Overview:

This Sultai deck leverages Zaxara, the Exemplary as a potent engine for X-spell synergy and Hydra tribal. The primary strategy revolves around casting high-impact X-cost spells to generate massive Hydra tokens via Zaxara while doubling +1/+1 counters for exponential growth. Secondary themes include counter proliferation, Hydra tribal synergies, and infinite mana combos using Zaxara's untap potential. Zaxara is essential as both a mana accelerator and token generator, making it vulnerable to removal but protected by equipment and hexproof. "Hidden commanders" like Unbound Flourishing and Doubling Season amplify the core strategy significantly.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet) or dorks (Birds of Paradise, Selvala, Heart of the Wilds). Use land ramp (Rampant Growth, Farseek) to fix colors. Prioritize casting Zaxara by turn 3-4.
2. Engine Activation (Turns 4-6): Cast X-spells like Hydroid Krasis or Animist's Awakening to generate Hydra tokens and value. Deploy counter doublers (Doubling Season, Branching Evolution, The Earth Crystal) to amplify tokens. Use Wilderness Reclamation for untap synergy.
3. Win Condition Execution (Turns 5-8):
   • Combat: Swing with massive Hydras made unblockable via Herald of Secret Streams.
   • Direct Damage: Cast Exsanguinate or Villainous Wealth with infinite/unbound mana.
   • Infinite Mana: Equip Zaxara with Pemmin's Aura/Freed from the Real (not listed but implied by Zaxara's tap ability) for infinite mana, enabling game-winning X-spells.
   • Draw Mill: Use Blue Sun's Zenith to deck opponents.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color-fixing), early ramp, and Zaxara or a tutor.
• Prioritize hands with protection (Heroic Intervention, Swiftfoot Boots) against removal-heavy pods.
• Avoid hands lacking ramp or color sources.

Key Tips:

• Protect Zaxara: Equip Lightning Greaves or Swiftfoot Boots immediately to safeguard your engine.
• Sequence Doublers: Cast counter doublers before X-spells for maximum token impact.
• Leverage Untap: Pair Wilderness Reclamation with instant-speed X-spells (e.g., Blue Sun's Zenith) for end-step threats.
• Tutor Wisely: Green Sun's Zenith/Finale of Revelation can fetch Selvala, Heart of the Wilds for ramp or Herald of Secret Streams for evasion.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander Dependency: Removing Zaxara repeatedly cripples token generation and mana acceleration.
• Anti-Synergy Stax: Cursed Totem/Linvala, Keeper of Silence disable Zaxara's mana ability and Hydra activations.
• Board Wipes: Mass removal (e.g., Damnation) devastates the board state with limited recursion.

Moderate

• Graveyard Hate: Disrupts recursion from Eternal Witness-like effects (not listed but common in Hydra decks).
• Counterspell Resilience: Limited protection for X-spells beyond Repulsive Mutation; high mana investment risks blowout.
• Artifact/Enchantment Removal: Targets key doublers (Doubling Season, Unbound Flourishing).

Minor

• Mana Base Fragility: Enters-tapped lands (e.g., Golgari Rot Farm) slow early turns.
• Combat Evasion: Relies on Herald of Secret Streams for unblockable; lacks alternatives if countered.

Most Important Cards:

• Zaxara, the Exemplary (Token generation, mana acceleration)
• Unbound Flourishing (Doubles X-values and copies X-spells)
• Doubling Season (Doubles Hydra tokens and +1/+1 counters)
• Selvala, Heart of the Wilds (Explosive mana with large Hydras)
• Exsanguinate (Primary life-drain win condition)
• Blue Sun's Zenith (Wincon via decking opponents)
• Herald of Secret Streams (Combat evasion enabler)
• The Great Henge (Card draw, counter synergy)
• Branching Evolution (Counter doubling)
• Heroic Intervention (Critical protection)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Capable of T5-7 wins via infinite mana combos or massive X-spells like Exsanguinate, accelerated by Zaxara and doublers.

Resilience: 5/10

• Moderate protection (hexproof, counterspells) and card draw, but heavily reliant on Zaxara and vulnerable to targeted disruption/board wipes.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong ramp package, multiple counter doublers, and tutors (Green Sun's Zenith, Finale of Revelation) ensure reliable access to key pieces.

Interaction: 6/10

• Efficient counterspells (Counterspell, Condescend), targeted removal (Curse of the Swine, Black Sun's Zenith), and combat tricks (Repulsive Mutation), but lacks stack interaction beyond blue.

Rating Justification:

This deck achieves T5-7 wins consistently through explosive ramp, X-spell synergy, and combo potential, aligning with the "Focused Competitive" tier. However, its reliance on Zaxara and vulnerability to stax/removal prevent higher resilience scores, capping its ceiling below cEDH.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0