Overview:

This Izzet Dragon tribal deck helmed by Sarkhan, Soul Aflame focuses on deploying high-impact Dragons efficiently through cost reduction and ramp. Sarkhan enables explosive turns by reducing Dragon costs and cloning their ETB/attack triggers. The deck wins through overwhelming aerial combat damage amplified by synergies like Dragon Tempest, Terror of the Peaks, and Scourge of Valkas, with backup plans involving Treasure-fueled value from Ancient Copper Dragon/Goldspan Dragon and alternate win conditions like Hellkite Tyrant. Sarkhan acts as both an enabler and value engine but isn’t strictly essential thanks to redundant cost reducers like Urza’s Incubator and Dragonspeaker Shaman.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Prioritize ramp (Sol Ring, Izzet Signet, Dragonlord’s Servant) and cost reducers (Herald’s Horn, Urza’s Incubator). Cast Sarkhan early to discount Dragons.
2. Midgame Threats (Turns 4-6): Deploy key Dragons like Goldspan Dragon (Treasure generation), Terror of the Peaks (burn), or Ancient Copper Dragon (ramp). Use Sarkhan’s clone ability to double ETB triggers (e.g., copying Terror to deal 10+ damage).
3. Late-Game Dominance (Turns 6+): Overwhelm with high-impact Dragons like Drakuseth, Maw of Flames (multi-target removal on attack) or Hellkite Tyrant (artifact theft/alternate win). Activate Maelstrom of the Spirit Dragon to tutor finishers.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (UR sources preferred) and at least one ramp/cost reducer.
• Prioritize Sarkhan, Dragon Tempest, or a 4-5 CMC Dragon with supporting artifacts.
• Avoid hands with only high-CMC Dragons and no ramp.

Key Tips:

• Clone Terror of the Peaks or Scourge of Valkas with Sarkhan for exponential damage.
• Use Deflecting Swat and Fierce Guardianship to protect key Dragons.
• Hellkite Tyrant can steal opponents’ artifact mana to fuel your own explosive turns.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board wipes (Wrath of God, Blasphemous Act) cripple the deck’s high-CMC board presence.
• Anti-flying tech (Gravity Well, Solemnity) neutralizes primary combat strategy.

Moderate

• Artifact hate disrupts ramp (Dragon’s Hoard, Urza’s Incubator) and Treasure synergies.
• Tax effects (Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, Sphere of Resistance) slow Dragon deployment.

Minor

• Graveyard recursion is limited, making key Dragons hard to recover.
• Single-target removal is manageable due to redundancy and protection spells.

Most Important Cards:

• Terror of the Peaks (Burn engine via Dragon ETBs)
• Dragon Tempest (Haste enabler + scaling burn)
• Urza’s Incubator (Critical cost reduction)
• Goldspan Dragon (Treasure acceleration + evasion)
• Hellkite Tyrant (Alternate win condition)
• Scourge of Valkas (Scaling damage per Dragon)
• Ancient Copper Dragon (Mana explosion)
• Fierce Guardianship (Free protection)
• Sarkhan, Fireblood (Ramp + Dragon synergy)
• Cyclonic Rift (Board reset)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10
Can deploy game-ending Dragons by turns 6-7 with optimal ramp, but high average CMC limits faster starts.

Resilience: 5/10
Protection spells and redundancy mitigate removal, but reliance on creature-based strategies makes it vulnerable to wipes.

Consistency: 7/10
Abundant cost reducers, ramp, and card draw (Bident of Thassa, Reconnaissance Mission) ensure steady access to threats.

Interaction: 6/10
Efficient counterspells (Swan Song, An Offer You Can’t Refuse) and targeted removal (Pongify) handle key threats but lack board wipes.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a 6.0 - 6.5 power level, capable of threatening wins via combat or burn by turns 6-7 with strong consistency. While it lacks the speed and combo density of cEDH, its robust Dragon synergies and interaction suite let it compete in high-powered casual pods.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5