Overview:

This Ivy, Gleeful Spellthief deck focuses on leveraging mutate mechanics and targeted spell duplication to generate overwhelming value through card draw, creature buffs, and board control. The strategy revolves around copying auras, combat tricks, and mutate triggers to create massive threats while disrupting opponents with tempo plays.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
Deploy Ivy early (T2-3) and use mutate creatures or targeted spells to create value copies. The deck operates in three phases:

1. Setup (T1-4): Ramp with mutate creatures like Migratory Greathorn and protect Ivy with Blossoming Defense. Use low-cost auras (Curiosity, Keen Sense) to start drawing cards.
2. Value Engine (T4-7): Mutate creatures like Auspicious Starrix or Dreamtail Heron onto Ivy or other creatures, triggering copy effects and cascading card draw/board presence. Use bounce effects (Quickling, Temur Sabertooth) to reset mutate stacks.
3. Win Conditions:
   • Generate infinite draw via Stormchaser Drake + 2+ targeted cantrips (e.g., Shadow Rift + Cerulean Wisps with Twinning Staff).
   • Overwhelm with massive mutate stacks from Sakashima of a Thousand Faces copying Ivy.
   • Cheat permanents via Auspicious Starrix mutates.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with Ivy + 1 protection spell (e.g., Tamiyo's Safekeeping).
• Prioritize early mutate enablers like Pollywog Symbiote.
• Avoid hands without blue/green mana sources.

Key Tips:

• Stack mutate triggers to maximize Essence Symbiote counters and Season of Growth scries.
• Use Errant, Street Artist to copy critical mutate spells or protection instants.
• Bounce Ivy strategically with Slip Out the Back to dodge removal while preserving mutate stacks.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Relies on Commander Presence: Loses momentum if Ivy is removed 3+ times.
• No Infinite Mana Combos: Limited explosive finishes without setup.

Moderate

• Weak to Board Wipes: Struggles to rebuild mutate stacks post-Wrath of God.
• Enchantment Vulnerability: Curiosity/Keen Sense are fragile to Disenchant effects.

Minor

• Slow Mana Base: 12 tapped lands delay early plays.

Most Important Cards:

• Sakashima of a Thousand Faces
• Auspicious Starrix
• Season of Growth
• Twinning Staff
• Stormchaser Drake
• Curiosity
• Errant, Street Artist
• Essence Symbiote
• Temur Sabertooth
• Pollywog Symbiote

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10
Can establish value engines by T4 but lacks T5-6 deterministic wins.

Resilience: 6/10
Moderate protection (7 hexproof/phase-out spells) but commander-dependent.

Consistency: 5/10
Limited tutors (only Twinning Staff recursion) but strong draw engines.

Interaction: 6/10
10 instant-speed bounce/counters (e.g., Simic Charm, Fading Hope) but no free counterspells.

Rating Justification:

This deck has focused synergies and moderate interaction but lacks the redundancy, speed, and protection needed for higher power levels. Its mutate/value engine aligns with optimized casual play.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.5