Overview:

This mono-green deck leverages Kona, Rescue Beastie's Survival mechanic to cheat high-impact permanents into play during the second main phase. The strategy revolves around ramping into Kona, tapping it through combat or utility effects (e.g., Saruli Caretaker, Jaspera Sentinel), and deploying massive threats like Craterhoof Behemoth, Zopandrel, Hunger Dominus, or Altanak, the Thrice-Called ahead of curve. Secondary win conditions include combat overrun effects, monarch-based value engines, and landfall synergies. Kona acts as the central enabler, making commander protection critical, though the deck can pivot to hard-casting threats with its robust ramp package.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana accelerants (Llanowar Elves, Fyndhorn Elves, Wild Growth, Sol Ring, Utopia Sprawl) and tap enablers (Saruli Caretaker, Jaspera Sentinel, Holdout Settlement). Prioritize casting Kona by turn 3-4.
2. Activate Kona (Turns 4-6): Attack with Kona or use tap abilities to trigger Survival. Cheat game-enders like Craterhoof Behemoth, Terastodon, or Zopandrel, Hunger Dominus into play. Protect Kona with Swiftfoot Boots, Tamiyo's Safekeeping, or Tyvar's Stand.
3. Value & Recovery (Mid-Game): Use card advantage engines (Guardian Project, Greater Good, Garruk's Uprising) to refill. Recur key pieces with Bala Ged Recovery or Altanak, the Thrice-Called. Leverage monarch (Regal Behemoth, Dawnglade Regent) for sustained draw.
4. Win Condition Execution:
   • Combat Overrun: Deploy Craterhoof Behemoth, Thunderfoot Baloth, or Zopandrel, Hunger Dominus to amplify board presence. Use Glorious Sunrise for trample or mana bursts.
   • Stompy Beatdown: Overwhelm with high-power creatures like Altanak, the Thrice-Called (9/9 trample) or Giant Ankheg (8/8 with ward).
   • Landfall/Token Swarm: Utilize Overlord of the Hauntwoods or Sandwurm Convergence to generate token armies.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3+ lands, including at least one green source.
• Prioritize early ramp (1-2 CMC dorks/auras) and a Kona-tapping enabler (e.g., Jaspera Sentinel).
• Include at least one high-impact cheat target or card draw engine if possible.
• Avoid hands lacking ramp or with only high-CMC spells.

Key Tips:

• Protect Kona: Equip Swiftfoot Boots pre-combat. Hold Tamiyo's Safekeeping/Tyvar's Stand for removal responses.
• Sequence Cheats: Prioritize permanents with immediate impact (e.g., Craterhoof Behemoth > Terastodon for board control).
• Monarch Synergy: Use Regal Behemoth for mana doubling and Dawnglade Regent for hexproof.
• Recursion: Altanak, the Thrice-Called retrieves key lands like Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx. Bala Ged Recovery grabs combo pieces.
• Utility Lands: Mosswort Bridge hides win-cons; Myriad Landscape fixes mana.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander Reliance: Kona removal cripples the cheat engine, forcing slow hard-casting of high-CMC threats.
• Board Wipe Vulnerability: Lacks mass recursion; recovery is slow after wipes (e.g., Wrath of God).
• Anti-Tap Effects: Opposition Agent/Linvala, Keeper of Silence disable Kona's Survival trigger and mana dorks.

Moderate

• Graveyard Hate: Disrupts Bala Ged Recovery, Altanak, and Season of Gathering recursion.
• Artifact/Enchantment Focus: Key pieces like Swiftfoot Boots, Emerald Medallion, and Greater Good are soft to mass removal.

Minor

• Limited Stack Interaction: Minimal counterspells; relies on combat tricks like Obscuring Haze for protection.
• Flying Threats: Few reach creatures; Sandwurm Convergence is the primary defense.

Most Important Cards:

• Kona, Rescue Beastie (Primary cheat engine)
• Craterhoof Behemoth (Primary combat finisher)
• Greater Good (Card draw & sacrifice outlet)
• Zopandrel, Hunger Dominus (Power doubler & finisher)
• Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx (Mana amplification)
• Swiftfoot Boots (Commander protection)
• Guardian Project (Card advantage engine)
• Regal Behemoth (Mana doubling & monarch)
• Altanak, the Thrice-Called (Graveyard recursion)
• Garruk's Uprising (Trample & card draw)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can cheat game-winning threats as early as turn 4-5 with Kona, but relies on combat for wins, typically closing around turns 7-8.

Resilience: 5/10

• Protection spells and recursion provide some recovery, but heavy commander dependence and slow board rebuilds after wipes are significant liabilities.

Consistency: 7/10

• Abundant ramp and card draw (e.g., Greater Good, Return of the Wildspeaker) ensure access to key pieces, though tutor density is moderate.

Interaction: 4/10

• Spot removal (Beast Within, Kogla, the Titan Ape) and combat tricks (Obscuring Haze) are present but lack versatility against non-creature threats.

Rating Justification:

The deck leverages efficient ramp and Kona's cheat ability to threaten wins via combat around turns 7-8, aligning with Focused tiers. However, its vulnerability to commander removal and board wipes limits resilience, preventing higher optimization.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0