Overview:

This Naya (RGW) Equipment-focused deck leverages Cloud, Ex-SOLDIER as a value engine and win condition. The primary strategy involves rapidly deploying Equipment, attaching it to Cloud or other creatures (like Tifa, Martial Artist or Cloud, Planet's Champion), and leveraging combat damage triggers for card draw and Treasure generation. Key themes include Equipment synergy, "power 7 or greater" payoffs (e.g., Bugenhagen, Wise Elder, Vincent, Vengeful Atoner), and token generation via cards like Barret, Avalanche Leader. Cloud enables explosive card draw when multiple equipped creatures attack, fueling further plays. While Cloud is central to the value engine, the deck can pivot to alternate threats like Hellkite Tyrant or Eivor, Battle-Ready.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Prioritize ramping (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Rampant Growth, Nature's Lore) and deploying cheap Equipment tutors (Steelshaper's Gift) or key enablers (Puresteel Paladin, Cid, Freeflier Pilot). Play low-cost Equipment (Skullclamp, Mask of Memory, Goldvein Pick) and attach them to early creatures. Cast Cloud as soon as possible (ideally T3-4 with ramp).
2. Value & Board Development (Turns 3-6): Attack with equipped creatures to trigger Cloud's draw ability and generate Treasures. Use draw triggers to refill. Deploy key synergy pieces: Professional Face-Breaker (Treasures/draw), Barret, Avalanche Leader (Tokens/Equipment redistribution), Tifa, Martial Artist (Extra combats), Bugenhagen, Wise Elder (Card draw). Utilize tutors to find critical Equipment (Colossus Hammer, Genji Glove, Conqueror's Flail).
3. Win Condition Execution (Turns 5-8):
   • Combat Overkill: Suit up Cloud or another large creature (e.g., equipped Sephiroth, Fallen Hero or token pumped by SOLDIER Military Program) with multiple Equipment. Leverage double strike (Genji Glove, Cloud, Planet's Champion), trample sources (Behemoth Sledge, Wrecking Ball Arm), and extra combats (Tifa) for massive damage. Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion provides instant-speed double strike.
   • Alternate Wins: Win via Hellkite Tyrant stealing artifacts or hitting the 20-artifact threshold. Use Vincent's Chaos ability to spread damage widely once power >=7. Genji Glove enables multiple combats with an equipped creature.
   • Commander Damage: A heavily equipped Cloud (especially with double strike) can eliminate players quickly via commander damage.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including colored sources) and at least 1-2 pieces of early ramp or a cheap Equipment tutor/enabler (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Steelshaper's Gift, Puresteel Paladin, Skullclamp).
• Prioritize hands containing Cloud or a way to deploy him quickly.
• Hands with a value piece like Professional Face-Breaker, Mask of Memory, or Bugenhagen, Wise Elder are strong.
• Avoid hands lacking ramp, Equipment, or a clear early play.

Key Tips:

• Maximize Cloud's Triggers: Attack with multiple equipped creatures whenever possible. Each equipped attacker draws a card with Cloud out. Prioritize cheap equip costs (Lightning Greaves, Puresteel Paladin's ability).
• Leverage Power 7 Synergies: Cards like Tifa, Martial Artist, Bugenhagen, Wise Elder, Vincent, Vengeful Atoner, and Lifestream's Blessing reward having creatures with power 7+. Colossus Hammer and Wrecking Ball Arm enable this easily.
• Recursion is Key: Use Unfinished Business, Red XIII, Proud Warrior, and Cid, Freeflier Pilot to recover crucial Equipment or creatures from the graveyard. Yuffie, Materia Hunter can "borrow" key artifacts.
• Protect Your Board: Deploy Bastion Protector, Snakeskin Veil, Ultimate Magic: Holy, and Darksteel Plate to shield Cloud and key creatures. Conqueror's Flail protects your turn.
• Treasure Synergy: Professional Face-Breaker and Cloud (when power >=7) generate Treasures. Use them for mana acceleration, card advantage via Face-Breaker's ability, or to fuel Spire of Industry/Inspiring Statuary.
• Tutor Wisely: Steelshaper's Gift finds critical Equipment. Prioritize based on need: Colossus Hammer/Genji Glove for win, Sword of the Animist/Explorer's Scope for ramp, Skullclamp for draw, Lightning Greaves/Champion's Helm for protection.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Severe Vulnerability to Board Wipes: Lacks mass recursion. Losing equipped creatures and tokens sets the deck back tremendously. Farewell is devastating.
• Crippled by Artifact/Equipment Hate: Cards like Vandalblast, Bane of Progress, or Collector Ouphe directly dismantle the core strategy by destroying key Equipment and enablers.

Moderate

• Weak to Spot Removal on Key Enablers: Removing Puresteel Paladin, Professional Face-Breaker, Bugenhagen, Wise Elder, or Barret, Avalanche Leader significantly slows down the deck's engine.
• Susceptible to Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void shuts down crucial recursion from Unfinished Business, Red XIII, Proud Warrior, and Cid, Freeflier Pilot.
• Limited Stack Interaction: Struggles to counter game-winning spells or protect against non-creature combo wins due to minimal counterspells.

Minor

• Mana Base Can Be Clunky: Relies on several enters-tapped duals (Jungle Shrine, Path of Ancestry, Snarls) and lacks sufficient fetch lands/shocks for perfect fixing. Vulnerable to non-basic land hate.
• Can Be Outpaced by Faster Combo: Lacks the interaction or speed to consistently race dedicated combo decks aiming for T4-5 wins.

Most Important Cards:

• Puresteel Paladin (Core Enabler: Card draw on Equipment ETB, free equips with Metalcraft)
• Cloud, Ex-SOLDIER (Commander/Value Engine: Draws cards, generates Treasures)
• Professional Face-Breaker (Value Engine: Generates Treasures on combat damage, enables card advantage)
• Colossus Hammer (Win Condition Enabler: Easily pushes creatures to 7+ power for synergies)
• Steelshaper's Gift (Consistency: Tutors any crucial Equipment)
• Unfinished Business (Resilience: Recovers key creatures and Equipment from graveyard)
• Genji Glove (Win Condition: Double strike + extra combats enable massive damage)
• Hellkite Tyrant (Alternate Win Condition: Steals artifacts, can win via artifact count)
• Tifa, Martial Artist (Synergy/Value: Untaps creatures, enables extra combats with power 7+)
• Barret, Avalanche Leader (Token Generation/Equipment Redistribution: Builds board, ensures Equipment attachment)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Capable of threatening wins via combat or Hellkite Tyrant around turns 6-8 with a good draw, but lacks the ultra-fast mana or compact combos for earlier wins. Relies on incremental setup.

Resilience: 4/10

• Has some recursion (Unfinished Business, Cid, Red XIII) and protection (Snakeskin Veil, Ultimate Magic: Holy, Bastion Protector), but is fundamentally vulnerable to mass removal and artifact hate, making recovery difficult.

Consistency: 6/10

• Good density of Equipment, ramp, and card draw engines (Cloud, Mask of Memory, Professional Face-Breaker). Steelshaper's Gift is a powerful tutor, but lacks redundancy for key non-Equipment pieces like Puresteel Paladin.

Interaction: 5/10

• Runs targeted removal (Cloud's Limit Break, Decimate, Dispatch, Heliod's Intervention) and some protection, but interaction is primarily sorcery-speed or combat-focused. Lacks stack interaction beyond protection spells, making disrupting opponents' combos challenging.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates solid Casual power with a clear Equipment theme and synergistic payoffs, capable of winning via combat or Hellkite Tyrant around turns 6-8. While consistent in its core plan and possessing moderate interaction, its critical vulnerability to board wipes and artifact hate significantly hinders resilience, preventing it from reaching optimized tiers.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0