Overview:

This deck leverages Gluntch's symmetrical resource generation to fuel a stax/prison strategy, using land destruction and resource denial (Armageddon, Static Orb, Possessed Portal) to lock opponents out while advancing its own board with efficient tutors and value creatures. Win conditions include incremental damage from stax-protected creatures, Ajani's poison emblem, and Luminarch Ascension tokens.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
Lock opponents out via layered stax (Deafening Silence, Drannith Magistrate), land destruction (Armageddon + Ramunap Excavator recursion), and resource denial (Smokestack, Possessed Portal). Gluntch's treasures and card draw offset symmetrical stax penalties. Key tutors (Enlightened Tutor, Worldly Tutor, Recruiter of the Guard) fetch lock pieces or silver bullets like Collector Ouphe. Win through protected creatures (Serra Ascendant, Archivist of Oghma) or Ajani, Sleeper Agent's poison emblem.

Mulligan Priorities:

• 2+ lands with at least one green/white source
• Early stax (Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, Blind Obedience) or ramp (Exploration, Birds of Paradise)
• Tutor or card draw engine (Sylvan Library, Esper Sentinel)

Key Tips

• Time land destruction: Cast Armageddon only with land recursion (Ramunap Excavator) or under Grand Abolisher.
• Leverage asymmetrical effects: Smothering Tithe offsets Possessed Portal's discard, Gluntch's treasures bypass Static Orb.
• Protect locks: Veil of Summer and Blacksmith's Skill shield key enchantments/artifacts.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• No fast wincons post-lock (relies on slow beats/poison)
• Vulnerable to mass enchantment/artifact removal (Bane of Progress)

Moderate

• Limited graveyard recursion outside lands
• High reliance on noncreature stax pieces

Minor

• Weak to flying/evasive threats (mitigated by Moat/Magus of the Moat)

Most Important Cards:

• Smokestack
• Possessed Portal
• Armageddon
• Enlightened Tutor
• Drannith Magistrate
• Collector Ouphe
• Ramunap Excavator
• Grand Abolisher
• Veil of Summer
• Sylvan Library

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10
Establishes soft locks by T4-5 but lacks T<7 definitive wins.

Resilience: 7/10
Redundant stax effects, instant-speed protection, and land recursion mitigate disruption.

Consistency: 8/10
12 tutors, 6+ card draw engines, and 3 land recursion sources ensure key pieces are found.

Interaction: 7/10
Efficient targeted removal (4 S-tier), stax-as-interaction, but limited board wipes.

Rating Justification:

The deck executes a focused stax strategy with high tutor density and robust protection but lacks cEDH-speed wins or unbreakable locks. Its ability to goldfish T7-8 effective wins through resource denial aligns with tier 6 benchmarks.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5