Overview:

This Selvala, Explorer Returned deck is a GW combo/parley engine focused on generating infinite mana through untap synergies and converting it into game-winning effects. The commander serves as both a mana accelerator and card advantage engine, enabling explosive turns through her parley ability. The primary win conditions involve infinite untap loops with Staff of Domination/Umbral Mantle or Ashaya, Soul of the Wild land synergies, feeding into Walking Ballista or combat overruns. Selvala's unique parley ability provides both fuel and acceleration while offering political advantages through group draw.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana dorks (Llanowar Elves, Birds of Paradise) and untap enablers (Quirion Ranger, Wirewood Symbiote). Use Chrome Mox/Utopia Sprawl for explosive starts.
2. Engine Activation (Turns 3-5): Cast Selvala with protection (Grand Abolisher, Destiny Spinner). Use her parley ability to dig for combo pieces while generating mana.
3. Infinite Mana Combos:
   • Staff of Domination: With Selvala producing 3+ mana per activation, use Staff's untap ability to create infinite mana/life/card draw.
   • Ashaya + Quirion Ranger: Make creatures into Forests with Ashaya, then use Ranger's bounce-untap ability for infinite landfall/untap triggers.
4. Win Conversion:
   • Pump infinite mana into Walking Ballista
   • Use Finale of Devastation X=10+ with Concordant Crossroads
   • Generate infinite life with Staff/Selvala loops

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including green sources
• Prioritize 1-2 mana accelerants (dorks/Wild Growth)
• Look for untap enablers (Wirewood Symbiote, Vitalize) or combo pieces
• Avoid hands without green mana or excessive high-CMC cards

Key Tips:

• Use Seedborn Muse to untap Selvala during opponents' turns for maximum parley value
• Gaea's Cradle becomes absurd with the deck's creature density - protect it with Boseiju, Who Endures
• Swift Reconfiguration can neutralize threats while preserving your key creatures
• Silence/Flawless Maneuver protects critical combo turns

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Complete shutdown from Cursed Totem/Linvala, Keeper of Silence (disables all creature-based mana)
• Heavy reliance on Selvala - multiple removals cripple the engine
• Board wipes devastate the creature-heavy strategy

Moderate

• Rule of Law effects limit combo potential
• Graveyard hate disrupts Eternal Witness/Regrowth recursion
• Collector Ouphe nullifies artifact-based combos

Minor

• Limited stack interaction beyond protection spells
• Life gain strategies outpace non-infinite damage

Most Important Cards:

• Selvala, Explorer Returned (Engine centerpiece)
• Staff of Domination (Primary combo enabler)
• Ashaya, Soul of the Wild (Combo piece & synergy engine)
• Walking Ballista (Primary win condition)
• Gaea's Cradle (Mana explosion)
• Seedborn Muse (Untap value multiplier)
• Finale of Devastation (Tutor & win condition)
• Chord of Calling (Creature tutor at instant speed)
• Concordant Crossroads (Haste enabler for combo turns)
• Grand Abolisher (Combo turn protection)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10
Capable of T3-4 wins with perfect draws (Selvala + Staff + 3+ creatures), regularly threatens T5-6 victories through efficient tutoring.

Resilience: 6/10
Multiple protection spells (Heroic Intervention, Veil of Summer) and creature recursion, but heavily commander-reliant and vulnerable to layered disruption.

Consistency: 7/10
Strong tutor density (11 tutors) and Selvala's card draw smooths gameplay, but some combo pieces are irreplaceable.

Interaction: 5/10
Efficient targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Beast Within) and stax elements (Endurance), but limited countermagic for protecting combos.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH-adjacent speeds with multiple T3-4 win lines and strong tutoring, but its commander dependency and vulnerability to common stax pieces prevent full cEDH viability. The balance between explosive potential and fragility places it in high-powered casual territory.

Power level: 7.5 - 8.0