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Average CMC
Cost
Salt Score
Overview:
This Abzan (WBG) deck helmed by Betor, Ancestor's Voice focuses on life manipulation to fuel +1/+1 counter synergies and recursive value. The strategy balances life gain (via Soul Warden effects) with intentional life loss (Black Market Connections, Necrologia) to maximize Betor's end-step triggers for creature buffing and graveyard recursion. While lacking infinite combos, it leverages powerful synergies between counters, token generation, and reanimation to overwhelm opponents.
Primer:
Core Strategy:
- Life Engine Setup: Early turns establish life gain engines (Soul Warden, Elenda's Hierophant) and controlled life loss outlets (Black Market Connections, Keen Duelist).
- Counter Synergy: Cards like Branching Evolution and Kami of Whispered Hopes amplify +1/+1 counter distribution from Betor/Lathiel triggers.
- Recursive Threats: Graveyard tools (Reanimate, Priest of Fell Rites) recover key pieces like Gray Merchant of Asphodel or Eternal Witness.
- Win Conditions:
- Overwhelm with massive creatures (Nykthos Paragon, Vilis)
- Drain via Gary/Elenda
- Token swarms from Felisa/Tivash
Key Interactions:
- Spike Feeder + Triskelion: Sacrifice Spike to gain life/distribute counters, then use Triskelion as removal or finisher
- Gray Merchant of Asphodel + Recursion: Multiple ETBs through Reanimate effects
- Felisa, Fang of Silverquill + Counter Distribution: Death triggers create flying token army
Mulligan Priorities:
- Keep hands with 3 lands and at least 1 life engine (Soul Warden/Connections)
- Prioritize early ramp (Llanowar Elves, Cultivate) to cast Betor by T4
- Avoid hands without life gain/loss balance
Critical Sequencing:
- T1-T3: Deploy mana dorks/life engines
- T4-T5: Cast Betor with protection (Selfless Spirit)
- T6+: Maximize end-step triggers by timing life gain/loss
Weaknesses:
Critical:
- Heavy commander reliance (60% of strategy requires Betor)
- No graveyard protection vs exile effects
Moderate:
- Slow recovery from board wipes
- Limited countermagic for combo protection
Minor:
- Life total management complexity
Most Important Cards:
- Black Market Connections
- Gray Merchant of Asphodel
- Branching Evolution
- Reanimate
- Elenda, the Dusk Rose
- Nykthos Paragon
- Vilis, Broker of Blood
- Kami of Whispered Hopes
- Felisa, Fang of Silverquill
- Eerie Ultimatum
Attribute Ratings:
Speed: 5/10
- Goldfish win ~T8-9 through incremental value
- Fast mana limited to Sol Ring/Signet
Resilience: 4/10
- Vulnerable to commander removal/graveyard hate
- Some recursion but slow to rebuild
Consistency: 6/10
- Strong card draw (Rishkar's Expertise, Vilis)
- Multiple redundant life engines
Interaction: 5/10
- Targeted removal (Infernal Grasp, Feed the Swarm)
- Lacks counterspells/instant-speed protection
Rating Justification:
This deck operates at the upper end of Casual/Precon (4.0) but lacks the speed/protection of Optimized Casual (5.0). Its T8-10 win clock and vulnerability to common disruption align closest with 4.5 (Focused Casual) on the rubric. While more synergistic than precons, it doesn't reliably threaten T9 wins against tuned decks.
Power level: 4.0 - 4.5
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