Overview:

This Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow deck leverages Ninjutsu and evasive creatures to trigger Yuriko's life-drain/card-draw ability, supplemented by high-CMC top-deck manipulation and control elements. The commander is the deck's engine, enabling consistent value and burn while dodging commander tax via Ninjutsu. Secondary win conditions include combat synergies with ninja buffs (e.g., Roaming Throne), Torment of Hailfire, and Intruder Alarm-enabled infinite attack loops.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-3): Deploy unblockable creatures (Changeling Outcast, Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive) or deathtouch blockers (Baleful Strix). Use mana rocks (Sol Ring, Dimir Signet) to enable early Ninjutsu.
2. Yuriko Triggers (T2+): Ninjutsu Yuriko via unblocked attackers. Prioritize high-CMC cards (e.g., Kindred Dominance, Torment of Hailfire) for maximum life loss. Use Brainstorm/Ponder to stack the top deck.
3. Value Engine Expansion: Deploy ninjas like Ingenious Infiltrator and Prosperous Thief for card draw and treasures. Activate Intruder Alarm to reset Ninjutsu triggers or create infinite loops with token generators (Mist-Syndicate Naga + Thousand-Faced Shadow).
4. Finishers: Drain the table via repeated Yuriko triggers, resolve a massive Torment of Hailfire, or swing with buffed ninjas using Silver-Fur Master/Roaming Throne.

Mulligan Priorities:

• 1-2 evasive creatures (e.g., Changeling Outcast, Phantom Ninja).
• At least 2 lands (prioritize untapped duals like Darkslick Shores).
• Early interaction (Fatal Push, An Offer You Can't Refuse) or value engines (Rhystic Study).
• Avoid hands without Ninjutsu enablers or excessive high-CMC spells.

Key Tips:

• Use Volrath's Stronghold to recur key ninjas. Opposition Agent disrupts tutors while stealing wincons.
• Intruder Alarm + Mist-Syndicate Naga creates exponential tokens for infinite Yuriko triggers.
• Satoru Umezawa provides card selection and enables Ninjutsu for non-ninja creatures.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board wipes (Damnation, Blasphemous Act) reset the engine and remove critical evasive creatures.
• Anti-attack stax (Propaganda, Ghostly Prison) severely limits Ninjutsu activations.
• Torpor Orb/Hushbringer nullify Yuriko/Ingenious Infiltrator triggers.

Moderate

• Graveyard hate disrupts Volrath's Stronghold and Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni.
• Rule of Law effects limit Ninjutsu chains and combo potential.

Minor

• Spot removal on Yuriko can slow the deck, but Ninjutsu bypasses tax.
• Flyer-heavy decks may outrace without trample enablers.

Most Important Cards:

• Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow (Core engine for damage and card advantage)
• Intruder Alarm (Enables infinite Ninjutsu loops and untap synergies)
• Changeling Outcast (Consistent unblockable enabler)
• Roaming Throne (Doubles Yuriko/ninja triggers)
• Opposition Agent (Disrupts tutors, steals wincons)
• Rhystic Study (Card advantage engine)
• The Meathook Massacre (Board wipe + lifedrain synergy)
• Force of Will (Free interaction to protect combos)
• Ingenious Infiltrator (Draws cards on ninja hits)
• Torment of Hailfire (Alternate finisher)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10
Capable of T4-5 wins with ideal draws (Intruder Alarm combo + Yuriko triggers), but typically pressures T6-8 via incremental drains.

Resilience: 6/10
Recovers well from single-target removal via Ninjutsu tax avoidance, but struggles against stax and wipes. Limited recursion beyond Volrath's Stronghold.

Consistency: 7/10
Abundant evasive creatures and card selection (Brainstorm, Ponder) ensure Yuriko triggers, but lacks high-density tutors for combo pieces.

Interaction: 6/10
Efficient counterspells (Force of Will, Fierce Guardianship) and removal (Damnation, Deadly Rollick), but light on artifact/enchantment answers.

Rating Justification:

The deck combines cEDH-adjacent elements (free counterspells, Yuriko's inevitability) with mid-paced combat synergies, typically threatening wins T6-8. While resilient to spot removal, its vulnerability to board wipes and stax caps its ceiling.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0