Overview:

This Azorius artifact/Vehicle deck helmed by Shorikai, Genesis Engine focuses on generating incremental value through artifact synergies and overwhelming with crewed Vehicles. The commander serves as both a card advantage engine and Pilot token generator, enabling the deck's core strategy of deploying resilient threats like Parhelion II and Cyberdrive Awakener. Secondary value engines like Thopter Spy Network and Reconnaissance Mission provide sustained card flow, while recursion tools like Brilliant Restoration offer recovery potential.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Setup Phase (Turns 1-4): Deploy artifact mana sources (Sol Ring, Etherium Sculptor) and establish Shorikai's engine. Use early turns to activate Shorikai's draw/discard ability, binning potential recursion targets while building a Pilot army.
2. Midgame Development (Turns 4-6): Deploy key Vehicles like Skysovereign, Consul Flagship and The Indomitable, using generated Pilots or cost-reduced artifacts to crew. Activate value engines like Sai, Master Thopterist and Losheel, Clockwork Scholar.
3. Endgame Closure (Turns 7+): Overwhelm with transformed boards via Cyberdrive Awakener or massive Vehicle swings. Utilize Akroma's Will for alpha strikes or Masterful Replication for explosive token generation.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including color sources
• Prioritize Shorikai enablers: Swiftfoot Boots, early artifact ramp
• Look for at least one interaction piece (Counterspell, Swords to Plowshares)
• Avoid hands with multiple high-cost Vehicles without ramp

Key Tips:

• Use Shorikai's discard strategically to fuel Brilliant Restoration/Dance of the Manse
• Chain Vehicle activations using Peacewalker Colossus and Mobilizer Mech
• Protect critical artifacts with Padeem, Consul of Innovation and Indomitable Archangel
• Time Supreme Verdict when opponents are overextended but your Vehicles remain inert

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Complete shutdown by artifact nullification (Null Rod, Stony Silence)
• Vulnerable to mass land destruction targeting critical artifact lands
• Loses momentum if Shorikai is repeatedly removed pre-activation

Moderate

• Struggles against flyer-heavy metas without Aeronaut Admiral
• Board wipes reset Vehicle investment without recursion
• Limited instant-speed interaction for resolved noncreature threats

Minor

• Moderate creature count hampers Path to Exile efficiency
• Some Vehicles become dead cards without sufficient crew enablers

Most Important Cards:

• Shorikai, Genesis Engine (Engine: card advantage + Pilot generation)
• Cyberdrive Awakener (Game-ending board transformation)
• Brilliant Restoration (Mass recursion lynchpin)
• Unwinding Clock (Untap synergy for Vehicles/Shorikai)
• Sai, Master Thopterist (Value engine + chump blockers)
• Tezzeret, Betrayer of Flesh (Cost reduction + card filtering)
• Parhelion II (Premium finisher Vehicle)
• Akroma's Will (Combat trick + protection)
• Hanna, Ship's Navigator (Recurrence engine)
• Masterful Replication (Flexible token maker/combo enabler)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10
Can establish threatening boards by T6-7 but lacks early combo potential. Relies on incremental damage through medium-sized Vehicles.

Resilience: 6/10
Multiple recursion options and hexproof grantors, but over-reliant on Shorikai for card flow. Vulnerable to concentrated artifact hate.

Consistency: 7/10
Strong draw engine in command zone and artifact synergies ensure steady progression, though limited tutors for specific answers.

Interaction: 6/10
Quality counterspells and targeted removal, but lacks stack control for backbreaking noncreature spells and limited artifact interaction.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates focused casual power with strong synergy cohesion and a clear combat-based win plan, but lacks the speed and redundancy of optimized lists. Its T7-9 win potential and moderate resilience against common disruption align with upgraded precon+ levels.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0