Overview:

This mono-blue deck helmed by The Mindskinner focuses on milling opponents through damage replacement and incremental mill triggers. The commander converts all damage from your sources into mill (scaled by damage prevented), enabling a unique "combat mill" strategy. Key synergies include Undead Alchemist for zombie generation/mill recursion, Bruvac the Grandiloquent for mill doubling, and Fraying Sanity for exponential graveyard erosion. Secondary control elements with bounce/counterspells protect the fragile commander and stall opponents.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-4): Deploy mill engines like Ruin Crab, Mesmeric Orb, or Drowned Secrets. Use Trinket Mage to fetch Tormod's Crypt/Grafdigger's Cage against graveyard decks. Protect The Mindskinner with Swiftfoot Boots, Eel Umbra, or Slip Out the Back.
2. Midgame Pressure (T5-7): Cast The Mindskinner (prioritize haste via Crashing Drawbridge). Attack unblocked to mill 10+ cards per hit. Amplify with Bruvac the Grandiloquent (20+ mill per hit) or Undead Alchemist (zombie generation). Use Mystic Confluence/Counterspell to protect key pieces.
3. Late-Game Closure: Activate Fraying Sanity for exponential mill scaling. Leverage Drown in Dreams/Into the Story for card advantage. Deploy Flood of Tears to reset boards while preserving your key enchantments/artifacts.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 Islands and early mill engines (Ruin Crab, Mesmeric Orb).
• Prioritize protection (Swiftfoot Boots, Siren Stormtamer) if The Mindskinner is in hand.
• Avoid hands lacking mill triggers or interaction against fast aggro.

Key Tips:

• Use Undead Alchemist to convert opponents' milled creatures into blockers while fueling further mill.
• Reenact the Crime can steal opponents' win conditions from their graveyard.
• Fireshrieker on The Mindskinner enables double-strike mill (20+ cards per attack with Bruvac).

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander-dependent strategy: Repeated removal of The Mindskinner cripples the primary win condition.
• Minimal ramp (only Arcane Signet/Silver Myr) slows commander recasts.

Moderate

• Vulnerable to graveyard recursion decks despite hate pieces (opponents may benefit from mill).
• Limited board presence struggles against wide token strategies.

Minor

• Low creature count reduces Keep Watch/Flow of Knowledge effectiveness.
• No infinite mill combos; relies on incremental damage-triggered mill.

Most Important Cards:

• The Mindskinner (Primary mill engine)
• Bruvac the Grandiloquent (Mill amplifier)
• Undead Alchemist (Zombie generator/mill recursion)
• Fraying Sanity (Exponential mill scaling)
• Mesmeric Orb (Passive mill engine)
• Mystic Confluence (Versatile protection/interaction)
• Drown in Dreams (Scalable mill/card draw)
• Siren Stormtamer (Commander protection)
• Flood of Tears (Board reset with upside)
• Grafdigger's Cage (Graveyard hate)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can threaten T7-9 wins via commander damage-mill with ideal setups (Bruvac + hasted Mindskinner), but lacks fast combo finishers.

Resilience: 4/10

• Limited protection beyond counterspells; heavy reliance on a fragile commander reduces recovery potential.

Consistency: 5/10

• Moderate tutor density (Trinket Mage, card draw), but key pieces lack redundancy (only 1 Bruvac/Fraying Sanity).

Interaction: 6/10

• Strong countermagic suite (Counterspell, Saw It Coming, Wash Away) and bounce (Evacuation, Aetherize), but minimal permanent removal.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a focused casual build with a unique combat-mill strategy, capable of T7-9 wins under ideal conditions but heavily reliant on an unprotected commander. While interaction is above precon levels, consistency and resilience limitations cap its power.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5