Overview:

This Obeka deck exploits "beginning of upkeep" triggers by leveraging Obeka's ability to skip detrimental steps, transforming penalties into advantages. The primary strategy involves deploying high-impact upkeep permanents like the Court cycle, Descent into Avernus, and Darksteel Reactor, then using Obeka's combat damage trigger to create extra upkeep phases. Win conditions include incremental damage/life drain, Darksteel Reactor alt-win, unblockable commander damage, and suspended spell abuse via Jhoira of the Ghitu. Obeka is the linchpin – her removal cripples the deck, but haste-granting equipment and free protection spells mitigate this vulnerability.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy fast mana (Mana Vault, Sol Ring), card engines (Rhystic Study, Phyrexian Arena), and upkeep permanents. Prioritize haste/evasion for Obeka (Lightning Greaves, Aqueous Form).
2. Engine Activation (Turns 3-6): Cast Obeka with protection backup. Attack to generate extra upkeeps. Deploy high-impact upkeep cards:
   • Courts for monarch pressure/mill/burn
   • Descent into Avernus for accelerated Treasures/damage
   • Paradox Haze to double triggers
3. Win Conversion:
   • Reactor Win: Stack counters on Darksteel Reactor using extra upkeeps/Strionic Resonator.
   • Combat: Make Obeka unblockable (Brotherhood Regalia, Shizo, Death's Storehouse), leveraging extra turns for commander damage.
   • Suspend Abuse: Use Jhoira of the Ghitu + Obeka to permanently suspend spells like Ancestral Vision without casting them, or cheat massive spells.
   • Value Overload: Multiply triggers with Strionic Resonator/Extravagant Replication to drain/burn opponents out.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (prioritize untapped UB/R sources) and 1-2 ramp pieces.
• Essential: Early Obeka enabler (haste/evasion) or high-impact upkeep permanent.
• Prioritize free protection (Fierce Guardianship, Deflecting Swat) if available.
• Avoid hands lacking ramp or with only high-CMC upkeep enchantments.

Key Tips:

• Obeka Timing: Use her ability to skip your own detrimental end steps (e.g., Descent into Avernus damage) while keeping extra upkeeps.
• Suspend Lock: With Obeka and Jhoira of the Ghitu, exile cards with suspend but never remove the last counter – they stay in exile indefinitely as "free cast" options.
• Monarch Defense: Use unblockable Obeka to reclaim monarchy easily after deploying Courts.
• Reactor Acceleration: Copy Darksteel Reactor with Extravagant Replication or target it with Mechanized Production for faster wins.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Obeka Dependency: Removal/counters targeting Obeka cripples the deck's engine and turns upkeep triggers against you.
• Enchantment/Artifact Hate: Mass removal (Farewell, Austere Command) disrupts key upkeep engines and win conditions.
• Stax Effects: Drannith Magistrate/Lavinia, Azorius Renegade block suspended spells; Cursed Totem shuts down mana dorks/activated abilities.

Moderate

• Life Total Pressure: Descent into Avernus and Phyrexian Arena drain you rapidly if Obeka is offline.
• Slow Win Conditions: Darksteel Reactor requires 20 counters; combat wins need multiple combat phases.
• Graveyard Reliance: Recursion for Obeka/engines is minimal outside Virtue of Persistence.

Minor

• Limited Board Wipes: Only Chaos Warp and Deadly Rollick handle wide boards.
• Mana-Intensive Combos: Strionic Resonator + upkeep triggers demand significant mana.

Most Important Cards:

• Obeka, Splitter of Seconds (Engine enabler/extra upkeeps)
• Paradox Haze (Doubles upkeep triggers)
• Darksteel Reactor (Primary alt-win condition)
• Jhoira of the Ghitu (Suspend abuse with Obeka)
• Descent into Avernus (Accelerated mana/damage engine)
• Court of Locthwain (Card advantage/monarch pressure)
• Strionic Resonator (Copies critical upkeep triggers)
• Deflecting Swat (Free protection for Obeka)
• Mana Vault (Critical early ramp)
• Brotherhood Regalia (Ensures Obeka connects)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Can deploy Obeka + engines by turn 3-4 with fast mana, but win conditions often require multiple extra upkeeps (T5-7 goldfish).

Resilience: 6/10

• Free protection spells and haste mitigate commander reliance, but sweepers/hate pieces cripple the strategy with limited recovery tools.

Consistency: 8/10

• Extensive tutors (Demonic Tutor, Mystical Tutor), card draw (Rhystic Study, Sheoldred), and redundant upkeep effects ensure engine assembly.

Interaction: 7/10

• Efficient targeted removal (Deadly Rollick, Swan Song) and free counterspells protect the game plan but lack board wipes.

Rating Justification:

The deck achieves T5-7 wins through explosive starts with fast mana and upkeep synergy, aligning with the Focused tier (6.0-7.0). However, its reliance on Obeka and vulnerability to disruption cap its resilience, preventing higher optimization.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0