Overview:

This Zimone, Paradox Sculptor deck combines +1/+1 counter synergies with artifact-based mana acceleration to create a high-powered engine that can generate infinite mana and win through card draw combos or overwhelming creature threats. The strategy leverages Zimone's counter-doubling ability alongside powerful stax elements and efficient tutors to execute game-ending combinations.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck aims to:

1. Ramp Explosively: Utilize fast mana artifacts (Mana Vault, Grim Monolith) and land tutors (Three Visits, Skyshroud Claim) to accelerate into Zimone by turn 2-3.
2. Counter Synergy: Deploy +1/+1 counter multipliers (Doubling Season, Branching Evolution) alongside creatures like Kami of Whispered Hopes to generate exponential mana.
3. Infinite Mana Combos: Use Basalt Monolith/Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy interactions or Thrasios, Triton Hero to draw the deck and win with Laboratory Maniac.
4. Stax Backup: Deploy Counterbalance/Seedborn Muse locks while assembling combos.

Key Lines:

• T1: Land + Mana Crypt -> T2 Zimone + Training Grounds
• Transmute Artifact sacrificing a Treasure into The Great Henge
• Infinite mana via Basalt Monolith + Kinnan -> Draw deck with Thrasios

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2 lands + fast mana (Chrome Mox, Sol Ring)
• Prioritize hands containing Training Grounds or Seedborn Muse
• Reject hands without early ramp or color fixing

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander Dependency: 3+ removals on Zimone cripples counter-doubling engine
• Artifact Vulnerability: Relies heavily on noncreature mana sources vulnerable to Null Rod effects

Moderate

• Graveyard Reliance: Key recursion via Eternal Witness disruptable by exile effects
• Counter Synergy: The Ozolith and counter payoffs are prime removal targets

Minor

• Limited Board Wipes: Only 3 creature sweepers maindeck
• Life Total Pressure: Mana base includes painlands (Ancient Tomb, City of Brass)

Most Important Cards:

• Training Grounds
• Seedborn Muse
• Thrasios, Triton Hero
• Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy
• Doubling Season
• Mana Vault
• Transmute Artifact
• The Great Henge
• Counterbalance
• Laboratory Maniac

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10
Can generate infinite mana as early as T3 with perfect draws (T1 Mana Vault -> T2 Kinnan -> T3 Basalt Monolith activation).

Resilience: 7/10
12 free/protection spells (Fierce Guardianship, Heroic Intervention) but folds to early stax on artifacts.

Consistency: 9/10
14 tutors (Finale of Devastation, Whir of Invention) and 10+ card draw engines ensure combo access.

Interaction: 8/10
9 counterspells (4 free) and 5 targeted removal, but lacks mass permanent removal.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates cEDH-viable speed with multiple T3 win lines and robust protection but lacks the redundancy of top-tier cEDH decks. The presence of high-impact stax pieces and compact wincons pushes it above casual optimization.

Power level: 8.0-8.5