Overview:

This mono-blue deck leverages Quistis Trepe as a graveyard-centric spell recursion engine, focusing on casting instants and sorceries from any graveyard. The primary strategy involves generating value through spell copying, token creation (Drakes, Sharks, Incubators), and stealing opponents' permanents. Quistis serves as the essential enabler, allowing explosive turns by recasting high-impact spells from graveyards. Supporting wizards like Talrand, Sky Summoner and Chrome Host Seedshark amplify this strategy by converting spells into board presence. The deck operates with moderate speed but can achieve powerful late-game locks through cards like Omniscience and Curse of Unbinding.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Sapphire Medallion) and card selection (Preordain, Brainstorm). Cast Quistis by turn 3-4, prioritizing protection like Swiftfoot Boots. Use early interaction (Counterspell, Mana Leak) to disrupt opponents.
2. Value Engine Activation (Turns 5-7): Exploit Quistis's ETB to recur potent instants/sorceries from graveyards. Cast draw spells (Flow of Knowledge, Finale of Revelation) to refill. Deploy token generators (Talrand, Sky Summoner, Shark Typhoon) and copy enablers (Gogo, Master of Mimicry).
3. Win Condition Execution (Turns 7+):
   • Token Overrun: Swarm with Drakes/Sharks amplified by Chasm Skulker or Silent Hallcreeper.
   • Permanent Theft: Resolve Subjugate the Hobbits or Tempted by the Oriq to steal opponents' creatures.
   • Omniscience Lock: Cast Omniscience to unleash the entire hand for free, often winning the turn it resolves.
   • Recursive Control: Use Curse of Unbinding to repeatedly steal creatures each upkeep.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, including at least one blue source.
• Prioritize early ramp (Sol Ring), Quistis protection (Swiftfoot Boots), or card draw (Brainstorm/Opt).
• Ensure at least one interaction piece (counter/bounce) against early threats.
• Avoid hands lacking blue mana or clogged with high-CMC spells without setup.

Key Tips:

• Recast Quistis: Use Riptide Laboratory to bounce Quistis and reuse her ETB.
• Maximize Copy Effects: Pair Gogo, Master of Mimicry with Quistis's ETB or token-generating abilities for exponential value.
• Graveyard Setup: Self-mill with Cephalid Coliseum or discard outlets to fuel Quistis targets.
• Protect Key Turns: Cast Refute or Bane's Contingency when deploying Omniscience or game-winning sorceries.
• Token Utility: Sacrifice tokens to Fountainport for card draw or Treasures.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) cripples Quistis's core ability and recursion synergies.
• Heavy commander removal disrupts the engine; limited protection beyond Swiftfoot Boots.
• Board wipes devastate token-based strategies with minimal recovery tools.

Moderate

• Anti-token tech (Torpor Orb, Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite) nullifies Talrand/Shark Typhoon.
• Counterspell-heavy metas challenge high-CMC win conditions like Omniscience.
• Artifact/enchantment removal targets key pieces (Sapphire Medallion, Coastal Piracy).

Minor

• Limited land ramp makes mana-fixing vulnerable to non-basic land hate.
• Low creature count struggles against aggressive decks pre-board setup.

Most Important Cards:

• Quistis Trepe (Primary engine for graveyard recursion)
• Omniscience (Game-winning card advantage enabler)
• Gogo, Master of Mimicry (Copies Quistis ETB or other key abilities)
• Talrand, Sky Summoner (Token generation from spellcasting)
• Shark Typhoon (Flexible token generator and cycling outlet)
• Riptide Laboratory (Reusable Quistis bounce for ETB recursion)
• Swiftfoot Boots (Essential commander protection)
• Curse of Unbinding (Recursive creature theft)
• Subjugate the Hobbits (Mass creature theft for board swings)
• Proft's Eidetic Memory (Card draw engine and hand size enabler)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Wins typically occur around turns 8-10 via token swarms or Omniscience turns, accelerated by Quistis recursion. Early theft/copy effects can pressure but lack immediate kill potential.

Resilience: 4/10

• Limited protection for Quistis and minimal recursion outside her ability. Recovers poorly from board wipes or graveyard exile, though counterspells offer some disruption mitigation.

Consistency: 6/10

• Strong card draw (Proft's Eidetic Memory, Coastal Piracy) and selection (Brainstorm, Preordain) ensure access to key pieces, but lacks tutors for specific combo wins.

Interaction: 7/10

• Robust counterspell suite (Counterspell, Archmage's Charm, Negate) and targeted removal (Imprisoned in the Moon, Eaten by Piranhas). Theft effects double as interaction, though lacks board wipes.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a focused casual build with T8-10 win potential through combat, theft, or Omniscience-fueled turns. Its speed is constrained by setup requirements and vulnerability to graveyard hate, while strong interaction and card draw elevate consistency. It fits the "Focused Casual" tier (4.5-5.0) in the rubric.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0