Overview:

This Sultai deck leverages Kotis, the Fangkeeper as a resilient voltron-style commander enabling card advantage and potential free spell casting. The primary strategy revolves around connecting Kotis in combat to exile opponents' libraries and cast spells, amplified by equipment like Genji Glove for extra combats and Lightning Greaves for protection. Secondary themes include Dragon tribal synergies (e.g., Silumgar, the Drifting Death, Corroding Dragonstorm), +1/+1 counter proliferation (Roalesk, Apex Hybrid, Necrosynthesis), and graveyard/value engines (Quistis Trepe, Thrasios, Triton Hero). Kotis is essential as the primary card advantage engine and win condition via commander damage or stolen spells, but its low toughness makes it vulnerable to incidental damage despite indestructibility.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Prioritize ramping (Explore, Map the Wastes, Sultai Devotee) and deploying protection/equipment (Lightning Greaves, Snakeskin Veil, Saryth, the Viper's Fang). Use cantrips (Dreams of Laguna, Sibsig Appraiser) or tutors (Fountainport Bell) to find key pieces. Establish value engines like Thrasios, Triton Hero or Qiqirn Merchant.
2. Commander Deployment & Combat (Turns 4-7): Cast Kotis with protection ready. Equip Genji Glove, Sword of Fire and Ice, or use Tifa's Limit Break to enhance Kotis's power/toughness and enable combat damage triggers. Prioritize unblockable effects (Polymorphous Rush copying evasive creatures) or trample enablers (Blitzball Shot) to ensure hits. Each successful attack exiles cards and potentially casts free spells.
3. Win Condition Execution (Turns 7+):
   • Commander Damage: Boost Kotis with equipment/counters and leverage extra combats from Genji Glove for lethal commander damage.
   • Stolen Spells: Utilize high-impact spells cast for free via Kotis's trigger (e.g., opponents' bombs, your Emergent Ultimatum).
   • Dragon Swarm: Deploy dragons (Scavenger Regent, Dirgur Island Dragon) supported by Encroaching Dragonstorm/Corroding Dragonstorm for incremental value and board presence.
   • Combo/Synergy: Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER + sacrifice outlets for life drain; Roalesk, Apex Hybrid + proliferate engines for massive counters; Warden of the Grove + counter doublers for token armies.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands (including color fixing like Opulent Palace) and early ramp/protection.
• Prioritize hands containing Kotis enablers: Lightning Greaves, Genji Glove, Saryth, the Viper's Fang, or evasion sources (Polymorphous Rush).
• Include at least one early interaction piece (Negate, Heritage Reclamation) or card draw (Qiqirn Merchant, Dreams of Laguna).
• Avoid hands lacking ramp, protection, or a clear path to casting/protecting Kotis by turn 4-5.

Key Tips:

• Protect Kotis Relentlessly: Indestructible doesn't prevent -X/-X, sacrifice, bounce, or enchantment-based removal. Use Shore Up, Snakeskin Veil, Saryth, the Viper's Fang, and Greaves proactively.
• Maximize Combat Triggers: Genji Glove is critical for multiple Kotis triggers per turn. Sword of Fire and Ice provides card draw and removal alongside damage.
• Leverage Graveyard: Use Quistis Trepe to recur key instants/sorceries (e.g., Emergent Ultimatum, Season of Weaving). Fang, Fearless l'Cie rewards graveyard exile.
• Manage Mana: Fix colors early with lands like Chromatic Lantern and Thriving Moor. Mage-Ring Network helps cast high-CMC dragons/spells.
• Adapt Win Conditions: If Kotis is repeatedly answered, pivot to Dragon beats, Sephiroth life drain, or Avenger of Zendikar tokens with counter support.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Extremely vulnerable to non-damage removal: Bounce, -X/-X, sacrifice effects, and enchantments (e.g., Darksteel Mutation) bypass Kotis's indestructibility and cripple the core strategy. The deck lacks mass hexproof/shroud.
• Slow setup and mana base: Heavy tapland count (Dismal Backwater, Jungle Hollow, Thornwood Falls) delays Kotis deployment and combat execution, hindering speed.
• Inconsistent card advantage: Relies heavily on Kotis connecting for draws. Limited internal draw engines struggle to refill if Kotis is neutralized.

Moderate

• Susceptible to board wipes: While Kotis survives, supporting creatures/equipment and mana dorks do not. Recursion is limited (Awaken the Honored Dead is slow).
• Graveyard hate disrupts secondary plans: Quistis Trepe, Fang, Fearless l'Cie, and flashback/recursion become ineffective under Rest in Peace.
• Struggles against flying/evasive threats: Limited flying blockers make protecting life total difficult while setting up Kotis.

Minor

• Artifact/Enchantment reliance: Key equipment (Genji Glove, Sword of Fire and Ice) and value pieces (Corroding Dragonstorm) are vulnerable to targeted removal.
• Limited stack interaction: Counterspells (Negate, Arcane Denial) are narrow; lacks answers to resolved creatures or planeswalkers efficiently.

Most Important Cards:

• Kotis, the Fangkeeper (Primary card advantage engine and win condition)
• Genji Glove (Enables multiple combats for multiple Kotis triggers)
• Lightning Greaves (Essential protection and haste for Kotis)
• Saryth, the Viper's Fang (Protects Kotis with hexproof, enables untap shenanigans)
• Silumgar, the Drifting Death (Dragon synergy, board control via -1/-1)
• Quistis Trepe (Graveyard recursion for key instants/sorceries)
• Emergent Ultimatum (High-impact spell to potentially cast free via Kotis)
• Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER (Alternate win condition via life drain)
• Thrasios, Triton Hero (Mana sink and land ramp/card advantage)
• Polymorphous Rush (Provides evasion for Kotis or copies key threats)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 4/10

• The deck aims for T4-5 Kotis but often delays combat damage until T6-8 due to setup requirements. Wins typically occur T8-10 via commander damage or accumulated value.

Resilience: 5/10

• Indestructible commander and protection spells offer some durability, but heavy reliance on Kotis and vulnerability to non-damage removal limit recovery. Some recursion exists but is slow.

Consistency: 5/10

• Moderate ramp and card selection (surveil, cantrips) help find pieces, but lacks high-density tutors for Kotis enablers. Draw relies heavily on Kotis connecting or slow engines.

Interaction: 6/10

• Decent suite of counterspells, targeted removal (Heritage Reclamation, Return to Nature), and combat tricks (Winds of Qal Sisma). Lacks board wipes and efficient creature removal.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a Casual/Focused Casual level, aiming for wins via combat or value around T8-10. Its speed is hampered by a slow mana base and reliance on resolving/connecting with Kotis, while resilience suffers from critical vulnerabilities to common removal types. The presence of synergistic combos (Genji Glove + Kotis) and strong value engines (Thrasios, Quistis) elevates it above precons, but inconsistency and fragility cap its power.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5