Overview:

This is a Volrath, the Shapestealer deck focused on utilizing counters (primarily -1/-1) and copy effects to create threatening board states while maintaining control elements. The deck aims to win through commander damage or infect strategies.

Primer:

The deck operates by establishing early board presence through efficient creatures that either carry counters or distribute them. Volrath, the Shapestealer serves as a flexible threat that can become a copy of any creature with a counter, maintaining a 7/5 body. The deck includes several infect creatures and counter manipulators like Thrummingbird and Forgotten Ancient to enable Volrath's ability and create threatening board states.

The strategy involves careful resource management and timing of Volrath's ability to either become the best creature on the board or to utilize specific abilities at crucial moments. The deck includes a modest control package with counterspells and removal, allowing it to protect its key pieces while disrupting opponents' strategies. The inclusion of proliferate effects and various utility creatures provides multiple paths to victory, whether through commander damage, infect, or overwhelming board presence.

Weaknesses:

• The deck is heavily reliant on its commander and can struggle if Volrath becomes too expensive to cast.
• Limited board wipe recovery options and relatively few protection pieces make the deck vulnerable to mass removal.
• The mana base is somewhat basic and could be more optimized, potentially leading to color-fixing issues.
• The deck can struggle against heavy removal strategies as many of its key pieces are creatures.

Most Important Cards:

1. Blighted Agent
2. Hand of the Praetors
3. Contagion Engine
4. Forgotten Ancient
5. Experiment Kraj
6. Blade of Selves
7. Thrummingbird
8. Black Sun's Zenith
9. Phyrexian Crusader
10. Cold-Eyed Selkie

Attribute Ratings:

• Speed: 5/10
• Resilience: 4/10
• Consistency: 5/10
• Interaction: 6/10

Rating Justification:

This deck falls into the focused casual range due to its clear strategy but relatively slow execution and vulnerability to disruption. While it can create powerful board states, it typically needs several turns to set up its engine and lacks the explosive plays or consistent protection seen in higher-powered decks. The interaction suite is decent but not comprehensive enough to consistently control the game against multiple opponents.

Final power level rating: 5.0 - 5.5

The deck sits firmly in the optimized casual range because it has a focused gameplan and includes several powerful synergies, but lacks the fast mana and consistent protection needed to compete at higher power levels. It can execute its strategy effectively when left unchecked but typically wins around turn 10-11, which is characteristic of this power level.