Overview:

This Gruul deck leverages +1/+1 counters and exhaust-activated abilities to power out massive threats, using Redshift's explosive late-game ability to cheat permanents. While capable of explosive turns with cost reducers and power amplifiers, it lacks cEDH-level consistency and protection.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck aims to accelerate Redshift's power to enable its exhaust ability (T: Add X mana, X=power) while building towards the game-ending {10}{R}{G} exhaust to dump permanents. Key phases:

• Early Ramp: Use 1-2 mana dorks (Goblin Anarchomancer, Magus of the Candelabra) and cost reducers to cast high-power creatures.
• Power Scaling: Equip Belt of Giant Strength or Blackblade Reforged to Redshift, enabling massive mana generation and earlier exhaust activation.
• Payoff Turns: Deploy Etali, Primal Conqueror, Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger, or multiple hydras via Hydra Broodmaster using Redshift's exhaust or generated mana.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands + ramp (Cultivate, Sol Ring)
• Prioritize early power boosters (Hardened Scales, Rancor)
• Avoid hands without Redshift enablers or payoff cards

Key Tips:

• Sequence exhaust abilities carefully - many are one-time use
• Use Staff of Domination with high-power creatures for infinite untaps
• Protect Redshift with Swiftfoot Boots before activating critical exhausts

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Relies on commander surviving to enable key plays (0 protection beyond boots)
• No graveyard recursion for exiled exhaust abilities

Moderate:

• Limited stack interaction (only 3 instant-speed answers)
• Weak to sacrifice effects bypassing hexproof

Minor:

• Slow recovery from board wipes despite Heroic Intervention

Most Important Cards:

• Belt of Giant Strength
• Blackblade Reforged
• Agatha of the Vile Cauldron
• Staff of Domination
• Defiler of Vigor
• Hardened Scales
• Etali, Primal Conqueror
• Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger
• Magus of the Candelabra
• Hydra Broodmaster

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Goldfish win possible T5-6 via Aggravated Assault + high-power creatures
• Cheated Walking Ballista + counters can close games

Resilience: 4/10

• Minimal protection for key pieces
• Exhaust abilities become dead after activation

Consistency: 5/10

• Limited tutors (Beastrider Vanguard, Loot, Exuberant Explorer)
• Relies on card draw from combat (Return of the Wildspeaker)

Interaction: 3/10

• Mostly sorcery-speed removal (Decimate, Chaos Warp)
• No free counterspells or stack interaction

Rating Justification:

The deck sits between Optimized Casual (5.0) and Focused (6.0). While capable of explosive T5 wins with perfect draws, it lacks the tutor density and protection of true cEDH decks. Its reliance on combat damage over deterministic combos and vulnerability to interaction place it below high-power tiers.

Power level: 5.0 - 6.0