Overview:

This Grixis discard deck leverages Kefka, Court Mage as a central engine, forcing opponents to discard cards while generating card advantage and enabling multiple synergistic payoffs. The primary strategy revolves around mass discard effects (e.g., Windfall, Syphon Mind) paired with damage/life-loss enchantments (Megrim, Liliana's Caress, Raiders' Wake) and value engines like Waste Not or Bone Miser. Secondary win conditions include reanimating high-impact threats (Archon of Cruelty, Lord Xander, the Collector), Laboratory Maniac/draw-mill synergies, and combat pressure from stolen permanents. Kefka is essential for consistent discard triggers and transforms into a card-draw powerhouse, but the deck can function without him due to redundant effects.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Talismans) or discard payoffs (Waste Not, Tinybones Joins Up). Prioritize casting Kefka on turn 4 to initiate discard pressure.
2. Discard Amplification (Turns 4-6): Resolve mass discard spells (Windfall, Mind Rake, Breach the Multiverse) alongside damage engines (Megrim, Liliana's Caress). Use Harmonic Prodigy to double Kefka/specter triggers. Protect key pieces with free counterspells (Fierce Guardianship, An Offer You Can't Refuse).
3. Win Condition Execution (Turns 5-8):
   • Discard Damage: Overwhelm opponents with cumulative life loss from discard triggers.
   • Reanimation: Cheat out Archon of Cruelty, Tergrid, God of Fright, or Lord Xander via Reanimate, Animate Dead, or Living Death.
   • Combo: Pair Displacer Kitten with Kefka/noncreature spells for repeated ETB discards. Leverage Laboratory Maniac with forced draw (e.g., transformed Kefka + Psychosis Crawler).

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3+ lands, including untapped duals/fetches.
• Prioritize early discard payoff (Waste Not, Bone Miser) or a T4 Kefka.
• Include at least one interaction piece (counter, removal) or mass discard spell.
• Avoid hands lacking ramp or discard synergy.

Key Tips:

• Maximize Triggers: Harmonic Prodigy doubles Kefka, Fell Specter, and Sedraxis Specter triggers. Displacer Kitten resets Kefka ETBs.
• Protect Critical Engines: Use free counterspells for Bone Miser, Waste Not, or Kefka. Deadeye Navigator pairs with Archon/Xander for repeated triggers.
• Graveyard Management: Living Death and Breach the Multiverse serve as win-cons but require careful timing. Espers to Magicite exiles opponents' graveyards while stealing threats.
• Leverage Card Draw: Transformed Kefka, Sheoldred, the Apocalypse, and Geth's Grimoire refill your hand to sustain pressure.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) cripples reanimation and recursion (Persist, Living Death).
• Discard immunity (Leyline of Sanctity, Orbs of Warding) nullifies the primary strategy and payoffs.
• Board wipes devastate creature-based value engines (Bone Miser, Sangromancer) and leave limited recovery.

Moderate

• Anti-ETB effects (Torpor Orb, Hushbringer) disable Kefka, Archon, and specters.
• Artifact/enchantment removal targets key payoffs (Waste Not, Court of Ambition) with limited recursion.
• High-card-advantage opponents outpace discard pressure.

Minor

• Aggressive decks pressure life total before setup completes.
• Mana base suffers from ETB-tapped lands (7+), slowing early plays.

Most Important Cards:

• Kefka, Court Mage (Primary discard engine and card advantage)
• Waste Not (Mana acceleration, tokens, and draw from discards)
• Bone Miser (Value engine for self-discard/reanimation)
• Windfall (Mass discard + refuel)
• Harmonic Prodigy (Doubles Kefka/specter triggers)
• Displacer Kitten (Resets ETBs and enables combos)
• Living Death (Win condition/recovery)
• Archon of Cruelty (Game-ending reanimation target)
• Fierce Guardianship (Free protection for key plays)
• Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (Life swing and draw synergy)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten wins via discard damage or reanimation on T5-7 with optimal hands, but lacks fast mana for consistent early explosiveness.

Resilience: 5/10

• Free counterspells and reanimation offer recovery paths, but heavy reliance on graveyard and vulnerable enchantments creates significant fragility against hate.

Consistency: 7/10

• High density of discard effects, tutors (Vampiric Tutor implied but missing), and card draw ensure core strategy access, though wincon redundancy is moderate.

Interaction: 8/10

• Excellent stack interaction (Mana Drain, Swan Song, free counters) and targeted removal (Deadly Rollick, Feed the Swarm), but lacks artifact/enchantment sweepers.

Rating Justification:

The deck demonstrates high interaction and consistency with a T5-7 win potential through discard synergy or reanimation, aligning with Focused tiers. However, critical vulnerabilities to graveyard hate and discard immunity prevent higher resilience scores, capping its competitive viability.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5