Overview:

This Azorius (W/U) deck helmed by Niko, Light of Hope focuses on enchantment synergies and flicker/blink effects to generate value through creature recursion and token generation. The strategy leverages enter-the-battlefield (ETB) triggers from creatures like Restoration Angel and Sun Titan, while using enchantments like Valkyrie's Call and Luminous Broodmoth to create resilient board states. The deck aims to win through incremental value, combat damage from flying tokens, and situational combos like Silent Hallcreeper copying key creatures. Niko serves as both a token generator and a way to protect/value-engineer creatures via temporary cloning effects.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Azorius Signet) and value enchantments (Authority of the Consuls, Leyline of Anticipation). Use cheap flicker effects (Ephemerate, Cloudshift) to protect creatures or retrigger ETBs.
2. Midgame Value (Turns 4-7): Establish recursive engines with Luminous Broodmoth and Valkyrie's Call. Generate Shard tokens with Niko and convert them into card advantage. Use Ghostly Dancers and Dour Port-Mage to recur enchantments and maintain hand advantage.
3. Win Conditions:
   • Combat: Overwhelm with flying tokens from Ghostly Dancers, Overlord of the Mistmoors, and Angel transformations from Valkyrie's Call.
   • Synergy Combos: Use Silent Hallcreeper to copy key creatures like Body of Knowledge for massive card draw or Sun Titan for recursion.
   • Control Lock: Combine Fear of Sleep Paralysis stun counters with The Eternal Wanderer's board control to limit opponents' options.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands and at least one mana rock or ramp artifact.
• Prioritize early interaction (Path to Exile, Counterspell) or value engines (Curiosity Crafter, Enduring Innocence).
• Avoid hands with only high-cost cards like Overlord of the Mistmoors or multiple situational enchantments.

Key Tips:

• Use Niko's Shard tokens as both card draw fuel and cloning targets for key creatures.
• Chain flicker effects with Sun Titan to recur low-CMC permanents like Authority of the Consuls.
• Leyline of Anticipation enables surprise blocks and instant-speed flicker protection.
• Hourglass of the Lost can recover multiple key permanents after board wipes.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Lacks reliable win conditions - no infinite combos or overwhelming finishers
• Minimal protection against enchantment removal (only 3 counterspells)
• Weak to mass artifact/enchantment destruction (Vandalblast, Bane of Progress)

Moderate

• Slow mana base with multiple taplands and limited ramp
• Over-reliant on creature-based value vulnerable to board wipes
• Limited card advantage engines beyond situational triggers

Minor

• Inconsistent Room mechanics implementation
• Multiple "win-more" cards (Body of Knowledge, Ocelot Pride)
• No graveyard recursion beyond Sun Titan

Most Important Cards:

• Luminous Broodmoth (Recursion engine for non-flyers)
• Valkyrie's Call (Angel transformation value engine)
• Sun Titan (Recurrence of low-CMC permanents)
• Leyline of Anticipation (Flash enabler for reactive plays)
• Silent Hallcreeper (Potential combo enabler)
• The Eternal Wanderer (Board control and token generation)
• Ephemerate (Protection + ETB retrigger)
• Ghostly Dancers (Token generation + enchantment recursion)
• Curiosity Crafter (Token-based card draw)
• Hourglass of the Lost (Late-game recursion)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 3/10

• No fast mana or early threats; earliest impactful plays occur T3-4 with optimal draws.

Resilience: 5/10

• Moderate protection via flicker effects and some recursion, but key engines remain vulnerable.

Consistency: 4/10

• Limited tutors and card selection; relies on drawing synergistic pieces naturally.

Interaction: 6/10

• Decent removal suite (7 targeted, 4 counterspells) but lacks stack control for noncreatures.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a casual precon level with slow but synergistic value generation, lacking both the speed of optimized decks and the resilience of dedicated flicker builds. While containing some powerful individual cards, its win conditions are too slow and fragile to threaten tables before T10-12 consistently.

Power level: 3.5 - 4.0