Derevi, Empyrial Tactician

How it plays & wins

This is a creature-based midrange deck built around mana dorks and rocks like Noble Hierarch, Birds of Paradise, Sol Ring and Ancient Tomb, which let it deploy Derevi quickly. It then uses tutors such as Chord of Calling, Green Sun's Zenith, Birthing Pod, Eldritch Evolution and Enlightened Tutor to find the right piece. Rhystic Study, Smothering Tithe, Mystic Remora and The One Ring supply card advantage. Free and cheap interaction like Force of Will, Fierce Guardianship, Pact of Negation, Swan Song, Solitude and Cyclonic Rift protects the plan.

The list has no clear infinite combo, so I can't point to one definitive win line. The most likely finishes are incremental. Gaea's Cradle or a big mana turn can power out Walking Ballista, or the deck can simply build a dominant board while holding up counterspells. Its #4 finish suggests flexible, resilient play more than a scripted kill.

Analysis written with AI assistance based on this decklist.