Overview:

This Kenrith, the Returned King deck focuses on abusing activated ability cost reducers like Training Grounds and Biomancer's Familiar to enable explosive plays with its commander's versatile toolbox. The primary strategy revolves around generating infinite mana through combos like Intruder Alarm + mana dorks (e.g., Selvala, Explorer Returned), then using Kenrith's abilities to draw the deck, reanimate threats, or create unbeatable board states. Secondary win conditions include combat overrun with Krenko, Mob Boss tokens, Evra, Halcyon Witness life-total swaps, and Cloudsteel Kirin invulnerability locks.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-4): Prioritize deploying mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet), cost reducers (Training Grounds, Zirda, the Dawnwaker), and value engines (Esper Sentinel, Trouble in Pairs). Use Buried Alive/Fauna Shaman to tutor combo pieces.
2. Combo Assembly (T5-7):
   • Infinite Mana: Pair Intruder Alarm with Selvala, Explorer Returned/Gwenna, Eyes of Gaea and a creature that untaps for mana (Seedborn Muse).
   • Lock Protection: Attach Cloudsteel Kirin to a creature using its reconfigure ability.
3. Win Execution:
   • With infinite mana, use Kenrith's {3}{U} ability to draw the deck, then win via Evra, Halcyon Witness life swap, The Meathook Massacre drain, or Overabundance damage triggers.
   • Krenko, Mob Boss + haste enablers (Kenrith's {R} ability) for exponential goblin production.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including at least one rainbow source (Command Tower, Exotic Orchard).
• Prioritize early cost reducers, mana rocks, or creature tutors.
• Avoid hands without colored mana sources or excessive high-CMC spells.

Key Tips:

• Use Willbreaker + Kenrith's targeted abilities to steal opponents' creatures permanently.
• Seedborn Muse enables round-the-clock activation of Kenrith's abilities.
• Defense of the Heart can cheat out Zirda, the Dawnwaker + Seedborn Muse for instant combo potential.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Heavily commander-reliant: Kenrith tax increases quickly if removed repeatedly.
• Dies to Cursed Totem/Linvala, Keeper of Silence, which disable all activated creature abilities.
• Fragile mana base with 11+ enters-tapped lands slows early development.

Moderate

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace) disrupts Buried Alive/Kenrith reanimation plans.
• Rule of Law effects cripple combo turns and mana dork synergies.
• Limited protection for key enchantments like Intruder Alarm.

Minor

• High life gain strategies can outpace Evra, Halcyon Witness/Plague Drone damage.
• Struggles against decks with faster combo lines (T3-4).

Most Important Cards:

• Training Grounds (Core enabler for Kenrith's abilities)
• Intruder Alarm (Primary combo engine with mana dorks)
• Zirda, the Dawnwaker (Companion cost reducer)
• Seedborn Muse (Untap engine for round-the-clock activations)
• Buried Alive (Tutors combo creatures to graveyard)
• Fauna Shaman (Creature tutor for combo assembly)
• Wishclaw Talisman (Tutor critical pieces)
• The World Tree (Late-game mana fixer/god tutor)
• Cloudsteel Kirin (Invulnerability lock)
• Overabundance (Wincon with infinite mana)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten T5-7 wins via assembled combos but lacks fast mana for earlier explosions.

Resilience: 5/10

• Multiple recursion tools (Evolution Witness, Kenrith reanimation) but over-reliant on easily removed enchantments/artifacts.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong tutor density (10+ tutors) and card draw via Kenrith's {3}{U} ability enable reliable combo assembly.

Interaction: 6/10

• Contains countermagic (Dovin's Veto, Overcharged Amalgam), targeted removal (The Wanderer), and stax (Deafening Silence), but lacks board wipes beyond Damning Verdict.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates focused combo potential with T5-7 win capability through redundant tutors and synergistic cost reducers, but its reliance on vulnerable permanents and slow mana base prevent higher optimization. The balance between speed and fragility aligns with the Focused tier.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5