Overview:

This Azorius deck helmed by Kwain, Itinerant Meddler employs a group-hug draw strategy with a focus on converting symmetrical card advantage into victory via alternate win conditions. The deck forces mass card draw through effects like Font of Mythos, Kami of the Crescent Moon, and Windfall, while leveraging payoffs such as Thassa's Oracle, Laboratory Maniac, Triskaidekaphile, and Approach of the Second Sun. Kwain serves as a low-cost enabler for draw triggers and life padding, but the deck's true power lies in its stax-lite protection (Solitary Confinement, Grand Abolisher) and ability to pivot between combo finishes and value-driven control.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4):
   • Deploy symmetrical draw engines (Howling Mine, Kami of the Crescent Moon) and protection (Authority of the Consuls, Ghostly Prison).
   • Establish value engines: Rhystic Study, Smothering Tithe, and Mystic Remora to capitalize on opponents' actions.
   • Use Leyline of Anticipation or Heliod, the Warped Eclipse to flash in key pieces.

2. Midgame Acceleration (Turns 5-7):

   • Activate Kwain repeatedly with untappers like Drumbellower to fuel draw synergies.
   • Deploy win enablers: Teferi's Ageless Insight doubles draws, while Folio of Fancies can mill opponents or enable self-mill.
   • Tutor for combo pieces with Enlightened Tutor/Idyllic Tutor.

3. Win Condition Execution:

   • Self-Mill Victory: Use Thassa's Oracle/Laboratory Maniac with forced draw effects like Folio of Fancies's mill mode or Windfall to deck yourself.
   • Approach of the Second Sun: Cast twice using draw acceleration and Archivist of Oghma triggers.
   • Triskaidekaphile: Maintain 13 cards via Reliquary Tower and targeted draws.
   • Combat Backup: Minn, Wily Illusionist tokens scaled with High Fae Trickster can pressure life totals.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with at least 3 lands, preferably including Command Tower or duals.
• Prioritize early draw engines (Kami, Howling Mine) or protection (Solitary Confinement).
• Ensure access to at least one win condition or tutor.
• Avoid hands lacking early interaction or overly reliant on high-CMC spells.

Key Tips:

• Use Solitary Confinement + Smothering Tithe/Folio of Fancies to maintain immunity while drawing.
• Time Windfall/Jace's Archivist to disrupt opponents' hands when you have Thassa's Oracle ready.
• Heliod, the Warped Eclipse enables surprise casts of Approach or protection spells.
• Mandate of Peace and Silence protect critical turns.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Highly vulnerable to opponent interaction targeting key enchantments (Rest in Peace, Triskaidekaphile dies to removal).
• Symmetrical draw accelerates combo/control opponents disproportionately.
• No graveyard recursion for exiled win conditions.

Moderate

• Weak to aggressive decks bypassing pillow fort via trample/flyers.
• Limited creature removal beyond Path to Exile/Swords to Plowshares.
• Cursed Totem nullifies Kwain and Drumbellower.

Minor

• High dependence on noncreature permanents makes it susceptible to mass enchantment/artifact removal.
• Triskaidekaphile requires precise hand management.

Most Important Cards:

• Thassa's Oracle (Primary win condition)
• Teferi's Ageless Insight (Doubles draw triggers)
• Solitary Confinement (Immunity engine)
• Folio of Fancies (Mill enabler/hand size manipulator)
• Smothering Tithe (Ramp from symmetrical draw)
• Approach of the Second Sun (Alternate win condition)
• Leyline of Anticipation (Flash enabler)
• Grand Abolisher (Turn protection)
• Windfall (Mass draw/mill setup)
• Enlightened Tutor (Key piece fetcher)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can threaten wins via Oracle/Lab Man as early as T6-7 with optimal draws, but typically requires setup turns for engine assembly.

Resilience: 4/10

• Limited protection beyond counterspells; critical enchantments are fragile to removal. Recursion exists (Hall of Heliod's Generosity), but slow.

Consistency: 7/10

• High card draw density and multiple overlapping win conditions compensate for limited tutors.

Interaction: 6/10

• Strong counterspell suite (Mana Drain, Swan Song) and targeted removal, but lacks board wipes beyond conditional Depopulate.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at Optimized Casual levels (T8-10 wins) with focused draw synergies and multiple protected win conditions, but its reliance on symmetrical effects and vulnerability to targeted hate caps its resilience. Speed aligns with T7-8 potential in ideal scenarios, but meta-dependent weaknesses prevent higher tiers.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5