Overview:

This Abzan (W/B/G) deck leverages Felothar the Steadfast to transform high-toughness creatures into offensive threats while enabling poison wins via infect/toxic synergies. The strategy combines combat damage through toughness-based attacks, proliferate effects, and infect finishers like Triumph of the Hordes. Key themes include redundancy for Felothar’s ability (Doran, Assault Formation), defensive utility lands, and creature-based card advantage.

Primer:

Core Strategy:

1. Early Setup: Ramp with dorks (Birds of Paradise) and land tutors (Nature’s Lore, Farseek) to deploy Felothar by turn 3–4.
2. Toughness Offense: Use 0/X or 1/X creatures (Nyx-Fleece Ram, Tangle Angler) as unblockable threats via skulk (Behind the Scenes) or evasion (Rogue’s Passage).
3. Poison Acceleration: Apply early poison with toxic 1 creatures (Venerated Rotpriest) and proliferate via Karn’s Bastion/Bloated Contaminator.
4. Finishers: Overwhelm with infect via Triumph of the Hordes, Grafted Exoskeleton, or Skithiryx. Backup lines include Tree of Perdition life swaps and incremental commander damage.

Mulligan Priorities:

• 3 lands (preferably untapped duals)
• Early ramp (Birds, Arcane Signet) or evasion enablers (Behind the Scenes)
• At least 1 high-toughness creature or poison source

Key Tips:

• Use Felothar’s sac ability on creatures like Tree of Perdition for massive card draw.
• Time Triumph of the Hordes after establishing multiple creatures with 5+ toughness.
• Protect critical turns with Grand Abolisher or free interaction (Deadly Rollick).

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Fragile Poison Plan: Requires multiple combat steps to poison 3 players; folds to proliferate counters (e.g., Leeches).
• Commander Dependency: Losing Felothar/Doran/Assault Formation disables the core damage mechanic.

Moderate

• Slow Recovery: Limited recursion outside Reanimate/Noxious Revival.
• Artifact/Enchantment Reliance: Grafted Exoskeleton/Phyresis are vulnerable to removal.

Minor

• Life Swap Vulnerability: Tree of Perdition can backfire against low-life opponents.

Most Important Cards:

• Triumph of the Hordes
• Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon
• Doran, the Siege Tower
• Assault Formation
• Grafted Exoskeleton
• Finale of Devastation
• Green Sun’s Zenith
• The One Ring
• Grand Abolisher
• Toxic Deluge

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10
Can threaten T6-8 wins via infect but lacks fast mana or 2-card combos.

Resilience: 6/10
Redundant toughness effects and free interaction (Heroic Intervention) mitigate disruption, but poison lines are fragile.

Consistency: 7/10
10+ tutors (Finale, Eldritch Evolution, Sylvan Library) ensure key pieces are accessible.

Interaction: 7/10
Efficient removal (Swords, Assassin’s Trophy) and board wipes (Toxic Deluge), but minimal stack interaction.

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between optimized casual and high-power casual, leveraging tutors and synergistic threats but lacking cEDH-speed combos or stax locks.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5