Overview:

This Azorius equipment/artifact deck helmed by Ayesha Tanaka, Armorer focuses on enhancing Ayesha's power to cheat high-impact artifacts into play via her attack trigger. The strategy revolves around equipping Ayesha with low-CMC equipment (e.g., Paradise Mantle, Umezawa's Jitte) to increase her power incrementally, enabling her to deploy larger artifacts like The Immortal Sun or Argentum Armor for free. Secondary themes include artifact synergy (Unwinding Clock, Master Transmuter), equipment recursion (Academy Ruins, Brilliant Restoration), and combat-focused voltron elements. Ayesha is critical to the strategy, as her evasion (unblockable vs. artifact-heavy opponents) and artifact-cheating ability form the deck's engine.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Azorius Signet), low-CMC equipment (Shadowspear, Sword of Vengeance), and protection (Swiftfoot Boots). Use tutors like Steelshaper's Gift or Stonehewer Giant to fetch key equipment.
2. Power Boosting (Turns 3-5): Equip Ayesha with incremental power boosts (Leering Emblem, Nettlecyst) to raise her power to 4-6. Activate Liquimetal Torque to turn opponents' permanents into artifacts, enabling Ayesha's evasion.
3. Artifact Cheating (Turns 5+): Attack with Ayesha to deploy high-value artifacts like Planar Bridge or Kuldotha Forgemaster for free. Use Strionic Resonator to double her trigger.
4. Win Conditions:
   • Voltron: Stack equipment like Blackblade Reforged and Argentum Armor on Ayesha for lethal commander damage.
   • Artifact Overload: Overwhelm opponents with value from The Immortal Sun, Torrential Gearhulk, and recursive threats via Brilliant Restoration.
   • Combo Potential: Isochron Scepter imprinted with Counterspell or An Offer You Can't Refuse for control, paired with Unwinding Clock for repeated activations.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, at least one ramp artifact (e.g., Sol Ring, Liquimetal Torque).
• Prioritize early equipment (Paradise Mantle, Sword of Feast and Famine) or tutors.
• Avoid hands lacking equipment or ways to protect Ayesha.

Key Tips:

• Use Master Transmuter to bounce/replay artifacts like The Immortal Sun for repeated ETB value.
• Proteus Staff can transform weak creatures into threats like Inkwell Leviathan.
• Glaring Spotlight ensures Ayesha connects against hexproof-heavy boards.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander Reliance: Ayesha's removal cripples the artifact-cheating engine, and her high recast cost (7+ mana) makes recovery difficult.
• Artifact Wipes: Vandalblast or Farewell annihilates the deck's board presence with minimal recursion outside Brilliant Restoration.

Moderate

• Slow Setup: Limited early-game threats; the deck struggles if Ayesha is removed before equipping.
• Anti-Equipment Hate: Collector Ouphe or Null Rod shuts down equipment activations and mana rocks.

Minor

• Graveyard Reliance: Rest in Peace disrupts Brilliant Restoration and Academy Ruins loops.
• Flying Threats: Limited aerial blockers outside Inkwell Leviathan.

Most Important Cards:

• Ayesha Tanaka, Armorer (Engine for cheating artifacts)
• Stonehewer Giant (Tutor and equip enabler)
• Hammer of Nazahn (Auto-equip and indestructible)
• Unwinding Clock (Untap artifacts for multiple activations)
• The Immortal Sun (Value multiplier)
• Strionic Resonator (Double Ayesha's trigger)
• Kuldotha Forgemaster (Tutor any artifact)
• Brilliant Restoration (Mass artifact recursion)
• Sword of Feast and Famine (Mana acceleration + protection)
• Master Transmuter (Artifact recursion/combo enabler)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Threatens meaningful board states by T5-7 but lacks fast mana or turbo-equip tools to accelerate earlier.

Resilience: 4/10

• Limited protection beyond hexproof equipment; heavy reliance on Ayesha makes the deck fragile to repeated removal.

Consistency: 6/10

• Multiple equipment tutors and card draw (The Immortal Sun, Thought Monitor) provide reliable access to key pieces.

Interaction: 5/10

• Moderate counterspells (Counterspell, An Offer You Can't Refuse) and targeted removal (Get Lost), but lacks board wipes.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a focused casual build with a clear equipment/artifact synergy plan but suffers from commander dependency and slow setup. Its T7-9 win potential via combat or incremental value aligns with the "Focused Casual" tier, though resilience issues cap its ceiling.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0