This is the comprehensive guide to using the Coven Counters preconstructed deck, commanded by Leinore, Autumn SovereignLeinore, Autumn Sovereign. This guide has all the information needed to pilot the deck to victory straight out of the box!

The primary game plan of Coven Counters is to achieve Coven early, take advantage of Leinore’s draw ability, and then pump its handful of creatures, which are primarily Humans, to massive sizes in order to overwhelm opposing defenses.

Leinore’s card drawing ability is extremely powerful, and will be the deck’s first priority in the early game. Leinore grants +1/+1 counters and has zero power herself, allowing Coven to be triggered with ease. Once that happens, the deck can begin drawing cards and building out its board state. There is also a Human tribal subtheme to the deck. Most creatures are Humans, and the deck has about eight cards that pay off the creature type, but it won't be a main factor in this deck's game play.

Once the deck can reliably trigger Coven and access new cards, it can showcase its greatest strength: getting large amounts of power and toughness into play. Once Coven Counters has one large creature out, it can sit behind that creature and build out its boardstate until it has a lethal attacking force.

• Orzhov AdvokistOrzhov Advokist and Citadel SiegeCitadel Siege are each good for two +1/+1 counters every turn, and both have alternate benefits of preventing attacks from opponents.
• Custodi SoulbindersCustodi Soulbinders and Verdurous GearhulkVerdurous Gearhulk represent raw stats, and will ensure that Coven Counters always controls the biggest creature.
• Mikaeus, the LunarchMikaeus, the Lunarch and Victory’s EnvoyVictory’s Envoy pump their entire teams each turn; it won’t take long with these creatures in play before the deck’s creatures are ready for an attack.
• Champion of LambholtChampion of Lambholt stands head and shoulders above the other options in this category, and is one of the deck’s best cards. Not only will it grow to enormous size, but it makes its controllers creatures completely unblockable. Odric, Master TacticianOdric, Master Tactician will function similarly and is another premium creature.

Another surprising strength that comes from this deck is its ability to ramp. The deck contains a whopping 15 ramp spells, and while some are more efficient than others, it still leads to a consistent access to extra mana.

• Sol RingSol Ring, Arcane SignetArcane Signet, and Talisman of UnityTalisman of Unity don’t have much synergy with the Humans or +1/+1 counters themes, but will still help ramp into an early Leinore, and all three can be found by Moonsilver KeyMoonsilver Key.
• Gyre SageGyre Sage and Heronblade EliteHeronblade Elite have very high ceilings and work with the deck perfectly, generating tons of mana and allowing for explosive turns. Somberwald SageSomberwald Sage and Avacyn’s PilgrimAvacyn’s Pilgrim help out too, while both holding the important Human creature type.
• Knight of the White OrchidKnight of the White Orchid, Growth SpasmGrowth Spasm, and Celebrate the HarvestCelebrate the Harvest all work just fine, with Celebrate the HarvestCelebrate the Harvest having the highest ceiling.
• This deck also has ramp from the land slot in the form of Blighted WoodlandBlighted Woodland, Krosan VergeKrosan Verge, and Myriad LandscapeMyriad Landscape. Temple of the False GodTemple of the False God makes an appearance as the worst ramp in the deck.

One last thing this deck can do very well is present a high number of finishers. These cards, in addition to several mentioned earlier, can close out games very quickly.

• Kyler, Sigardian EmissaryKyler, Sigardian Emissary will grant massive stat boosts to every Human, and is one of the best creatures to build a boardstate with. When combined with Sigarda, Heron’s GraceSigarda, Heron’s Grace, obtaining lethal damage becomes trivial.
• Sigardian ZealotSigardian Zealot and Sigarda’s VanguardSigarda’s Vanguard don’t even need Coven to dish out damage and will be two of the deck’s primary win conditions.
• Wild BeastmasterWild Beastmaster is also solid, if the deck can increase its power enough.

Coven Counters is certainly good at getting on board, but it does have a few glaring weaknesses that need to be kept in mind.

Wall of MourningWall of Mourning, Lifecrafter’s BestiaryLifecrafter’s Bestiary, Inspiring CallInspiring Call, and Shamanic RevelationShamanic Revelation are literally the only sources of card draw in this entire deck aside from the commander. It could easily run out of steam if it can’t find one of these powerful cards, or if Leinore is destroyed early. For this reason, changing the commander to Kyler, Sigardian EmissaryKyler, Sigardian Emissary straight out of the box could be a mistake. Without consistent access to Leinore, this deck will run out of steam too quickly and will crumple to a board wipe.

The other weakness of this deck comes from a severe lack of spot removal. It contains three board wipes in the form of Cleansing NovaCleansing Nova, Celestial JudgmentCelestial Judgment, and Hour of ReckoningHour of Reckoning, but struggles intensely to remove a single important threat.

Swords to PlowsharesSwords to Plowshares and Beast WithinBeast Within are the only ways Coven Counters has of answering a single creature. This is the single biggest weakness of the deck, and whether it is playing at the precon level or not, many scenarios will arise where one creature is holding back this deck’s entire board and there is literally nothing to be done about it.

Ruinous IntrusionRuinous Intrusion and Return to DustReturn to Dust round out the tiny spot removal suite for this deck, and are decent cards, but again, the total number is too low and the deck will suffer for it.

The final thing to mention about Coven Counters before getting to its underperformers is its matchup against the other Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Commander precon, Undead Unleashed.

Three cards in this deck stand out as complete hosers for the Zombie tribal strategy of the opposing deck. Remembering that these cards are the deck’s best weapons against Zombies will be crucial. Any of these spells, when timed correctly, can single handedly win a game for Coven Counters.

Finally, the following cards stand out as substantially weaker than most other cards in the precon, and should be considered when keeping opening hands or choosing which cards to deploy first.

• Curse of Clinging WebsCurse of Clinging Webs can only affect one opponent and isn’t a reliable source of token-making.
• This deck has no reliable way of controlling when its creatures die, so Death’s PresenceDeath’s Presence and Dearly DepartedDearly Departed will be low impact plays every time.
• Bestial MenaceBestial Menace, Somberwald BeastmasterSomberwald Beastmaster, and Trostani’s SummonerTrostani’s Summoner are expensive and mediocre ways to get power onto the battlefield, and are hardly needed at all to trigger Coven.

Knowing where Coven Counters struggles, as well as where it accels, will be integral to navigating through tricky board states. Having a full understanding of this deck will lead to many future victories!