Overview:

This Dimir deck leverages Sephiroth, Planet's Heir as a synergistic engine and primary win condition, focusing on forcing opponent creature deaths to amplify Sephiroth's power while controlling the board. The strategy combines -1/-1 counter distribution, death triggers, and flicker effects to repeatedly trigger Sephiroth's ETB while building a massive commander threat. Secondary win conditions include aristocrat-style life drain via Blood Artist/Syr Konrad, the Grim and occasional combo lines with Deadeye Navigator + Peregrine Drake. Sephiroth is central to the game plan—its ETB clears small threats, enables token generation through Nest of Scarabs, and scales into lethal commander damage. The deck is vulnerable to commander removal but includes equipment-based protection.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Dimir Signet, Talisman of Dominance) and value engines like Phyrexian Arena or Morbid Opportunist. Use targeted removal (Infernal Grasp, Pongify) or symmetrical sacrifice effects (Plaguecrafter, Accursed Marauder) to trigger Sephiroth's counter ability early.
2. Commander Deployment & Board Control (Turns 4-6): Cast Sephiroth to sweep small creatures (-2/-2) and equip protection (Lightning Greaves, Swiftfoot Boots). Recur ETB effects with flickers (Ghostly Flicker, Displace) or reanimation (Victimize). Amplify death triggers with Drivnod, Carnage Dominus or The Masamune.
3. Win Condition Execution (Turns 6-9):
   • Commander Damage: Make Sephiroth unblockable (Aqueous Form, Rogue's Passage) and attack for lethal with accumulated counters.
   • Aristocrat Drain: Leverage Blood Artist, Syr Konrad, the Grim, and mass death (Massacre Girl, Summon: Primal Odin) to drain opponents.
   • Infinite Mana Combo: Pair Deadeye Navigator (soulbonded) with Peregrine Drake for infinite land untaps, enabling massive Syr Konrad mills or repeated spellcasting.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3+ lands, including at least one blue and one black source.
• Prioritize early ramp (rocks or Solemn Simulacrum), protection (equipment), or a sacrifice outlet/value piece (Morbid Opportunist, Plaguecrafter).
• Avoid hands lacking interaction or commander enablers.

Key Tips:

• Maximize Triggers: Sequence Sephiroth after sacrifice effects (e.g., Accursed Marauder) to maximize death triggers. Nest of Scarabs turns Sephiroth's ETB into token generation.
• Protect Critical Pieces: Equip Sephiroth immediately with shroud/hexproof equipment. Use flickers defensively to dodge removal or reuse ETBs.
• Leverage Recursion: Recast key spells from the graveyard using Archaeomancer, Mystic Sanctuary, or flashback (Resentful Revelation).
• Combo Awareness: Deadeye Navigator + Peregrine Drake generates infinite mana; pair with Syr Konrad or Archaeomancer/Ghostly Flicker for a win.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander Reliance: Strategy collapses if Sephiroth is repeatedly removed or taxed. Limited protection beyond equipment.
• Graveyard Hate: Bojuka Bog-effects cripple recursion (Victimize, Archaeomancer, Syr Konrad).
• Board Wipes: Struggles to rebuild after mass removal (e.g., Damnation), lacking mass reanimation.

Moderate

• Enchantment Removal: Loses key engines like Propaganda, Nest of Scarabs, or Phyrexian Arena.
• Combo Fragility: Deadeye Navigator combo is easily disrupted by removal or counterspells.
• Artifact Hate: Vulnerable to Vandalblast-effects destroying ramp/equipment.

Minor

• Limited Card Advantage: Draw engines are slow (Midnight Clock) or life-taxing (Phyrexian Arena).
• Flyer Vulnerability: Evasive threats can bypass ground defenses if Propaganda is answered.

Most Important Cards:

• Drivnod, Carnage Dominus (Doubles death triggers for Sephiroth/aristocrats)
• The Masamune (Amplifies Sephiroth triggers and enables unblockable attacks)
• Deadeye Navigator (Flicker engine for ETBs/infinite mana with Peregrine Drake)
• Syr Konrad, the Grim (Primary aristocrat win condition)
• Ghostly Flicker (Reusable Sephiroth ETB/rescue)
• Nest of Scarabs (Token generation from -1/-1 counters)
• Massacre Girl (Board wipe that synergizes with death triggers)
• Lightning Greaves (Critical commander protection)
• Peregrine Drake (Infinite mana combo piece)
• Victimize (Reanimation for key creatures)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Wins typically occur around turns 8-10 via commander damage or aristocrat drains. Infinite mana enables faster wins but requires setup.

Resilience: 6/10

• Flicker/recursion provides recovery for key creatures, but over-reliance on Sephiroth and graveyard makes it vulnerable to targeted hate.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong card selection (Ponder, Brainstorm) and tutors (Resentful Revelation, Victimize) find key pieces, but lacks redundancy for core engines.

Interaction: 7/10

• Efficient removal suite (Infernal Grasp, Tragic Slip, board wipes) and counterspells (Counterspell, Negate) handle threats, though stack interaction is limited.

Rating Justification:

This deck executes a focused game plan with synergistic combos and interaction, threatening wins around T8-10 via combat or incremental drain, but its reliance on the commander and graveyard limits speed and resilience against disruption. It aligns with optimized casual decks that win through combat or slow combos but lacks the efficiency for higher tiers.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5