Overview:

This Bant (GWU) deck leverages Tidus, Yuna's Guardian to execute a synergistic +1/+1 counters strategy focused on combat damage triggers. The core plan involves deploying efficient creatures, rapidly accumulating counters via proliferate effects and counter-doublers like Doubling Season, and using Tidus's combat-phase abilities to redistribute counters and generate card advantage. Primary win conditions include combat damage with unblockable threats (enabled by Herald of Secret Streams), infinite turns with Sage of Hours, and alt-win enchantment Simic Ascendancy. Secondary combos involve generating infinite mana with Kami of Whispered Hopes + Freed from the Real/Pemmin's Aura to fuel Walking Ballista. Tidus acts as both an engine (enabling card draw/proliferation) and a counter-distribution tool, making him essential but vulnerable to removal.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Prioritize mana acceleration (Sol Ring, Nature's Lore, dorks like Biophagus) and counter-enablers (Hardened Scales, Pir, Imaginative Rascal). Deploy value engines like Esper Sentinel or Rhystic Study. Cast Tidus ASAP to enable combat triggers.
2. Counter Generation & Redistribution (Turns 3-5): Use proliferate (Lulu, Stern Guardian, Ripples of Potential) and counter-doublers (Zimone, Paradox Sculptor, Bristly Bill, Spine Sower) to amplify threats. Move counters during combat with Tidus to optimize damage triggers. Protect key pieces with phasing (Slip Out the Back) or hexproof (Slippery Bogbonder).
3. Win Condition Execution (Turns 4-7+):
   • Combat: Deploy Herald of Secret Streams to make large creatures unblockable. Use Champion of Lambholt for evasion. Finish with Tidus's "Cheer" triggers drawing into finishers.
   • Combo: Assemble Sage of Hours + sufficient counters (from Tidus/doublers) for infinite turns. Alternatively, generate infinite mana via Kami of Whispered Hopes + untap aura, then win with Walking Ballista or Simic Ascendancy.
   • Alt-Win: Achieve 20 growth counters on Simic Ascendancy via prolific counter placement.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color fixing), early ramp, and at least one counter engine (e.g., Hardened Scales, Pir) or Tidus enabler (e.g., Biophagus).
• Prioritize hands containing protection (Slippery Bogbonder, Galadriel's Dismissal) or a combo piece if acceleration is present.
• Avoid hands lacking early plays or reliant solely on high-CMC cards without ramp.

Key Tips:

• Maximize Tidus Triggers: Use his counter-move ability before damage to enable "Cheer" draws/proliferate. Stack triggers to move counters to attackers for maximum damage.
• Protect Combos: Use phasing effects (Slip Out the Back, Ripples of Potential) to dodge removal targeting Sage of Hours or Kami of Whispered Hopes.
• Leverage Proliferate: Prioritize proliferating loyalty counters on Tamiyo, Field Researcher or The Wandering Emperor for added value.
• Recover Gracefully: Use The Ozolith to preserve counters after wipes. Hall of Heliod's Generosity recurs key enchantments.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board Wipes: Mass removal (e.g., Farewell) devastates counter-dependent creatures and engines. Limited mass recursion.
• Anti-Counter/Ability Hate: Cursed Totem/Linvala, Keeper of Silence shuts down mana dorks, Kami, and Sage of Hours.
• Combo Disruption: Lacks redundancy for key combo pieces (Sage/Kami); targeted removal cripples primary wincons.

Moderate

• Stack Interaction: Light counterspell suite struggles against faster combo decks or focused disruption.
• Graveyard Hate: Hinders Bala Ged Recovery and The Ozolith recursion.
• Stax Effects: Rule of Law/Archon of Emeria limits multiple spells per turn, slowing counter generation.

Minor

• Artifact/Enchantment Removal: Vulnerable to targeted removal hitting critical noncreatures (Doubling Season, Simic Ascendancy).
• Flying Threats: Limited reach/flying blockers outside specific cards like Kimahri, Valiant Guardian.

Most Important Cards:

• Sage of Hours (Primary combo wincon - infinite turns)
• Kami of Whispered Hopes (Mana engine/combo piece)
• Herald of Secret Streams (Combat win enabler - unblockable)
• Doubling Season (Counter acceleration)
• Simic Ascendancy (Alt-win condition)
• Hardened Scales (Counter multiplier)
• Pir, Imaginative Rascal (Counter doubling)
• The Ozolith (Counter recovery after wipes)
• Tamiyo, Field Researcher (Card draw, permanent tapping)
• Freed from the Real (Infinite mana enabler)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Capable of T4-T6 wins via Sage of Hours combo or explosive combat with Herald, but requires setup and lacks free interaction to protect early plays consistently.

Resilience: 5/10

• Has phasing, hexproof, and counter protection, but heavily reliant on board presence. Poor recovery from wipes; combos are fragile without redundancy.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong card draw (Tidus "Cheer," Rhystic Study, Sylvan Library) and proliferate ensure gas, but limited tutors for combo pieces reduce reliability.

Interaction: 5/10

• Efficient counterspells (Swan Song, Flusterstorm) and targeted removal (Summon: Yojimbo, Galadriel's Dismissal), but lacks board wipes beyond Farewell and minimal stack control for late-game threats.

Rating Justification:

This deck achieves Focused Competitive speed (T5-6 wins) through efficient combos and synergistic combat, but its vulnerability to disruption and reliance on key unprotected permanents prevent higher resilience scores. It operates optimally in high-power casual pods but falters against dedicated stax or fast combo.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0