Overview:

This Dimir Assassin tribal deck leverages Evie and Jacob Frye's partner synergy to create a combat-focused strategy with graveyard recursion and value generation. The deck aims to deploy evasive Assassins to trigger "freerunning" mechanics and combat damage payoffs, utilizing Mari, the Killing Quill, Ramses, Assassin Lord, and Etrata, the Silencer as key win conditions. Evie enables card filtering and unblockable threats, while Jacob provides recursion and spell-copying for exiled Assassins or freerunning cards. The deck combines incremental value engines with alternate win cons like Torment of Hailfire and Exsanguinate.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet), evasive 1-2 CMC Assassins (Changeling Outcast, Assassin Initiate), and value engines like Rhystic Study or Black Market Connections.
2. Midgame Triggers (Turns 4-7): Cast Evie/Jacob to enable draw/discard synergies and freerunning. Use Cover of Darkness or Rogue's Passage to ensure combat damage triggers. Activate Mari, the Killing Quill to generate Treasures and card draw.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 7+):
   • Combat: Overwhelm with unblockable Assassins buffed by Achilles Davenport or Double Down, aiming for a Ramses, Assassin Lord instant-win trigger.
   • Alternate Wins: Stack Torment of Hailfire/Exsanguinate with Cabal Coffers mana or exile three creatures via Etrata, the Silencer.
   • Value Loops: Recur Assassins with Back in Town or The Revelations of Ezio while copying key spells via Jacob’s ability.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, early evasive creatures (Hookblade Veteran, Changeling Outcast), and at least one value engine (Black Market Connections, Rhystic Study).
• Prioritize freerunning enablers (Poison-Blade Mentor, Assassin Gauntlet) if Evie/Jacob are in hand.
• Avoid hands lacking early plays or reliant on high-CMC spells without ramp.

Key Tips:

• Use Yawgmoth's Will to replay critical Assassins or freerunning sorceries from the graveyard.
• Equip Brotherhood Regalia or Sword of Feast and Famine to bypass blockers and untap mana for follow-up plays.
• Desynchronization resets non-historic permanents, protecting your Assassin-heavy board.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board wipes (e.g., Damnation): Limited recovery outside Back in Town and The Revelations of Ezio.
• Graveyard hate: Shuts down Jacob’s recursion, Yawgmoth's Will, and Etrata, Deadly Fugitive.

Moderate

• Flying/reach blockers: Evasion relies heavily on unblockable effects, which can be disrupted by Propaganda-like taxes.
• Stax pieces: Cursed Totem nullifies activated abilities critical for mana (Cabal Coffers) and utility (Assassin Initiate).

Minor

• Life loss: Black Market Connections, Phyrexian Arena, and freerunning costs strain life totals.
• Artifact reliance: Key equipment (Lightning Greaves, Sword of Feast and Famine) are vulnerable to removal.

Most Important Cards:

• Mari, the Killing Quill (Value engine: deathtouch, card draw, Treasures)
• Ramses, Assassin Lord (Instant-win condition)
• Cover of Darkness (Ensures combat damage triggers)
• Double Down (Copies freerunning/Assassin spells)
• Black Market Connections (Flexible ramp and card advantage)
• Yawgmoth's Will (Graveyard recursion for critical turns)
• Etrata, the Silencer (Alternate win condition)
• Torment of Hailfire (Scaling finisher)
• Cabal Coffers (Mana amplification for X-spells)
• Rhystic Study (Card advantage engine)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Threatens wins via combat or X-spells around turns 7-9, accelerated by Cabal Coffers and freerunning discounts.

Resilience: 5/10

• Moderate protection (Swiftfoot Boots, counterspells) but struggles to rebuild after board wipes or graveyard exile.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong card draw (Evie, Rhystic Study, Mari) and tribal synergy ensure frequent access to key pieces.

Interaction: 6/10

• Efficient removal (Go for the Throat, Mana Drain) and bounce (Desynchronization), but lacks stack control beyond counterspells.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a 5.5 - 6.0 power level, capable of threatening wins via combat or X-spells by turns 7-8 with robust card advantage. While its Assassin synergy and recursion provide consistency, reliance on combat damage and vulnerability to board wipes prevent higher optimization.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0