Overview:

This Selesnya Voltron/combat damage deck leverages Sergeant John Benton's card draw engine to fuel hand-size scaling effects while protecting the commander through hexproof and indestructible effects. The strategy focuses on turning Benton into a massive threat through equipment/auras (Empyrial Plate, Belt of Giant Strength) and leveraging combat tricks to push through damage. While containing some interaction and protection, the deck lacks fast mana, efficient tutors, and alternate win conditions beyond combat damage.

Primer:

Core Strategy: This deck aims to deploy Sergeant John Benton by T3-4, enhance his power through hand-size scaling equipment/auras, and leverage his combat damage draw triggers to fuel further growth. Key phases:

1. Early Setup: Ramp with Farseek/Nature's Lore while establishing hand size with Reliquary Tower
2. Voltron Assembly: Equip Benton with power multipliers like Empyrial Armor and evasion from Rogue's Passage
3. Protection Cycling: Use Tamiyo's Safekeeping and Tyvar's Stand to maintain board presence
4. Win Conversion: Push lethal commander damage using double strike (Flaming Fist) and pump spells (Scale Up)

Mulligan Priorities:

• 3 lands with green/white sources
• 1 ramp spell + 1 protection effect
• Avoid hands without early commander deployment options

Key Tips:

• Time Benton's attack triggers to maximize card draw before casting pump spells
• Use Sundial of the Infinite to preserve temporary pump effects
• Psychosis Crawler converts card advantage into passive damage

Avoid Traps:

• Overcommitting auras without hexproof backup
• Casting Ancient Bronze Dragon without protection
• Holding interaction instead of progressing voltron plan

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• No backup wincons if commander is removed 3+ times
• Limited answers to flying/reach threats

Moderate:

• Slow recovery from board wipes
• Minimal graveyard recursion outside Nostalgic Dreams

Minor:

• Some protection overlap (hexproof/indestructible)

Most Important Cards:

• Empyrial Plate
• Bear Umbra
• Duelist's Heritage
• Key to the City
• Flaming Fist
• Tamiyo's Safekeeping
• Reliquary Tower
• Psychosis Crawler
• Tyvar's Stand
• Scale Up

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 4/10

• Goldfish kill potential T7-8 with ideal draws
• No fast mana or cost reducers

Resilience: 5/10

• 12 protection spells but weak to sacrifice effects
• Limited recursion for key pieces

Consistency: 4/10

• Only 2 land tutors and no equipment/aura tutors
• Relies on commander triggers for card draw

Interaction: 5/10

• 8 targeted removal, 3 board wipes
• Lacks stack interaction beyond Lapse of Certainty

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between Casual/Precon (T10-12 wins) and Focused Casual (T9-11). While it has better protection and card draw than precons, the lack of:

• Infinite combos
• Efficient tutors
• Alternate wincons
• Free interaction
  prevents it from reaching optimized tiers. The combat-focused plan and moderate interaction density align with 4.0-4.5 on the rubric.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5