Overview:

This Mardu (R/W/B) deck leverages Zurgo Stormrender as a token-generating engine and card advantage source, but the commander primarily enables a high-speed artifact combo strategy. The core plan utilizes explosive mana acceleration (e.g., Mana Vault, Lion's Eye Diamond) and tutors (e.g., Demonic Tutor, Imperial Seal) to assemble infinite loops with cards like Phyrexian Altar + Goblin Bombardment + token generators (e.g., Voice of Victory), Underworld Breach recursion chains, or Purphoros, God of the Forge burn. Zurgo provides token fodder for sac outlets and draws cards to refuel, but the deck functions at cEDH speed even without him.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Explosive Start (Turns 0-2): Deploy fast mana (Mox Diamond, Mana Vault, Dark Ritual), tutors (Vampiric Tutor, Gamble), or card advantage (Necropotence). Gemstone Caverns enables T0 plays.
2. Assemble Combo (Turns 1-4): Tutor for key pieces:
   • Loop 1: Phyrexian Altar + Goblin Bombardment + a token generator (e.g., Voice of Victory). Sac tokens for mana, create more tokens, deal infinite damage.
   • Loop 2: Underworld Breach + Lion's Eye Diamond/Wheel of Fortune + Brain Freeze effect (e.g., mill opponents out via Yawgmoth's Will recursion).
   • Loop 3: Birgi, God of Storytelling + Grinning Ignus for infinite storm/red mana.
3. Win/Lock (Turns 2-5): Execute infinite damage via Bombardment/Purphoros, mill via Breach loops, or combat with token swarms amplified by Brutal Hordechief. Grand Abolisher/Orim's Chant protect the turn.
4. Backup: Leverage Adeline, Resplendent Cathar or Rakdos, Patron of Chaos for value if disrupted. Reanimate threats with Animate Dead.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 1-2 lands + ≥1 fast mana rock (Mana Vault, Sol Ring, Mox Opal).
• Prioritize hands containing tutors (Demonic Tutor, Imperial Seal), Necropotence, or a T1 combo piece (e.g., Goblin Engineer fetching Altar).
• Reject slow hands lacking acceleration or combo potential.

Key Tips:

• Sacrifice Sequencing: Use tokens from Zurgo/Voice before combat to draw cards or fuel Altar. Post-combat, sacrifice tokens to Bombardment for direct damage.
• Breach Lines: Yawgmoth's Will enables double-graveyard turns. Exile Dark Ritual/Culling the Weak with Breach for massive mana.
• Interaction Timing: Deploy Grand Abolisher or Silence before critical combo turns. Deflecting Swat protects key pieces.
• Tutor Targets: Fetch Phyrexian Altar or Underworld Breach first. Goblin Engineer can recur Altar/Breach.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard Reliance: Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void, or Dauthi Voidwalker cripple Breach, reanimation, and Yawgmoth's Will.
• Artifact Stax: Null Rod, Stony Silence, or Collector Ouphe disable mana rocks, Altar, Bombardment, and tutors.
• Rule of Law Effects: Archon of Emeria or Deafening Silence prevent multiple spells per turn, halting combo assembly.

Moderate

• Board Wipes: Mass removal (Toxic Deluge, Farewell) resets token boards; recovery relies on topdecks/recursion.
• Taxing Effects: Thalia, Guardian of Thraben or Trinisphere slow down critical early turns.
• Combo Disruption: Instant-speed removal on Altar/Breach mid-combo or countermagic on tutors.

Minor

• Life Loss: Necropotence, shocklands, and Ancient Tomb pressure life total against aggressive decks.
• Limited Stack Interaction: Minimal counterspells beyond Red Elemental Blast; relies on protection like Deflecting Swat.

Most Important Cards:

• Phyrexian Altar (Infinite mana/sac outlet for combos)
• Underworld Breach (Recursion engine for game-winning loops)
• Necropotence (Unmatched card advantage to find combo pieces)
• Goblin Bombardment (Infinite damage payoff with token generators)
• Demonic Tutor (Finds any combo piece)
• Lion's Eye Diamond (Mana source for Breach loops)
• Yawgmoth's Will (Recasts spells from graveyard)
• Imperial Seal (Tutor to set up next draw)
• Mana Vault (Explosive T1 acceleration)
• Purphoros, God of the Forge (Alternate win condition via token ETBs)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 9/10

• Capable of T1-T3 wins with perfect hands (e.g., T1 Mana Vault → Underworld Breach + LED/Wheel). Consistently threatens T3-5 wins.

Resilience: 6/10

• Multiple combo lines, protection spells (Silence, Deflecting Swat), and recursion (Breach, Reanimate) offer recovery paths, but folds to grave/artifact hate.

Consistency: 8/10

• 14 tutors, Necropotence, and Tainted Pact ensure reliable access to combo pieces despite lacking blue cantrips.

Interaction: 7/10

• Efficient targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Deadly Dispute), stax (Opposition Agent), and stack protection (Red Elemental Blast), but lacks broad counterspell suites.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH velocity with T1-T3 win potential, backed by redundant tutors, fast mana, and compact combos. However, its vulnerability to grave/artifact hate and reliance on unprotected commanders for some lines prevent Tier 1 consistency, placing it in high-power cEDH with fragile early wins.

Power level: 8.5 - 9.0