Overview:

This Ezuri, Claw of Progress deck focuses on generating value through low-power creature triggers to accumulate experience counters, then converting them into +1/+1 counters for combat wins. While moderately synergistic, it lacks infinite combos, high-speed threats, and robust protection, positioning it as a battlecruiser-style casual build.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck aims to deploy Ezuri, Claw of Progress by turn 4 using basic ramp (Sol Ring, Rampant Growth), then flood the board with ≤2-power creatures like Coiling Oracle and Elvish Visionary to stockpile experience counters. Win conditions involve either:

1. Distributing massive +1/+1 counters via Ezuri's combat trigger onto evasive creatures like Cold-Eyed Selkie
2. Overrun effects (Beastmaster Ascension, Overrun) with token armies from cards like Thelonite Hermit

Mulligan Priorities:

• 3 lands with green/blue sources
• 1-2 ramp pieces (Sakura-Tribe Elder, Kodama's Reach)
• At least 1 early creature engine (Elvish Visionary, Experiment One) Avoid hands without early plays or color fixing.

Key Tips:

• Prioritize experience counter generation over board presence - sacrifice utility creatures to High Market if needed
• Use Synthetic Destiny as a pseudo-boardwipe recovery tool
• Activate Mosswort Bridge's hidden card when deploying large token armies
• Protect Ezuri with Swiftfoot Boots and timing Plaxmanta flashes

Avoid Traps:

• Overextending into boardwipes before establishing counter generation
• Holding interaction instead of developing experience engines
• Casting high-CMC non-synergistic threats like Caller of the Pack

Weaknesses:

Moderate:

• Commander dependency (15+ cards require experience counters)
• Slow recovery from boardwipes
• Limited protection for key pieces
• No infinite combos/alt wins

Minor:

• Basic-heavy mana base slows multicolor demands
• Weak to flying threats without Arbor Colossus

Most Important Cards:

• Beastmaster Ascension
• Bident of Thassa
• Cold-Eyed Selkie
• Ezuri's Predation
• Forgotten Ancient
• Prime Speaker Zegana
• Solemn Simulacrum
• Synthetic Destiny
• Swiftfoot Boots
• Thelonite Hermit

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10
Theoretical goldfish win ~T8-9 through experience counter stacking into Overrun effects. Limited fast mana/cheat effects.

Resilience: 4/10
Moderate recursion (Eternal Witness, Skullwinder), but folds to repeated commander removal. Some protection spells but no free counters.

Consistency: 5/10
12 ramp sources and 14 card draw engines provide baseline flow, but only 3 tutors (Solemn Simulacrum, land fetches). Redundant ≤2-power creatures mitigate variance.

Interaction: 5/10
10 targeted answers (Krosan Grip, Rapid Hybridization) and 3 boardwipes. Mostly sorcery-speed or overcosted (Desert Twister).

Rating Justification:

The deck sits between "Casual/Precon" (4.0) and "Focused Casual" (4.5) tiers. It exceeds precon consistency with redundant engines but lacks:

• Fast mana/combos of 5.0 decks
• Interaction density of 5.5 builds
• Turn 9-11 win clock aligns with 4.5's "slow combos" benchmark
• Commander dependency and basic mana base prevent higher scoring

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5