Overview:

Elminster is a planeswalker-centric control deck leveraging scrying synergies, extra turns, and planeswalker value to dominate late-game. The strategy focuses on ramping into high-impact spells, protecting key pieces with counterspells, and using stax elements to slow opponents. Win conditions include overwhelming with planeswalker ultimates, faerie dragon tokens from Elminster's -3, and chaining extra turns.

Primer:

Core Strategy: This deck aims to control the early game with stax (Reidane, God of the Worthy, Baird, Steward of Argive) and counterspells while ramping into Elminster and planeswalkers. Key phases:

• Setup: Use Smothering Tithe, Rhystic Study, and artifact ramp to accelerate into Elminster and planeswalker tutors like Djeru, With Eyes Open.
• Value Engine: Activate Elminster’s +2 to fuel cost reduction for extra turn spells (Time Stretch, Temporal Mastery) or board wipes (Farewell, Supreme Verdict). Proliferate with Karn's Bastion to accelerate planeswalker ultimates.
• Win Conditions: Teferi, Temporal Archmage’s emblem enables instant-speed planeswalker activations to chain extra turns. Ichormoon Gauntlet provides an alt-win via proliferated ultimates. The Mightstone and Weakstone pairs with Urza, Lord Protector for late-game dominance.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands, early ramp (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet), and at least 1 interaction piece.
• Prioritize setups enabling T4 Elminster with protection (Force of Will, Teferi’s Protection).

Key Tips:

• Time board wipes to protect planeswalkers from creature swarms.
• Use Teferi, Time Raveler to cast sorcery-speed extra turns as instants.
• Spark Double non-legendary copies of Teferis for double activations.

Avoid Traps:

• Overcommitting planeswalkers without countermagic backup.
• Casting high-CMC sorceries without Elminster’s scry discount.

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Vulnerable to aggressive creature decks (limited early blockers).
• Relies on 3+ key planeswalkers with minimal recursion (exile effects cripple the deck).

Moderate:

• Struggles against Drannith Magistrate/Rule of Law effects.
• Blood Moon disrupts Urza land synergy.

Minor:

• The One Ring’s cumulative life loss can become dangerous.

Most Important Cards:

• Teferi, Temporal Archmage
• Ichormoon Gauntlet
• The One Ring
• Smothering Tithe
• Rhystic Study
• Mana Drain
• Time Stretch
• Farewell
• Urza, Lord Protector
• Teferi’s Protection

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Extra turns and cost reduction enable T7-8 wins via planeswalker ultimates or token swarms. Lacks T3-4 combos.

Resilience: 7/10

• 10+ counterspells and Teferi’s Protection protect key plays. Recovers slowly from multiple board wipes.

Consistency: 6/10

• Strong draw/scry engines but only 3 tutors (Enlightened Tutor, Thalia's Lancers, Djeru).

Interaction: 8/10

• S-tier counters (Force of Will, Mana Drain) and A-tier removal (Cyclonic Rift, Swords to Plowshares).

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between "Optimized Casual" (5.5) and "Focused" (6.5) tiers. It has cEDH-level interaction but lacks the speed (no T3-4 wins) and combo redundancy of higher tiers. The planeswalker value engine and stax elements outperform precons but can’t consistently race fast combo decks.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.5