Overview:

This Sultai deck leverages Zaxara, the Exemplary as a potent engine for generating massive Hydra tokens while casting X-cost spells. The primary strategy revolves around ramping into explosive X-spell turns, utilizing counter-doubling effects (e.g., Doubling Season, Branching Evolution) to create overwhelming board states or drain opponents via Exsanguinate. Zaxara is essential as both a mana accelerator and token generator, enabling the core game plan. Secondary win conditions include combat with unblockable hydras (enabled by Herald of Secret Streams) and value-based attrition. The deck is vulnerable to commander removal, as Zaxara's death significantly slows token production and mana fixing.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Prioritize ramp (e.g., Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Farseek, Kodama's Reach) and counter-doublers (Branching Evolution, Innkeeper's Talent). Protect Zaxara with Lightning Greaves/Swiftfoot Boots.
2. Mid-Game Engine (Turns 4-7): Cast Zaxara and deploy key X-cost spells:
   • Token Generation: Hydroid Krasis, The Goose Mother, Genesis Hydra for value.
   • Board Development: Voracious Hydra, Primordial Hydra for threats.
   • Card Draw: Blue Sun's Zenith, Finale of Revelation to refuel.
3. Win Condition Execution (Turns 5-8):
   • Combat: Use Herald of Secret Streams to make massive hydras unblockable. Kalonian Hydra doubles counters for lethal swings.
   • Direct Damage: Cast Exsanguinate for X=15+ to drain the table.
   • Combo: Generate infinite mana with Selvala, Heart of the Wilds + Staff of Domination (using a hydra's power), then win with any X-spell.
   • Value Lock: Resolve Villainous Wealth to steal opponents' win cons.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color fixing), at least one ramp spell, and Zaxara or an early enabler (e.g., Kami of Whispered Hopes, Selvala, Heart of the Wilds). Prioritize hands with protection (Heroic Intervention) or a counter-doubler against interaction-heavy pods. Avoid hands lacking ramp or with only high-CMC spells.

Key Tips:

• Maximize X-Value: Cast X-spells after counter-doublers like Unbound Flourishing or The Earth Crystal resolve. Wilderness Reclamation enables double-spell turns.
• Protect Critical Pieces: Use March of Swirling Mist to phase out Zaxara or key hydras in response to removal. Repulsive Mutation counters threats while buffing creatures.
• Recover from Setbacks: The Ozolith preserves counters after board wipes. Trailtracker Scout recurs key permanents.
• Leverage Mana Scaling: Elementalist's Palette and Kami of Whispered Hopes provide exponential mana for X-spells.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board Wipes: Mass removal (e.g., Blasphemous Act) cripples the token-based strategy with limited recovery outside The Ozolith.
• Anti-Token/ETB Hate: Torpor Orb/Hushbringer nullify Zaxara's token generation and ETB synergies (e.g., Hydroid Krasis).
• Commander Reliance: Zaxara removal severely hampers mana acceleration and token production.

Moderate

• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace disrupts recursion from Trailtracker Scout and Genesis Hydra.
• Counter Removal: Path to Exile/Swords to Plowshears on key hydras resets growth investments.
• Stax Effects: Rule of Law limits multiple X-spell turns; Blood Moon strains the mana base.

Minor

• Hand Disruption: Targeted discard can remove key combo pieces but is mitigated by draw engines.
• Flying Threats: Struggles against evasive armies without Curse of the Swine or blockers.

Most Important Cards:

• Unbound Flourishing (Doubles X-values and copies spells)
• Selvala, Heart of the Wilds (Infinite mana combo piece, explosive ramp)
• Doubling Season (Token/counter multiplier)
• The Great Henge (Card draw, acceleration, counter synergy)
• Branching Evolution (Counter doubler)
• Exsanguinate (Primary life-drain win condition)
• Herald of Secret Streams (Combat win enabler)
• Zaxara, the Exemplary (Core engine)
• Hydroid Krasis (Value X-spell: draw, life, body)
• Voracious Hydra (Scalable threat/removal)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Capable of T5-6 wins via infinite mana combos or massive Exsanguinate, accelerated by Zaxara and Selvala.

Resilience: 5/10

• Limited protection beyond Heroic Intervention; relies heavily on Zaxara staying alive. Recursion is sparse, making recovery from wipes difficult.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong ramp and card draw (e.g., The Great Henge, Blue Sun's Zenith) ensure access to X-spells, but lacks tutors for specific combo pieces.

Interaction: 6/10

• Efficient counterspells (Counterspell, Condescend) and removal (Assassin's Trophy, Curse of the Swine), but lacks board wipes beyond Black Sun's Zenith.

Rating Justification:

This deck achieves T5-6 wins consistently through explosive X-spells and combos, aligning with the "Focused" tier (6.0-6.5). However, its reliance on Zaxara and vulnerability to disruption lowers resilience, preventing higher optimization.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5