Overview:

This Yuriko deck focuses on deploying evasive creatures to enable ninjutsu, triggering Yuriko's life-loss/draw engine while stacking high mana value (MV) cards for explosive damage. It combines incremental combat pressure with topdeck manipulation and tutor density to execute a consistent, tempo-driven strategy.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck aims to establish early evasive creatures (e.g., Changeling Outcast, Slither Blade), ninjutsu in Yuriko by Turn 2-3, and convert combat damage into cascading value. Key phases:

• Setup: Deploy 1-2 unblockable creatures by Turn 2. Prioritize ninjutsu enablers over ramp due to Yuriko's low ninjutsu cost.
• Value Engine: Use Yuriko triggers to reveal high-MV cards (e.g., Blasphemous Edict, Massacre Wurm) while drawing into ninjas like Fallen Shinobi and Mist-Syndicate Naga.
• Finishing: Amplify damage with Arcane Adaptation/Maskwood Nexus (making all creatures Ninjas) and Quietus Spike. Use tutors to find key pieces like Scroll Rack for topdeck manipulation.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with ≥1 evasive creature and ≤3 lands.
• Prioritize Turn 1 unblockables (e.g., Mist-Cloaked Herald) over slow value engines.
• Reject hands without early attackers or excessive high-MV cards.

Key Tips:

• Stack high-MV spells post-combat using Brainstorm/Mystical Tutor.
• Use Smoke Shroud from the graveyard to recur flying on ninjas.
• Higure, the Still Wind tutors critical ninjas like Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni.
• Deploy Rhystic Study/Mystic Remora early to offset Yuriko's card advantage.

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Relies on maintaining unblocked attackers (folds to Propaganda/Silent Arbiter).
• Limited protection for Yuriko beyond equipment (1-2 removals cripple the engine).

Moderate:

• Slow recovery from board wipes (relies on rebuilding with 1/1s).
• No infinite combos for deterministic wins.

Minor:

• Life-loss strategy struggles against lifegain decks.

Most Important Cards:

• Arcane Adaptation
• Maskwood Nexus
• Scroll Rack
• Rhystic Study
• Higure, the Still Wind
• Mystical Tutor
• Grim Tutor
• Smoke Shroud
• Quietus Spike
• Blasphemous Edict

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Goldfish wins via Yuriko triggers + high-MV cards by Turn 6-7. Ninjutsu bypasses commander tax for early pressure.

Resilience: 5/10

• Vulnerable to targeted removal on Yuriko and evasive enablers. Limited recursion (only Mystic Sanctuary for instants/sorceries).

Consistency: 8/10

• 7 tutors (including transmute via Dimir Infiltrator) and 12+ evasive creatures. Topdeck manipulation ensures high-MV triggers.

Interaction: 6/10

• 8 targeted removals, 4 counterspells, and 3 board wipes. Lacks free interaction (e.g., Fierce Guardianship) for critical turns.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at 6.0-6.5 (Focused tier). It outpaces casual decks with Turn 7-8 wins via combat/synergies but lacks the speed (T5-6) and resilience (minimal free protection) of optimized lists. Tutor density and redundancy elevate it above precon-level strategies, while reliance on combat damage and incremental value caps its ceiling below cEDH viability.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5