Overview:

This Boros (R/W) deck helmed by Risona, Asari Commander focuses on Samurai tribal synergies and Equipment-based combat strategies. The deck emphasizes single-creature attacks with "modified" creatures (equipped, enchanted, or with counters) to trigger numerous attack triggers. Risona serves as a resilient threat that gains indestructible counters through combat damage, while supporting cards like Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei and Odric, Lunarch Marshal amplify combat pressure. The secondary strategy leverages artifact/enchantment recursion through cards like Brilliant Restoration and Heiko Yamazaki, the General for sustained value.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet) and low-cost Samurai like Reinforced Ronin or Eiganjo Exemplar. Use Equipment like Eater of Virtue or Hero's Blade to enable modification triggers.
2. Mid-Game Pressure (Turns 4-6): Cast Risona and equip her with key tools like Sword of Vengeance or Lizard Blades. Activate solo-attack synergies with Tempered in Solitude and Peerless Samurai to generate card advantage and cost reduction.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 6-8):
   • Combat Overload: Use Odric, Lunarch Marshal to share keywords from modified creatures or create Dragon tokens with Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei.
   • Recursive Value: Recur key Equipment/enchantments with Brilliant Restoration or Norika Yamazaki, the Poet to out-resource opponents.
   • Sunforger Toolbox: Fetch game-changing instants like Generous Gift or Lightning Bolt with Sunforger to disrupt opponents mid-combat.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, preferably including a red or white source.
• Prioritize early Samurai (e.g., Akki Ronin, Selfless Samurai) and Equipment (Eater of Virtue, Bronze Cudgels).
• Look for value engines like Sram, Senior Edificer or Tempered in Solitude.
• Avoid hands lacking early plays or with only high-cost spells.

Key Tips:

• Leverage Indestructible Counters: Use Risona’s ability to survive board wipes, then rebuild with recursion like Invoke Justice.
• Optimize Sunforger: Keep mana open to fetch removal (Path to Exile, Destroy Evil) or protection (Kindled Fury) during combat.
• Synergize Modifications: Stack Equipment on low-cost Samurai like Upriser Renegade to maximize their damage multipliers.
• Timely Recursion: Use Heiko Yamazaki, the General and Norika Yamazaki, the Poet to recur key artifacts/enchantments from the graveyard after board wipes.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Minimal card draw engines beyond combat triggers, leading to frequent top-decking.
• Heavy reliance on Risona for indestructible counters; repeated removal can stall the deck.
• No graveyard hate beyond Tormod's Crypt, making it vulnerable to recursion strategies.

Moderate

• Slow mana base with multiple tapped lands (Boros Garrison, Wind-Scarred Crag).
• Weak to mass artifact/enchantment removal (Farewell, Vandalblast), which cripples modification synergies.
• Limited stack interaction; relies on reactive spells fetched via Sunforger.

Minor

• Token strategies can outpace single-creature combat focus.
• Struggles against flyers without Mothrider Patrol or Befriending the Moths.

Most Important Cards:

• Sunforger (Instant-speed toolbox and combat trick enabler)
• Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei (Dragon token generator and haste enabler)
• Odric, Lunarch Marshal (Keyword spreader for combat dominance)
• Brilliant Restoration (Mass recursion for artifacts/enchantments)
• Eater of Virtue (Persistent keyword buffs and Equipment synergy)
• Invoke Justice (Recursion and +1/+1 counter distribution)
• Tempered in Solitude (Card advantage engine for solo attacks)
• Imperial Oath (Token generation and scry for consistency)
• Selfless Samurai (Lifelink enabler and indestructible grant)
• Peerless Samurai (Cost reduction for follow-up plays)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can establish moderate board presence by turn 5-6 but lacks explosive combos or fast mana for earlier wins.

Resilience: 4/10

• Recursion options exist but depend on key pieces staying in play; vulnerable to repeated removal.

Consistency: 5/10

• Limited tutors and draw engines make the strategy reliant on top-decks despite some Saga/recursion value.

Interaction: 6/10

• Efficient targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Chaos Warp) and Sunforger flexibility, but lacks counterspells.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a mid-powered casual build with clear combat-focused goals but lacks the speed and resilience of optimized lists. Its T7-8 win potential and vulnerability to common disruption place it slightly above precon level, relying on incremental value rather than overwhelming synergy.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0