Overview:

This Grixis deck leverages Obeka's ability to gain extra upkeep phases, strategically bypassing negative "end of turn" effects and accelerating suspend/accumulation mechanics. The primary strategy combines unblockable combat (enabling Obeka hits), treasure generation for value/mana, and monarch synergies for card advantage. Secondary paths include Revel in Riches alt-win, reanimation via Portal to Phyrexia, and overwhelming board states with token armies. Obeka is essential for enabling high-risk/high-reward plays (e.g., Braid of Fire upkeep, suspending spells without delay) but is vulnerable to removal, requiring protection to maintain the engine.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Talismans), evasion enablers (Aqueous Form, Artful Dodge), and value engines (Rhystic Study, Black Market Connections). Prioritize casting Obeka with protection (Swiftfoot Boots) by turn 4.
2. Engine Activation (Turns 4-6): Attack with unblockable Obeka to trigger extra upkeeps. Use additional phases to:
   • Accelerate suspend cards (Profane Tutor, Mox Tantalite) by removing extra counters.
   • Stack Braid of Fire mana or dodge downsides of cards like Aggravated Assault.
   • Trigger monarch payoffs (Court of Cunning mill, Court of Ambition life loss).
3. Win Condition Execution (Turns 6-9):
   • Combat: Swing with evasive Obeka/commanders or token armies (Goblin Assault, Dragonmaster Outcast), enhanced by Sword of Feast and Famine or Reaver Cleaver.
   • Alt-Win: Achieve Revel in Riches with 10+ Treasures (fueled by Xorn, Generous Plunderer).
   • Value Overwhelm: Reanimate threats with Portal to Phyrexia or out-draw opponents via monarch/One with the Multiverse.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color fixing) and early ramp/evasion.
• Prioritize Obeka enablers: protection (Swiftfoot Boots), evasion (Aqueous Form), or key ramp (Sol Ring, Dark Ritual).
• Avoid hands lacking early plays or with only high-CMC spells.

Key Tips:

• Obeka Timing: End turns prematurely to avoid "end of turn" sacrifices (e.g., tokens from Subira) or negative triggers.
• Monarch Control: Use Court cards and Starscream to seize monarchy early. Extra upkeeps amplify Court of Ambition/Cunning triggers.
• Treasure Synergy: Xorn doubles Treasure from Revel in Riches, Deadly Derision, etc. Pair with Aggravated Assault for multiple combats.
• Suspend Cheats: Cast Profane Tutor/Mox Tantalite early; Obeka removes 2+ counters per turn cycle.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Heavy reliance on Obeka: Removal disrupts extra upkeeps and suspend acceleration.
• Minimal board wipe recovery: Token generators lack inherent recursion; high-CMC threats are hard to redeploy.
• Weak to stax: Rule of Law effects cripple extra combat/upkeep synergies; Torpor Orb nullifies ETB value.

Moderate

• Susceptible to artifact/enchantment hate: Loses key engines (Revel, Courts, Mechanized Production).
• Graveyard reliance: Portal to Phyrexia and recursion targets are vulnerable to exile effects.
• Inconsistent mana: Tapped lands and color-fixing issues delay critical early turns.

Minor

• Limited stack interaction: Counterspells are sparse and high-cost (e.g., Sinister Sabotage).
• Combat-trick dependent: Evasion auras are fragile; loses to flying blockers without answers.

Most Important Cards:

• Swiftfoot Boots (Protects Obeka, ensures consistent extra upkeeps)
• Revel in Riches (Primary alt-win condition)
• Black Market Connections (Unconditional card draw/treasure generation)
• Rhystic Study (Card advantage engine)
• Braid of Fire (Mana generation amplified by extra upkeeps)
• Xorn (Doubles treasure output for Revel/ramp)
• Vampiric Tutor (Finds key pieces like evasion or Revel)
• Portal to Phyrexia (Recursive threat generation)
• Court of Cunning (Mill win-con with monarch + extra upkeeps)
• Profane Tutor (Tutoring accelerated by Obeka)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Goldfish wins typically occur T7-9 via combat or Revel, slowed by setup for evasion/suspend and tapped lands.

Resilience: 4/10

• Limited protection (Swiftfoot Boots, 3 counterspells) and recursion; folds to repeated removal or stax.

Consistency: 6/10

• Tutors (Vampiric, Profane, Personal) and card draw (Rhystic, Black Market) find key pieces, but mana issues hinder execution.

Interaction: 5/10

• Targeted removal (Hero's Downfall, Deadly Derision) and counters exist but are inefficient/limited; lacks board wipes.

Rating Justification:

The deck aims for T7-9 wins through combat, treasure alt-win, or value locks, aligning with optimized casual power. Its reliance on Obeka and vulnerability to disruption limit resilience, preventing higher tiers despite strong card advantage.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5