Overview:

This Ruby, Daring Tracker deck is a Gruul stompy strategy focused on deploying high-power creatures (primarily Dragons and Dinosaurs) to leverage Ruby's mana acceleration and combat buffs. The game plan involves ramping into threats with power 4+, using Ruby to generate additional mana for explosive turns, and winning through overwhelming combat damage amplified by double strike (Atarka, World Render), damage doublers (Angrath's Marauders), and extra combats (Full Throttle). Ruby serves as both an early ramp enabler and a scaling threat, though the deck functions adequately without her. Card draw engines like Elemental Bond and Garruk's Uprising sustain momentum by rewarding large creature deployment.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Cast Ruby on turn 2 using mana dorks (Hulking Raptor, Sol Ring) or land ramp (Migration Path). Prioritize ramping with spells like Explosive Vegetation or Ranger's Path to reach 4-6 mana. Deploy early enablers like Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma for cost reduction or Fires of Yavimaya for haste.
2. Midgame Threats (Turns 4-7): Drop high-impact creatures (e.g., Savage Ventmaw, Etali, Primal Storm, Thunderfoot Baloth). Use Ruby's mana ability post-attack to cast additional threats or draw spells (Rishkar's Expertise). Activate hideaway lands (Mosswort Bridge) if power 10+ is achieved.
3. Win Condition Execution (Turns 6-9):
   • Combat Overkill: Swing with boosted creatures using Kessig Wolf Run for trample/unblockable effects. Amplify damage via Angrath's Marauders or Atarka, World Render.
   • Extra Combats: Pair Savage Ventmaw's attack trigger mana with Full Throttle for multiple lethal combat phases.
   • Go-Wide Payoffs: Use The Skullspore Nexus to convert dying creatures into massive tokens, then buff with Thunderfoot Baloth.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands minimum (including at least one RG source like Rootbound Crag).
• Prioritize early ramp (Sol Ring, Hulking Raptor, Migration Path) or a turn 2 Ruby.
• Include at least one card draw engine (Elemental Bond, Drumhunter) or a finisher (Atarka, World Render, Full Throttle).
• Avoid hands with only high-CMC cards or no ramp.

Key Tips:

• Ruby Sequencing: Attack before casting other spells to maximize her mana generation. Use her +2/+2 buff to enable power-based draw triggers mid-combat.
• Protection Priority: Use Tyvar's Stand defensively on key enablers (Ruby, Goreclaw) or offensively for lethal trample damage.
• Recovery Plays: Recur creatures with Moldgraf Monstrosity or Ulvenwald Hydra after wipes. The Skullspore Nexus converts board wipes into token opportunities.
• Interaction Timing: Hold Beast Within/Klauth's Will for critical stax pieces or game-winning enemy combos. Use Sweltering Suns against go-wide strategies.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Severe Board Wipe Vulnerability: Minimal protection/recursion beyond Tyvar's Stand and Moldgraf Monstrosity. Wipes reset momentum catastrophically.
• Commander Reliance: Ruby's death significantly slows mana acceleration and combat scaling. No reliable haste sources beyond Fires of Yavimaya make recasting risky.
• Anti-Ramp Hate: Collector Ouphe or Null Rod cripples Sol Ring, Emerald Medallion, and Hulking Raptor.

Moderate

• Graveyard Disruption: Exiling effects (e.g., Bojuka Bog) hamper Moldgraf Monstrosity and Green Sun's Twilight recursion.
• Flying Threats: Limited reach/flying blockers outside Harbinger of the Hunt and Green Dragon.
• Combo Race: Minimal stack interaction struggles against faster combo decks.

Minor

• Artifact/Enchantment Focus: Heavy reliance on The Skullspore Nexus/Fires of Yavimaya makes them prime removal targets.
• Mana Flood: High land count (38) risks late-game dead draws despite card draw.

Most Important Cards:

• Ruby, Daring Tracker (Ramp enabler, combat scaling)
• Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma (Cost reduction, trample enabler)
• Savage Ventmaw (Mana burst for extra combats/big spells)
• Full Throttle (Primary win condition with Ventmaw)
• Atarka, World Render (Combat damage amplifier)
• Angrath's Marauders (Damage doubler for OTKs)
• Elemental Bond (Critical card draw engine)
• The Skullspore Nexus (Board wipe recovery, token threat)
• Rishkar's Expertise (Massive draw + free spell)
• Hulking Raptor (Early ramp, enables T3 Ruby + 4-power creature)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can threaten wins via combat or Ventmaw/Full Throttle by turns 7-9, but lacks fast mana/tutors for earlier consistency.

Resilience: 4/10

• Limited protection/recursion; heavily reliant on resolving key permanents without counterspells. Recovers poorly from wipes.

Consistency: 6/10

• Strong land count and ramp ensure mana stability. Multiple power-based draw sources find threats, but lacks tutors for specific combo pieces.

Interaction: 5/10

• Efficient artifact/enchantment removal (Vandalblast, Nature's Claim) and flexible answers (Beast Within, Klauth's Will), but minimal stack interaction or graveyard hate.

Rating Justification:

The deck demonstrates focused casual power with a clear combat-based plan and synergistic payoffs, capable of winning turns 7-9 through combat or Ventmaw combos. However, its vulnerability to disruption and slower clock compared to optimized lists place it below tuned Gruul builds. Speed and resilience align with the Casual/Focused Casual tier.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5