Overview:

This Azorius deck helmed by Elminster focuses on scry synergies to enable cost reduction for impactful instants/sorceries while generating Faerie Dragon tokens. The strategy leverages planeswalker loyalty abilities, token swarms, and big-mana payoffs like Approach of the Second Sun and Omniscience. Elminster serves as both the engine (through scry-triggered discounts) and a win condition enabler via token generation, with Displacer Kitten providing flicker synergy to multiply his activations.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy scry engines like Sigiled Starfish, Elvish Mariner, and Netherese Puzzle-Ward. Establish mana rocks (Sol Ring, Azorius Signet) and cost reducers (Sapphire Medallion, Wizards of Thay).
2. Midgame Value (Turns 5-7): Cast Elminster and activate his +2 to sculpt draws. Use discounted spells like Foresee or Ugin's Insight to dig deeper. Generate Faerie Dragons via Elminster's -3 or Ancient Gold Dragon.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 8+):
   • Approach Combo: Cast Approach of the Second Sun, then use scry effects to redraw it within 1-2 turns.
   • Token Overload: Amplify Faerie Dragons with Intangible Virtue and Archangel of Tithes.
   • Omniscience Payoff: Resolve Omniscience to free-cast game-ending spells like Aminatou's Augury or Mnemonic Deluge.
   • Displacer Kitten Loops: Flicker Elminster or Spark Double clones for repeated scry triggers and token generation.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands and at least one scry engine or mana rock.
• Prioritize early plays like Authority of the Consuls, Sigiled Starfish, or Arcane Signet.
• Look for payoff cards like Oath of Teferi or Displacer Kitten in slower metas.

Key Tips:

• Time Elminster's -3 ability with high MV cards revealed through scry for maximum token output.
• Use Lost Isle Calling to convert scry triggers into extra turns once 7+ verse counters are accumulated.
• Displacer Kitten can reset Elminster's loyalty or dodge removal while triggering scry-based cost reductions.
• Study Hall provides color fixing and scales scry value with commander tax payments.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Minimal fast interaction (only 3 counterspells) struggles against early combo decks
• Heavy reliance on Elminster's survival for cost reduction engine

Moderate

• Board wipes cripple token strategies and reset scry-engine creatures
• Graveyard hate disrupts Mnemonic Deluge and Ascend from Avernus recursion

Minor

• Limited artifact/enchantment removal beyond Heliod's Intervention
• High MV spells become dead cards if Elminster is repeatedly removed

Most Important Cards:

• Elminster (Core engine: scry synergy & token generation)
• Displacer Kitten (Flicker enabler for planeswalker reset/ETB triggers)
• Approach of the Second Sun (Primary win condition)
• Omniscience (Game-ending payoff for late-game)
• Oath of Teferi (Doubles loyalty activations, enables flicker chains)
• Netherese Puzzle-Ward (Scalable scry engine with card draw potential)
• Mnemonic Deluge (Late-game spell recursion bomb)
• Lost Isle Calling (Converts scry into card advantage/extra turns)
• Authority of the Consuls (Slows opponents, synergizes with token strategy)
• Rite of Replication (Token multiplier for combat/clone wins)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can threaten wins via Approach or Omniscience around T8-10, but requires significant setup and lacks fast mana.

Resilience: 4/10

• Limited protection for Elminster beyond Deification, though Crystal Barricade provides some coverage. Recursion exists but is slow.

Consistency: 6/10

• Numerous scry effects and card draw (Ancient Silver Dragon, Ugin's Insight) provide filtering, but lacks high-impact tutors.

Interaction: 3/10

• Reactive spells like Bane's Contingency and Guiding Bolt are situational. No board wipes beyond Austere Command.

Rating Justification:

The deck demonstrates focused casual play patterns with a clear scry-to-win strategy, but its T8-10 win clock and vulnerability to early disruption place it below optimized tiers. While capable of explosive turns with Omniscience or Approach, the reliance on commander synergy and slow payoff deployment limits its ceiling.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5