Overview:

This Dimir (U/B) Rat tribal deck helmed by Vren, the Relentless combines swarm tactics with strategic creature exile manipulation. The primary strategy revolves around flooding the board with Rat tokens empowered by anthem effects like Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm and Lord Skitter, Sewer King, while Vren generates exponential token growth by exiling opponents' dying creatures. Secondary control elements (counterspells, Cyclonic Rift) protect the board and disrupt opponents. The deck wins through overwhelming combat pressure from scaling Rats, amplified by Kindred Discovery and Piper of the Swarm's theft ability as alternative paths. Vren acts as both a token engine and graveyard disruptor, though the deck can function without it via its dense Rat package.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4):
   • Deploy low-cost Rats (Rat Colony, Shoreline Looter) and mana rocks (Dimir Signet, Arcane Signet).
   • Cast key enablers like Lord Skitter, Sewer King for token generation or Rhystic Study for card advantage.
   • Use targeted removal (Fell the Profane, Throat Slitter) to trigger Vren’s exile effect.

2. Midgame Momentum (Turns 5-7):

   • Resolve payoff cards: Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm turns each Rat into a massive threat, while Ogre Slumlord grants deathtouch.
   • Activate Kindred Discovery or Distant Melody to refuel.
   • Deploy Dictate of Erebos to punish removal and amplify Vren’s exile triggers.

3. Closing the Game (Turns 8+):

   • Swing with an army of 10+/10+ Rats empowered by Ashcoat’s X/X boosts.
   • Use Piper of the Swarm to steal key blockers or Raise the Palisade to clear non-Rat boards.
   • Recur Rats from graveyards via Ashcoat’s mill ability or Nezumi Graverobber.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including U/B sources) and at least 1 early Rat or ramp piece.
• Prioritize enablers like Lord Skitter, Sewer King or Black Market Connections over high-CMC cards.
• Ensure interaction (counterspell or removal) is present if facing fast metas.

Key Tips:

• Use Persistent Marshstalker’s recursion to maintain board presence post-wipe.
• Reflections of Littjara doubles Rat token generation from Vren and other sources.
• Patchwork Banner provides both anthem and mana fixing – name Rat as it enters.
• Takenuma, Abandoned Mire and Otawara, Soaring City offer late-game recursion/interaction.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board Wipe Vulnerability: Relies heavily on maintaining a critical mass of Rats; lacks mass recursion outside Ashcoat.
• Anti-Token Tech: Cursed Totem/Torpor Orb nullifies Rat synergies; Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite cripples the swarm.

Moderate

• Mana Constraints: High Rat Colony density risks color screw (15 require {B}); limited land untappers for Three Tree City.
• Combo Weakness: No infinite combos; struggles to race decks with T6-7 win conditions.

Minor

• Flyer Threats: Limited reach outside Azure Beastbinder’s ability reduction.
• Artifact Reliance: Key pieces like Lightning Greaves and Midnight Clock are soft to artifact hate.

Most Important Cards:

• Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm (Anthem + recursion engine)
• Kindred Discovery (Draws 2+ cards per combat phase)
• Dictate of Erebos (Forces sacrifices, fuels Vren)
• Piper of the Swarm (Token generation + theft wincon)
• Cyclonic Rift (Board reset protection)
• Rat Colony (Scaling damage core)
• Lord Skitter, Sewer King (Token generation + grave hate)
• Black Market Connections (Flexible ramp/draw)
• Reflections of Littjara (Doubles Rat token output)
• Force of Will (Free interaction for critical turns)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can threaten lethal via Rat swarms by T8-9 but lacks fast mana or combo finishers to accelerate.

Resilience: 6/10

• Multiple draw engines and some recursion (Ashcoat, Nezumi) mitigate setbacks, but board wipes remain devastating.

Consistency: 7/10

• High Rat density ensures tribal synergy, though limited tutors for key noncreature pieces (e.g., Kindred Discovery).

Interaction: 6/10

• 10+ counterspells/removal spells cover most threats, but lacks board wipe protection beyond Aetherize.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a focused tribal build with strong synergy and moderate interaction, but its reliance on combat damage and vulnerability to wipes caps its speed. It consistently executes its game plan but struggles against faster combo decks.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0