Overview:

This Grixis discard/reanimator deck leverages Kefka, Court Mage as a potent discard engine and win condition. The primary strategy forces opponents to discard cards through symmetrical effects like Windfall and targeted spells, punishing them with damage/life loss via Megrim, Liliana's Caress, and Sheoldred, the Apocalypse. Secondary reanimation lines cheat out high-impact threats like Archon of Cruelty or stolen permanents via Agent of Treachery. Kefka enables the core strategy by providing repeated discard triggers and transforms into a card-draw engine that synergizes with life-loss payoffs. The deck is highly commander-reliant; removal cripples its engine, though recasting Kefka is manageable with artifact ramp.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Prioritize ramp (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Talismans) or discard payoffs like Tinybones, Trinket Thief. Cast Kefka on turn 4 if possible.
2. Discard Punishment (Turns 4-6): Deploy enchantment payoffs (Waste Not, Raiders' Wake) before casting mass discard (Windfall, Syphon Mind). Use targeted discard (Mind Rake) to pressure opponents.
3. Win Condition Execution:
   • Discard Damage: Amplify triggers with Harmonic Prodigy (doubling Kefka/Fell Specter). Leverage Bone Miser/Surly Badgersaur for value.
   • Reanimation: Cheat threats like Archon of Cruelty or Lord Xander, the Collector via Reanimate, Animate Dead, or Living Death.
   • Kefka Lock: Transform Kefka using his ability, then pair with Displacer Kitten or Essence Flux for repeated blinks, drawing cards and draining life via Sheoldred.
4. Late Game: Overwhelm with reanimated armies (Rise of the Dark Realms) or control via stolen permanents.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color fixing), early ramp, and at least one payoff (discard enchantment) or discard spell.
• Prioritize Kefka + protection (free counterspells) in interactive metas. Avoid hands lacking discard synergy or ramp.

Key Tips:

• Sequence Payoffs First: Cast Waste Not/Bone Miser before forcing discards.
• Protect Kefka: Use Fierce Guardianship, Swan Song, or Deadly Rollick to defend him.
• Blink Wisely: Displacer Kitten triggers on noncreature spells—time instants/sorceries to maximize Kefka blinks.
• Graveyard Management: Hold reanimation until key threats are discarded/milled. Toxic Deluge before reanimating to clear blockers.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Enchantment removal (Disenchant, Bane of Progress) devastates discard payoffs like Waste Not/Bone Miser.
• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) cripples reanimation lines and Bone Miser/Surly Badgersaur.
• Hexproof/shroud effects nullify targeted discard (e.g., Leyline of Sanctity).

Moderate

• Kefka removal significantly slows the engine; recasting becomes costly without ramp.
• Fast combo decks can outpace setup turns before discard pressure mounts.
• Wheel effects (Windfall) may benefit opponents with graveyard synergies.

Minor

• Life loss from pain lands and spells can add up against aggressive decks.
• Limited artifact/enchantment removal struggles with resolved stax pieces.

Most Important Cards:

• Kefka, Court Mage (Primary discard engine and win condition)
• Waste Not (Value generator from discards)
• Bone Miser (Creates tokens, mana, and draws on self-discards)
• Displacer Kitten (Enables Kefka blinks for repeated triggers)
• Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (Converts Kefka draws into life loss)
• Windfall (Mass discard + refuel)
• Harmonic Prodigy (Doubles Kefka/Fell Specter triggers)
• Archon of Cruelty (Reanimation target that disrupts and closes games)
• Animate Dead (Efficient reanimation)
• Fierce Guardianship (Free protection for Kefka)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Can threaten wins via discard damage or reanimation as early as T4-5 with optimal draws (e.g., T1 ramp → T2 payoff → T3 Kefka → T4 mass discard).

Resilience: 5/10

• Free counterspells and recursion (Living Death, Eternal Witness proxies) offer recovery, but core strategy is vulnerable to enchantment/graveyard hate.

Consistency: 6/10

• Strong card draw (Kefka transformed, Sheoldred) and wheels refill hands, but lacks tutors for specific payoffs outside reanimation targets.

Interaction: 7/10

• Excellent stack interaction (Mana Drain, Counterspell, free spells) and targeted removal (Toxic Deluge, Deadly Rollick), though lacks broad enchantment/artifact answers.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a high-power level with T5-6 win potential through synergistic discard punishment and efficient reanimation, supported by robust interaction. However, its reliance on fragile enchantments and vulnerability to graveyard hate caps resilience, preventing cEDH viability. Speed aligns with Focused Competitive (7.0), but meta-dependent weaknesses place it slightly lower.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0