Overview:

This Animar, Soul of Elements deck focuses on +1/+1 counter synergies and creature-based value, leveraging Animar's cost reduction to deploy massive threats like Koma, World-Eater and Protean Hulk. The strategy combines creature storm elements with landfall triggers (via Scute Swarm, Avenger of Zendikar) and explosive counter-based combos like All Will Be One + Animar's triggered ability. Animar is critical to the game plan, enabling both mana acceleration and serving as a scaling damage engine.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Ramp & Counter Setup (Turns 1-4): Cast Animar early using mana dorks (Deathbloom Gardener, Nightshade Dryad). Use low-CMC creatures like Wildwood Scourge and Taurean Mauler to build Animar's counters. Deploy key enablers like Branching Evolution or Temur Ascendancy.
2. Mid-Game Value (Turns 4-6): Cast discounted high-impact creatures (Protean Hulk, Ulvenwald Hydra) to trigger Animar's counter growth. Use Tatyova, Benthic Druid and Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait to draw off land drops.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 5-8):
   • Combat: Overwhelm with Koma, World-Eater tokens, Rampaging Baloths, or Craterhoof Behemoth-style finishers via Roar of Endless Song.
   • Combo: Pair All Will Be One with Animar's creature-casting triggers to deal escalating damage. Protean Hulk can fetch Benevolent Hydra + Wildwood Scourge for infinite counters.
   • Lock: Use Koma, World-Eater's Serpent tokens to stax opponents' permanents.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with Animar + 1-2 protection spells (Counterspell, An Offer You Can't Refuse).
• Prioritize early creatures that grow Animar's counters (Managorger Hydra, Fairgrounds Trumpeter).
• Ensure access to green mana for early ramp (Rampant Growth, Cultivate).

Key Tips:

• Use Protean Hulk to fetch Benevolent Hydra + Wildwood Scourge: Each counter placed on Hydra triggers Wildwood infinitely.
• All Will Be One turns every creature cast into direct damage once Animar has 3+ counters.
• Temur Battlecrier reduces spell costs further when controlling 4+ power creatures.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander Dependency: Animar removal resets cost reduction, crippling the deck's engine.
• Board Wipe Vulnerability: Lacks mass recursion; Praetor's Counsel is the only recovery tool.

Moderate

• Counter Interaction: The Ozolith/Doubling Season absent, limiting counter resilience.
• Artifact/Enchantment Reliance: Key pieces like Branching Evolution have minimal protection.

Minor

• Limited Stack Interaction: Only 3 counterspells and no free protection (e.g., Fierce Guardianship).

Most Important Cards:

• Animar, Soul of Elements (Engine/win condition)
• All Will Be One (Primary combo piece)
• Protean Hulk (Tutor/combo enabler)
• Branching Evolution (Counter multiplier)
• Temur Ascendancy (Haste/card draw)
• Koma, World-Eater (Stax/board presence)
• Scute Swarm (Scaling token generator)
• Avenger of Zendikar (Token synergy)
• Ulvenwald Hydra (Land fetch/scaling threat)
• Finale of Devastation (Tutor/overrun)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten wins via All Will Be One combos or Koma locks by T6-7, but lacks fast mana for earlier explosive starts.

Resilience: 5/10

• Heavily reliant on Animar staying alive; limited protection beyond 3 counterspells.

Consistency: 6/10

• Moderate tutor density (Protean Hulk, Finale) but lacks redundancy for key combo pieces like All Will Be One.

Interaction: 4/10

• Minimal removal (Bite Down, Imprisoned in the Moon) and only 3 counterspells.

Rating Justification:

This deck has focused combo potential and strong mid-game scaling but suffers from commander dependency and fragile interaction. Its T6-7 win capability and moderate consistency align with optimized casual tiers, while resilience issues prevent higher rankings.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0