Overview:

This Jeskai (U/R/W) deck leverages Shiko, Paragon of the Way as a value engine, focusing on flicker effects and spell recursion to generate explosive turns. The strategy revolves around exiling low-CMC cards from the graveyard with Shiko’s ETB ability, copying them for free, and pairing this with ETB synergies (e.g., Ardent Elementalist, Felidar Guardian) and combo lines (e.g., Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Twinflame). Shiko enables recursion of key interaction or combo pieces, while the deck’s flicker subtheme protects creatures and amplifies value engines like Whirlwind of Thought and Jeskai Ascendancy. While Shiko isn’t strictly essential, it significantly boosts the deck’s late-game value and redundancy.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4):
   • Ramp with signets/talismans (e.g., Azorius Signet, Talisman of Progress).
   • Fill the graveyard with low-CMC spells via looting (Faithless Looting, Compulsive Research).
   • Deploy value creatures (Brago, King Eternal, Teleportation Circle) or protection (Ghostly Prison).

2. Midgame Value (Turns 4-6):

   • Cast Shiko to recur key spells (e.g., counterspells, removal, or combo enablers).
   • Flicker Shiko or other ETB creatures (Ephemerate, Cloudshift) to generate card advantage.
   • Assemble combo pieces:
     • Kiki-Jiki + Dualcaster Mage/Twinflame for infinite hasty tokens.
     • Brago + Felidar Guardian for infinite flicker loops.

3. Win Conditions (Turns 6-8+):

   • Overwhelm with combat using tokens (from Kykar, Wind’s Fury) or Shiko’s flying body.
   • Trigger Terror of the Peaks or Warstorm Surge with repeated ETBs.
   • Resolve infinite combos for immediate victory.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, at least one ramp artifact, and a card-advantage engine (e.g., Whirlwind of Thought).
• Prioritize early interaction (Counterspell, Path to Exile) or graveyard fillers (Glimpse the Impossible).
• Avoid hands without ramp or graveyard setup.

Key Tips:

• Use Ghostway or Semester’s End to dodge board wipes and retrigger Shiko/ETBs.
• Frantic Search and Brainsurge help dig for combo pieces while fueling Shiko’s ability.
• Eldrazi Displacer provides repeatable flicker for Shiko or value creatures.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (e.g., Rest in Peace) cripples Shiko’s recursion and limits spell recovery.
• Torpor Orb effects nullify ETB synergies, shutting down combos and value engines.
• Instant-speed removal disrupts Kiki-Jiki/Dualcaster combos before they resolve.

Moderate

• Heavy reliance on artifacts for ramp makes the deck vulnerable to Vandalblast-style effects.
• Limited protection for key creatures (e.g., no Swiftfoot Boots or Deflecting Swat).

Minor

• High-CMC spells (e.g., Warstorm Surge) can lead to clunky hands without sufficient ramp.

Most Important Cards:

• Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker (Primary combo enabler)
• Dualcaster Mage (Combo piece with Twinflame/Kiki-Jiki)
• Felidar Guardian (Flicker engine/combo piece with Brago)
• Terror of the Peaks (Damage amplifier for ETB strategies)
• Whirlwind of Thought (Card draw engine for noncreature spells)
• Brago, King Eternal (Value generator and combo enabler)
• Teleportation Circle (Repeatable flicker for ETBs)
• Frantic Search (Graveyard setup and card selection)
• Ephemerate (Protection and ETB recursion)
• Jeskai Ascendancy (Buff, untap, and card filtering)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can threaten wins via combat or combo by turns 7-8, but lacks fast mana to accelerate consistently.

Resilience: 5/10

• Flicker effects protect creatures, but combos are fragile to interaction, and recovery from graveyard hate is limited.

Consistency: 5/10

• Relies on card draw over tutors, making combo assembly inconsistent. Shiko’s recursion helps mitigate this.

Interaction: 6/10

• Includes counterspells (Dissipate, Negate) and targeted removal (Rip Apart), but lacks stack control for high-power metas.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a focused midrange combo/ETB list with T7-8 win potential, but its reliance on unprotected combos and susceptibility to common hate pieces limits its ceiling. Speed and resilience align with the Optimized Casual tier, while its interaction suite and consistency keep it below cEDH viability.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5