Overview:

This mono-red Slicer, Hired Muscle deck is a hyper-aggressive voltron/combat manipulation build designed to leverage Slicer's unique "pass-the-commander" ability. The primary strategy revolves around deploying Slicer as early as Turn 1-2 using rituals and fast mana, equipping it with game-ending modifiers, then forcing opponents to attack each other with a goaded, ever-growing threat. Secondary win conditions include infinite combat steps with Aggravated Assault + mana doublers and global damage amplification via Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar. Slicer serves as both the primary damage engine and political tool, while the deck's artifact recursion package ensures resilience.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Explosive Start (T0-2):
   • Use ana Vana Vault, Grim Monolith, Simian Spirit Guide, or rituals (Seething Song, Rite of Flame) to cast Slicer converted for {2}{R} ASAP.
   • Equip immediate protection (Lightning Greaves, Mithril Coat) or power boosts (Embercleave, Tenza, Godo's Maul).

2. Combat Phase Domination (T2-4):

   • Activate Slicer's upkeep trigger to pass it to opponents, forcing them to attack with a goaded, untapped creature.
   • Stack damage multipliers: The Sound of Drums doubles damage, Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar spreads commander damage to all opponents.

3. Lock/Finisher Deployment (T3-5):

   • Assemble infinite combats via Aggravated Assault + Sword of Feast and Famine (untap lands) or treasure generators like Professional Face-Breaker.
   • Tutor for Umezawa's Jitte or Sword of Fire and Ice for sustained advantage.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with Slicer + 1-2 mana sources + at least one: fast mana, protection equipment, or ritual.
• Prioritize Cavern of Souls/Command Beacon vs blue-heavy metas.
• Avoid slow hands without Turn 1-2 Slicer potential.

Key Tips:

• Use Homeward Path to reclaim Slicer after passing it.
• Strionic Resonator copies Slicer's upkeep trigger for multiple passes per turn cycle.
• Buried Ruin/Goblin Welder recur key artifacts like Aggravated Assault.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander-dependent strategy collapses if Slicer is repeatedly removed (no protection from sacrifice/edict effects).
• Lacks answers to enchantment-based removal (Darksteel Plate doesn't stop Oubliette).

Moderate

• Weak to artifact wipes (Vandalblast destroys equipment suite).
• Struggles against flying blockers without Whispersilk Cloak.

Minor

• Limited card draw beyond combat triggers.
• Blood Moon/Magus of the Moon can disrupt the mana base's utility lands.

Most Important Cards:

• Aggravated Assault (Infinite combat enabler)
• Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar (Global damage amplifier)
• Mana Vault (Turn 1 Slicer enabler)
• Embercleave (Instant-speed finisher)
• Lightning Greaves (Critical protection)
• Sword of Feast and Famine (Mana untap for combats)
• Gamble (Key tutor in mono-red)
• Professional Face-Breaker (Treasure generation + card advantage)
• Homeward Path (Slicer reclamation)
• The Sound of Drums (Damage doubler with recursion)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10

• Can threaten T3 kills with ideal draws (T1 Slicer + T2 Tenza, Godo's Maul + T3 combat pass) and routinely pressures life totals by T4-5.

Resilience: 5/10

• Heavy protection suite for Slicer, but over-reliance on the commander and artifacts makes it vulnerable to targeted hate.

Consistency: 7/10

• 12 ramp sources, 8 tutors, and 7 card-draw engines provide reliable access to key pieces despite mono-red limitations.

Interaction: 4/10

• Efficient artifact removal (Vandalblast, Abrade) and red counterspells (Pyroblast), but lacks broad answers to non-artifact threats.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH-adjacent speed with T1-3 Slicer deployments and T4-5 win potential, but its commander dependency and vulnerability to common interaction keep it below true cEDH tiers. The balance between explosive starts and political combat manipulation aligns with High-Power Casual.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0