Overview:

This WUB zombie/discard synergy deck leverages Hashaton's token generation from discarded creatures while utilizing reanimation and attrition strategies. The deck focuses on incremental value through discard outlets, zombie token synergies, and selective reanimation rather than explosive combos. While it contains powerful individual cards and reasonable interaction, its moderate speed and lack of infinite combos place it in the upgraded precon to focused casual range.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck aims to discard creatures using looter effects like Merfolk Looter and Obsessive Stitcher to trigger Hashaton's 4/4 zombie creation, while simultaneously fueling graveyard recursion through cards like Tortured Existence and The Scarab God. Secondary win conditions include zombie tribal synergies with Gleaming Overseer, big reanimation targets like Archon of Cruelty, and value engines like Varina, Lich Queen.

Key Phases:

1. Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy looters/ramp like Cryptbreaker and Orzhov Signet. Begin discarding creatures to build graveyard resources.
2. Value Generation (Turns 5-7): Activate Hashaton's token production while recurring key creatures. Use Rootborn Defenses to protect growing zombie armies.
3. Closing (Turns 8+): Overwhelm with zombie swarms enhanced by Zombie Master or cheat out bombs like Zetalpa, Primal Dawn through reanimation.

Mulligan Priorities:

• 3 lands with color diversity
• At least 1 discard outlet (e.g., Vohar, Vodalian Desecrator)
• Early interaction or ramp Avoid hands without discard engines or excessive high-cost cards.

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Vulnerable to graveyard hate (Rest in Peace criates both tokens and recursion)
• No infinite combos for quick wins

Moderate:

• Relies on maintaining board presence for zombie synergies
• Limited stack interaction (only 3 counterspells in 99)

Minor:

• Some high-cost cards (e.g., Ulamog's Dreadsire) risk being dead draws
• Moderate artifact ramp vulnerable to mass removal

Most Important Cards:

• The Scarab God
• Varina, Lich Queen
• Archfiend of Ifnir
• Cryptbreaker
• Tortured Existence
• Gleaming Overseer
• Rootborn Defenses
• Obsessive Stitcher
• Archon of Cruelty
• Victimize

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Earliest impactful plays T3-4 with looters
• Typical zombie swarm/closing turns: 8-10
• Cheated threats via reanimation possible T6-7

Resilience: 6/10

• Redundant discard outlets (7+)
• Graveyard recursion engines
• Weak to GY hate but has alternate zombie tribal plan

Consistency: 6/10

• 10+ loot/draw effects
• 5 recursion engines
• Lacks tutors for specific combo pieces

Interaction: 5/10

• 6 targeted removal (Swords, Path)
• 3 board wipes
• 3 counterspells
• No free interaction or stax

Rating Justification:

This deck exceeds precon-level consistency with redundant engines but lacks the speed (T8-10 wins vs T8-10 benchmark) and protection of optimized lists. Compared to the rubric:

• Outperforms 4.0 (Casual/Precon) through synergistic redundancy
• Falls short of 5.5 (High-Power Casual) due to no fast combos and limited interaction
• Matches 4.5-5.0 range with focused zombie strategy and moderate threat density

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0