Overview:

This Golgari token deck leverages Hazel of the Rootbloom as a central engine for explosive token generation and mana acceleration. The primary strategy focuses on creating vast armies of Squirrel, Pest, and other tokens using cards like Chatterfang, Squirrel General, Deep Forest Hermit, and Tendershoot Dryad, then converting token volume into win conditions through aristocrat drains (Nadier's Nightblade, Bastion of Remembrance), combat overruns (Beastmaster Ascension, Champion of Lambholt), or commander-enabled mana sinks. Hazel acts as both payoff (doubling Squirrels) and enabler (tapping tokens for mana), with "hidden commander" Chatterfang amplifying all token production. The deck exhibits moderate resilience through recursion (Scavenger's Talent, Mimic Vat) and card draw (Toski, Bearer of Secrets, Idol of Oblivion), but relies heavily on maintaining a critical mass of tokens.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Prioritize ramp (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Prosperous Innkeeper) and foundational token generators (Scute Swarm, Awakening Zone, Peregrin Took). Cast Hazel or Chatterfang early if possible.
2. Token Proliferation (Turns 3-6): Deploy key token doublers (Chatterfang, Academy Manufactor, Esika's Chariot) and engines (Tendershoot Dryad, Grist, the Hunger Tide). Use Rootcast Apprenticeship or Second Harvest for burst token creation. Activate Hazel's end-step copy ability targeting Squirrels for exponential growth.
3. Win Conversion (Turns 5-8+):
   • Aristocrat Drain: Sacrifice tokens to Plumb the Forbidden, Deadly Dispute, or Chatterfang's ability while Nadier's Nightblade, Mirkwood Bats, or Zulaport Cutthroat are in play.
   • Combat: Deploy Beastmaster Ascension, Champion of Lambholt, or Return of the Wildspeaker to swing with an overwhelming board. Use Helm of the Host on Hazel for exponential token copies.
   • Mana Sink: Tap tokens with Hazel for massive mana, then cast Breach the Multiverse, Full Flowering, or Giant Adephage.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including Golgari sources), at least one ramp piece, and one early token generator (e.g., Scute Swarm, Prosperous Innkeeper, Scurry Oak).
• Prioritize hands containing Chatterfang, Academy Manufactor, or a critical engine like Tendershoot Dryad.
• Avoid hands lacking token production or with only high-cost spells.

Key Tips:

• Maximize Token Value: Use Academy Manufactor to convert Food/Treasure triggers into triple tokens. Cryptolith Rite turns tokens into mana dorks. Sacrifice tokens to Skullclamp for card draw.
• Protect Engines: Hazel and Chatterfang are priority targets. Deploy Swarmyard for regeneration or Bastion of Remembrance for incidental value upon death.
• Synergistic Sacrifice: Time Plumb the Forbidden or Deadly Dispute when aristocrat payoffs (Mirkwood Bats, Nadier's Nightblade) are active. Use Saw in Half on high-value tokens like copies of Deep Forest Hermit.
• Recursion Lines: Scavenger's Talent Level 3 and Mimic Vat can recur key creatures. Osteomancer Adept enables graveyard casting with finality counters.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board Wipes: Mass removal (e.g., Damnation, Farewell) devastates token-dependent mana/win conditions with slow recovery.
• Token Haters: Cursed Totem/Torpor Orb disable abilities; Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite/Illness in the Ranks prevent token generation.
• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace/Leyline of the Void cripple recursion (Scavenger's Talent, Osteomancer Adept, Breach the Multiverse).

Moderate

• Spot Removal on Engines: Losing Chatterfang, Academy Manufactor, or Tendershoot Dryad significantly slows the game plan.
• Resource Denial: Collector Ouphe/Null Rod disable Treasure/Food synergies and artifact mana.
• Fast Combo Decks: Struggles to interact meaningfully before T6-7 against early combo wins.

Minor

• Flyers/Evasion: Limited reach/trample sources may struggle against aerial defenses.
• Life Payment Costs: Repeated use of Hazel's ability or Black Market Connections risks self-drain in prolonged games.

Most Important Cards:

• Chatterfang, Squirrel General (Token doubling, sacrifice outlet)
• Academy Manufactor (Triples token output from Food/Treasure/Clue sources)
• Hazel of the Rootbloom (Mana engine, token copier)
• Tendershoot Dryad (Recursive token generation, anthem effect)
• Nadier's Nightblade (Primary aristocrat drain)
• Skullclamp (Card draw engine via token sacrifice)
• Cryptolith Rite (Mana acceleration from tokens)
• Deep Forest Hermit (Mass Squirrel generation)
• Bastion of Remembrance (Drain effect, creates initial token)
• Plumb the Forbidden (Burst draw/sacrifice synergy)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can establish threatening boards by T5-6 and win via combat/aristocrats by T7-8, but lacks turbo mana or instant-win combos.

Resilience: 5/10

• Recursion (Mimic Vat, Scavenger's Talent) and card draw (Toski, Idol of Oblivion) aid recovery, but over-reliance on board presence makes it vulnerable to wipes.

Consistency: 7/10

• High density of token generators and synergistic payoffs ensures reliable strategy execution; tutors are limited but functional redundancy exists.

Interaction: 5/10

• Targeted removal (Assassin's Trophy, Putrefy, Maelstrom Pulse) handles threats, but lacks stack interaction and struggles against resolved enchantments/artifacts.

Rating Justification:

The deck demonstrates focused speed (T7-8 wins) through token synergies and efficient payoffs, aligning with the "Focused" tier (T7-8 benchmark). However, its vulnerability to board wipes and limited interaction prevent higher resilience scores, capping its ceiling below optimized lists.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5