sands, Selesnya Guildgate) slows early aggression.

Most Important Cards:

• Felidar Retreat (Token generation or mass counters + vigilance)
• King of the Pride (Anthem effect for Cats)
• Hardened Scales (Doubles +1/+1 counter efficiency)
• Regal Caracal (Token generation + anthem + lifelink)
• Feline Sovereign (Anthem + artifact/enchantment removal)
• Unbreakable Formation (Protection + potential counter surge)
• Leonin Warleader (Wide token generation)
• Sovereign Okinec Ahau (Exponential counter scaling)
• Felidar Sovereign (Alternate win condition)
• Keeper of Fables (Card draw engine)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can pressure life totals early with Eminence but typically wins via combat T9-11 due to reliance on incremental board buildup and lack of fast combos.

Resilience: 4/10

• Limited protection/recursion; heavily reliant on board state. Recovers poorly from wipes, though indestructible effects offer brief reprieves.

Consistency: 6/10

• High Cat density ensures Eminence triggers, and card draw (Keeper of Fables, Armorcraft Judge) provides refueling. Lacks tutors for key non-Creatures.

Interaction: 4/10

• Minimal instant-speed removal (Path to Exile, Settle the Wreckage). Relies on combat tricks (Dromoka's Command, fight spells) and lacks stack interaction.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a Focused Casual build, leveraging Arahbo's Eminence for consistent early pressure but winning primarily through combat around T9-11. Its vulnerability to disruption and slow mana base prevent higher optimization, placing it below precon-upgrade tiers.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5