Overview:

This Grixis discard/reanimator deck leverages Kefka, Court Mage to force opponent discards while generating card advantage, transforming into Kefka, Ruler of Ruin for sustained pressure. The primary strategy revolves around mass discard effects (e.g., Dark Deal, Whispering Madness) paired with punishing payoffs like Megrim, Bone Miser, and Waste Not. Secondary win conditions include reanimating bombs (Archfiend of Ifnir, Archon of Cruelty), Laboratory Maniac/Psychosis Crawler draw synergies, and combat with discard-triggered creatures. Kefka is essential as the engine, enabling both disruption and card flow, though vulnerable to removal given its 5 CMC cost.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Talismans), discard payoffs (Waste Not, Faith of the Devoted), or value engines (Rhystic Study, Mystic Remora). Use targeted discard (Mind Rake, Fell Specter) to disrupt opponents.
2. Midgame Engine (Turns 4-7): Cast Kefka to force discards and draw cards. Resolve mass discard spells (Syphon Mind, Whispering Madness) to trigger payoffs. Reanimate threats (Junji, the Midnight Sky, Archon of Cruelty) via Reanimate/Dread Return.
3. Win Condition Execution:
   • Discard Burn: Amplify damage with Megrim, Raiders' Wake, and Glint-Horn Buccaneer.
   • Combo: Draw entire deck with Kefka's transformed ability + Niv-Mizzet, Parun/Psychosis Crawler, then win via Laboratory Maniac.
   • Reanimation: Overwhelm with Living Death or cheat out Hullbreaker Horror/Archfiend of Ifnir.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including color-fixing (e.g., Command Tower).
• Prioritize early discard payoffs (Waste Not, Bone Miser), ramp, or Kefka + protection.
• Avoid hands lacking discard synergy or mana acceleration.

Key Tips:

• Protect Kefka: Use Lightning Greaves or counterspells (Swan Song, Counterspell) to ensure Kefka survives to transform.
• Maximize Discard Triggers: Oskar, Rubbish Reclaimer lets you cast discarded spells. Bone Miser/Waste Not generate tokens, mana, and cards.
• Leverage Graveyard: Entomb key reanimation targets. Living Death resets boards in your favor.
• Timing: Cast mass discard after opponents refill hands. Save Cyclonic Rift for critical turns.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard Hate: Bojuka Bog/Rest in Peace cripples reanimation and Oskar, Rubbish Reclaimer.
• Commander Reliance: Kefka removal stalls the engine; slow recovery without Command Beacon.
• Hand Size Penalties: Effects like Spirit of the Labyrinth or Narset, Parter of Veils nullify card advantage.

Moderate

• Artifact/Enchantment Removal: Destroys key payoffs (Waste Not, Psychosis Crawler).
• Board Wipes: Resets creature-based pressure (Toxic Deluge, Damnation).
• Discard Immunity: Leyline of Sanctity/Tajuru Preserver blanks forced discard.

Minor

• Life Loss: Paying life for Reanimate/Feed the Swarm adds up against aggressive decks.
• Countermagic: Struggles against stack-heavy decks if protection is depleted.

Most Important Cards:

• Waste Not (Mana/card/token generation from discards)
• Bone Miser (Token generation, mana, and card draw from discards)
• Kefka, Ruler of Ruin (Card draw engine and sacrifice pressure)
• Oskar, Rubbish Reclaimer (Casts discarded spells)
• Whispering Madness (Mass discard + draw with Cipher)
• Living Death (Board reset and reanimation)
• Cyclonic Rift (Mass bounce for tempo)
• Reanimate (Cheats threats early)
• Laboratory Maniac (Alt-win with deck draw)
• Archfiend of Ifnir (Board control via discards)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten wins via discard burn or reanimation by turn 7-8, but relies on setup for combos.

Resilience: 5/10

• Recovers poorly from graveyard hate or Kefka removal; limited protection beyond counterspells.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong card draw (Kefka, Rhystic Study) and tutors (Entomb, Dark Ritual acceleration) enable reliable access to key pieces.

Interaction: 7/10

• Efficient counters (Swan Song, Counterspell), targeted removal (Deadly Rollick, Feed the Swarm), and board wipes (Toxic Deluge) handle threats.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a 6.0-6.5 power level, capable of T7-8 wins through synergistic discard pressure or reanimation, aligning with the "Focused" tier. While interaction and consistency are solid, critical vulnerabilities to graveyard hate and commander dependence limit resilience, preventing higher optimization.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5