Overview:

This Sultai (BUG) deck helmed by The Wise Mothman focuses on proliferating rad counters and +1/+1 counters to fuel synergistic payoffs. The commander enables a dual strategy: distributing rad counters to opponents via its ETB/attack triggers and rewarding mill with +1/+1 counter proliferation. The deck combines aggressive counter-doubling effects (Corpsejack Menace, Branching Evolution), proliferate engines (Inexorable Tide, Contagion Engine), and rad/mill synergies (Mindcrank, Bloodchief Ascension) to create overwhelming board states or drain opponents. Muldrotha, the Gravetide and The Master, Transcendent provide graveyard recursion to sustain long-game value.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4):
   • Ramp with Sol Ring, Cultivate, or Arcane Signet.
   • Deploy counter enablers like Hardened Scales or Winding Constrictor.
   • Cast The Wise Mothman to start distributing rad counters.

2. Midgame Engine (Turns 4-7):

   • Activate proliferate engines: Thrummingbird, Flux Channeler, Evolution Sage.
   • Amplify +1/+1 counters via Corpsejack Menace/Branching Evolution on threats like Strong, the Brutish Thespian or Agent Frank Horrigan.
   • Use Mindcrank + Bloodchief Ascension to drain opponents via mill-to-life-loss.

3. Win Conditions (Turns 7+):

   • Overwhelm with massive creatures (e.g., Agent Frank Horrigan with proliferated +1/+1 counters).
   • Lock opponents with infinite mill via Mindcrank + Bloodchief Ascension activation loops.
   • Toxic/proliferate kills using Bloated Contaminator and repeated poison counter triggers.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, including at least one ramp source (e.g., Sol Ring, Cultivate).
• Prioritize early counter enablers (Hardened Scales, Winding Constrictor) or proliferate engines (Thrummingbird).
• Avoid hands lacking ramp or with only high-CMC threats.

Key Tips:

• Use Muldrotha, the Gravetide to recur critical pieces like Mindcrank or Bloodchief Ascension.
• Mutational Advantage protects your counter-laden board during critical turns.
• Vault 12: The Necropolis can flood the board with Zombie tokens when rad counters accumulate.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard Reliance: Muldrotha, the Gravetide and recursion strategies fold to Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void.
• Enchantment Vulnerability: Bloodchief Ascension, Branching Evolution, and Guardian Project are irreplaceable engines with limited protection.

Moderate

• Slow Setup: Requires 3-4 turns to establish counter/proliferate engines, leaving it vulnerable to early aggression.
• Board Wipes: Damnation or Cyclonic Rift reset progress; recovery depends on Heroic Intervention or Muldrotha.

Minor

• Commander Dependency: The Wise Mothman’s rad counter distribution accelerates the deck but isn’t strictly mandatory for all wincons.
• Artifact/Enchantment Removal: Key pieces like Contagion Engine and Inexorable Tide are soft to Force of Vigor.

Most Important Cards:

• Corpsejack Menace (Doubles +1/+1 counters)
• Mindcrank (Mill engine for rad/Bloodchief synergy)
• Bloodchief Ascension (Life-drain combo with Mindcrank)
• Branching Evolution (Doubles +1/+1 counters)
• Muldrotha, the Gravetide (Graveyard recursion backbone)
• Inexorable Tide (Proliferate on every spellcast)
• Agent Frank Horrigan (Proliferate bomb with trample)
• Cyclonic Rift (Board reset/panic button)
• Heroic Intervention (Critical protection)
• Contagion Engine (Proliferate enabler/board control)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Threatens wins via combat or combo around T8-10 but requires significant setup for critical mass.

Resilience: 6/10

• Recursion via Muldrotha and protection spells like Heroic Intervention mitigate setbacks, but core engines remain fragile.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong card draw (Rhystic Study, Guardian Project) and tutors (Grim Tutor, Sylvan Scrying) ensure access to key pieces.

Interaction: 6/10

• Counterspells (Force of Will, Mana Drain) and targeted removal (Assassin’s Trophy, Beast Within) handle threats but lack stax elements.

Rating Justification:

The deck has optimized elements (tutors, combos) but operates at a T8-10 win pace with moderate resilience, aligning with high casual tiers. Its reliance on incremental value over explosive starts limits its ceiling.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5