Overview:

This Sultai Hydra/X-Spell deck leverages Zaxara, the Exemplary as a critical engine and token generator. The primary strategy revolves around casting high-impact X-cost spells to create massive Hydra tokens amplified by +1/+1 counter doublers like Doubling Season and Branching Evolution, while utilizing mana acceleration to enable explosive turns. Zaxara serves as both a mana fixer and the core token producer, making it essential to the game plan. Secondary win conditions include overwhelming combat with unblockable Hydras (enabled by Herald of Secret Streams), direct life loss via Exsanguinate, or value theft with Villainous Wealth. The deck is highly vulnerable to commander removal, as Zaxara's absence severely hampers token generation and mana fixing.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Prioritize ramp (e.g., Sol Ring, Farseek, Selvala, Heart of the Wilds) and counter doublers (Branching Evolution, Innkeeper's Talent). Cast Zaxara ASAP for mana fixing.
2. Mid-Game Engine (Turns 4-7): Deploy key enablers like Unbound Flourishing or The Great Henge. Cast X-spells (e.g., Hydroid Krasis, Genesis Hydra) for value, generating massive Hydras. Use Wilderness Reclamation for double-spell turns.
3. Win Condition Execution:
   • Combat: Swing with giant, unblockable Hydras (via Herald of Secret Streams or Rogue's Passage).
   • X-Spell Finishers: Cast Exsanguinate for lethal life loss or Villainous Wealth to steal opponents' resources.
   • Infinite Mana: Pair Freed from the Real/Pemmin's Aura (not in list) with Zaxara for infinite mana → game-winning X-spell.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands (including color fixing), at least 1 ramp spell, and Zaxara or an early enabler (e.g., Selvala, Heart of the Wilds, Unbound Flourishing).
• Prioritize hands with X-spells if early ramp is present. Avoid hands lacking green mana or with only high-CMC cards.

Key Tips:

• Protect Zaxara: Equip Lightning Greaves/Swiftfoot Boots immediately. Save Heroic Intervention for board wipes.
• Sequence X-Spells: Cast non-token X-spells (e.g., Hydroid Krasis) before token-makers to maximize draw.
• Leverage Doublers: Unbound Flourishing doubles X-values and copies spells – prioritize casting it before big X-spells.
• Mana Efficiency: Use Selvala, Heart of the Wilds with large Hydras for explosive mana. Elementalist's Palette provides colored mana for X-costs.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander Dependency: Removing Zaxara cripples token generation and mana fixing, forcing inefficient recasts.
• Board Wipes: Mass removal (e.g., Damnation) resets Hydra army with minimal recursion.
• Anti-Token/Counters: Cursed Totem/Torpor Orb disable key abilities; The One Ring/Solemnity negate counters.

Moderate

• Stack Interaction: Limited counterspells struggle against fast combos (only Counterspell, Condescend).
• Artifact/Enchantment Hate: Loses to Bane of Progress targeting doublers (Doubling Season, Unbound Flourishing).

Minor

• Graveyard Hate: Mild impact (only Trailtracker Scout recursion).
• Flyers: Few reach sources; Mistcutter Hydra only situationally evasive.

Most Important Cards:

• Zaxara, the Exemplary (Token generation, mana fixing)
• Unbound Flourishing (Doubles X-values, copies X-spells)
• Selvala, Heart of the Wilds (Explosive mana with large Hydras)
• Doubling Season (Doubles Hydra tokens and +1/+1 counters)
• Branching Evolution (Doubles +1/+1 counters)
• Exsanguinate (Primary life-drain wincon)
• Herald of Secret Streams (Makes Hydras unblockable)
• The Great Henge (Card draw, ramp, counter synergy)
• Hydroid Krasis (Card draw, life gain, flying threat)
• Villainous Wealth (Alternative value-based wincon)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Capable of T6-7 wins with ideal ramp into Exsanguinate/Villainous Wealth, but lacks faster combos (e.g., Freed from the Real) and relies on incremental board buildup.

Resilience: 5/10

• Limited protection (only Heroic Intervention, boots) and minimal recursion. Recovers poorly from board wipes or commander lockdown.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong ramp package and card draw (The Great Henge, Hydroid Krasis) ensure access to X-spells, but lacks tutors for key doublers or Herald of Secret Streams.

Interaction: 4/10

• Minimal targeted removal/counterspells (Black Sun's Zenith, Condescend, Repulsive Mutation). Focuses on board development over disruption.

Rating Justification:

The deck achieves Focused power through efficient ramp and synergistic X-spell payoffs, threatening wins by T7-8 with combat or Exsanguinate. However, its reliance on Zaxara, vulnerability to interaction, and lack of fast combos or robust protection prevent higher optimization. Resilience and interaction scores constrain its ceiling.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5