Overview:

This Golgari Squirrel/Food token deck helmed by Hazel of the Rootbloom focuses on exponential token generation, leveraging both Squirrel synergies and artifact token economies. The strategy revolves around creating massive token armies through doubling effects (Parallel Lives, Doubling Season), converting them into mana via Hazel's ability, and winning through life drain (Mirkwood Bats, Zulaport Cutthroat), combat overruns (The Odd Acorn Gang, Chatterfang, Squirrel General), or X-spells (Exsanguinate). Hazel serves as both a mana engine and token copier, synergizing powerfully with Backgrounds Cloakwood Hermit (Squirrel token generation) and Haunted One (undying tribal buffs).

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-3): Deploy mana dorks (Gilded Goose, Utopia Sprawl), token generators (Vinereap Mentor, Squirrel Nest), and value engines (Academy Manufactor).
2. Token Explosion (T4-6): Resolve doubling effects (Doubling Season) and mass token producers (Deep Forest Hermit, Chatterstorm). Activate Hazel's tap ability to convert tokens into explosive mana.
3. Win Conditions:
   • Drain: Sacrifice tokens to Nadier's Nightblade/Mirkwood Bats with aristocrats payoffs.
   • Combat: Overwhelm with buffed Squirrel armies using Haunted One's undying triggers and The Odd Acorn Gang's card draw.
   • X-Spells: Cast Exsanguinate or Pest Infestation backed by Hazel's token-fueled mana.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including green/black sources).
• Prioritize early token generators (Squirrel Nest, Vinereap Mentor) or doubling enchantments.
• Ensure at least one piece of ramp (Three Visits, Arcane Signet).
• Reject hands lacking token production or mana acceleration.

Key Tips:

• Use Osteomancer Adept to recur key creatures from graveyard by sacrificing Foods.
• Saw in Half doubles as removal and token duplication when targeting your own creatures.
• Springheart Nantuko can exponentially copy token creatures with its landfall trigger.
• Nuka-Cola Vending Machine synergizes with Academy Manufactor to create triple tokens (Food + Treasure + Clue).

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Devastated by board wipes (Blasphemous Act, Farewell) due to token reliance and limited recursion.
• Hushbringer/Torpor Orb nullifies death/ETB triggers from Deep Forest Hermit, Nadier's Nightblade, etc.

Moderate

• Struggles against Cursed Totem shutting down Hazel of the Rootbloom's mana ability and Gilded Goose.
• Rest in Peace disrupts graveyard synergies (Osteomancer Adept, Bonecache Overseer).

Minor

• Limited flying defense beyond Mirkwood Bats.
• X-spell finishers vulnerable to counterspells.

Most Important Cards:

• Doubling Season (Token/counter multiplier)
• Chatterfang, Squirrel General (Token amplification and removal)
• Academy Manufactor (Triples token output)
• Seedborn Muse (Untap engine for Hazel/artifacts)
• Parallel Lives (Token doubling)
• Exsanguinate (Primary X-spell finisher)
• Mirkwood Bats (Key life drain engine)
• The Odd Acorn Gang (Squirrel lord + card draw)
• Cloakwood Hermit (Background enabling Hazel's Squirrel replication)
• Pest Infestation (Flexible removal + token generation)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can threaten T6-8 wins through token swarms or X-spells but lacks fast mana for earlier explosive turns.

Resilience: 4/10

• Limited protection (no Heroic Intervention) and slow recovery from wipes, though Cloakwood Hermit provides some rebuild potential.

Consistency: 6/10

• Multiple token engines and doubling effects create redundancy, but lacks tutors outside Thornvault Forager.

Interaction: 5/10

• Moderate removal suite (Pest Infestation, Saw in Half), but minimal stack interaction and no graveyard hate beyond Bojuka Bog.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates focused token synergies capable of T6-8 wins through combat or drain effects, aligning with "Focused Casual" benchmarks. While it has strong synergy density, its vulnerability to common removal and lack of fast mana/combos cap its ceiling.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0