Overview:

This Gandalf the White deck combines artifact/enchantment stax elements with combo finishes. The core strategy leverages Gandalf's triggered ability doubling and flash-enabled legendaries/artifacts to control the board while assembling the Heliod, Sun-Crowned + Walking Ballista infinite life/damage combo. Secondary win conditions include Approach of the Second Sun and stax locks with Rule of Law effects.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
Deploy stax pieces like Rule of Law and Deafening Silence early to slow opponents while using Gandalf's flash and trigger doubling to generate value. Transition to game-ending combos using artifact recursion (Brilliant Restoration, Sun Titan) and tutor effects (Oswald Fiddlebender). Key phases:

1. Early Setup: Cast mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet) and land accelerators (Archaeomancer's Map) under stax protection.
2. Midgame Control: Flash in hatebears (Hushbringer, Containment Priest) and double triggers from key permanents.
3. Combo Execution: Tutor/assemble Heliod-Ballista or cast Approach with protection from Grand Abolisher/Silence.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands + 2 accelerants/stax pieces
• Prioritize Pearl Medallion/Oswald Fiddlebender in opening hands
• Avoid keeping slow 6+ CMC spells without ramp

Key Tips:

• Cast Gandalf post-wipe to rebuild faster with doubled triggers
• Use Heliod's Punishment as a budget Darksteel Mutation alternative
• Mirage Mirror can copy critical stax pieces or mana doublers

Avoid Traps:

• Phyrexian Colossus is too slow without cheat effects
• Near-Death Experience lacks reliable enablers
• Winter Moon underperforms in monocolor

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• No graveyard hate beyond Stone of Erech
• Relies entirely on Heliod-Ballista for infinite damage

Moderate:

• Slow recovery from mass artifact/enchantment removal
• Limited card draw engines

Minor:

• Weak to land destruction (relies on Karoo/Arid Archway)

Most Important Cards:

• Heliod, Sun-Crowned
• Walking Ballista
• Oswald Fiddlebender
• Rule of Law
• Grand Abolisher
• Sun Titan
• Brilliant Restoration
• Sol Ring
• Approach of the Second Sun
• Deafening Silence

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• T8-10 combo potential with natural draws
• Minimal fast mana beyond Sol Ring

Resilience: 6/10

• 8 protection spells (Silence, Loran's Escape)
• 3 recursion engines for key pieces

Consistency: 4/10

• Only 3 tutors for combo pieces
• Relies on stax to buy time

Interaction: 6/10

• 8 targeted removal, 4 board wipes
• Lacks free counterspells

Rating Justification:

The deck sits between "Optimized Casual" (5.0) and "High-Power Casual" (5.5) on the rubric. It can threaten T8-10 wins through stax-protected combos but lacks the tutor density and fast mana of true optimized decks. While stronger than precons due to combo viability, it struggles against faster T6-7 strategies common at higher power levels.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5