Overview:

This deck leverages Cynette, Jelly Drover to generate flying tokens and amplify their power through cloning, flicker effects, and synergistic support. The strategy focuses on incremental value from enter-the-battlefield (ETB) triggers and flying tribal synergies, aiming to overwhelm opponents with an aerial army. While lacking infinite combos, it employs redundancy in token duplication and protection to sustain its game plan.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck combines flying token generation with cloning and flicker effects to build an evasive board state. Key lines include:

• Token Proliferation: Cynette creates 1/1 Jellyfish tokens on entry/death, amplified by Gravitational Shift (+2/+0 to fliers) and Mirror Box (legend rule mitigation/stat boosts).
• Value Recycling: Flicker engines like Thassa, Deep-Dwelling, Conjurer's Closet, and Displacer Kitten reset ETBs on clones (Spark Double, Phantasmal Image) and utility creatures (Spellstutter Sprite).
• Win Conditions: Overwhelm via flying tokens buffed by Cynette/Gravitational Shift, steal games with Notorious Throng extra turns, or outvalue opponents with Bident of Thassa/Curiosity Crafter draws.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands and early plays like Fellwar Stone or Vedalken Aethermage.
• Prioritize turn 3-4 enablers: Sapphire Medallion, Panharmonicon, or Cynette.
• Avoid hands without blue sources or delayed flicker payoffs.

Key Tips:

• Use Teferi's Time Twist/Slip Out the Back to protect Cynette while generating additional tokens.
• Clone Curiosity Crafter or Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar to maintain card advantage.
• Time Spectral Deluge with Island count to bounce opposing threats.

Avoid Traps:

• Don't overextend into board wipes without March of Swirling Mist backup.
• Prioritize cloning value engines over generic creatures.
• Save counterspells for game-ending threats rather than early interaction.

Weaknesses:

Critical: None
Moderate:

• Reliant on board presence (vulnerable to wraths like Blasphemous Act)
• Limited graveyard recursion for key pieces
  Minor:
• Slow start against hyper-aggressive decks
• Weak to Cursed Totem-style effects disabling creature abilities

Most Important Cards:

• Thassa, Deep-Dwelling
• Panharmonicon
• Gravitational Shift
• Deadeye Navigator
• Sakashima the Impostor
• Notorious Throng
• Bident of Thassa
• Curiosity Crafter
• Cryptic Command
• Helm of the Host

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• No fast mana or T3-T4 combos. Primary win requires building a critical mass of tokens/clones by T8-10.

Resilience: 6/10

• Multiple flicker/blink protections (Dive Down, Slip Out the Back), counterspell backup (Counterspell, An Offer You Can't Refuse), and redundancy in cloning/flicker engines.

Consistency: 6/10

• Moderate card draw (Bident of Thassa, Curiosity Crafter) and limited tutors (Vedalken Aethermage, Personal Tutor). Synergy density ensures multiple paths to value.

Interaction: 7/10

• 8 counterspells (including Cryptic Command), bounce (River's Rebuke), and phasing (March of Swirling Mist). Lacks board wipes beyond Spectral Deluge.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at the Optimized Casual tier (5.0-5.5). It outpaces precons with focused synergies and interaction but lacks the speed/consistency of true combo decks. Key strengths mirror 5.5-level "overwhelming value" strategies, but its T8-10 win clock and vulnerability to resolved wraths prevent higher rankings. Comparable to upgraded precons with tuned interaction packages but without cEDH fast mana or compact wincons.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5