Overview:

This Saheeli, the Gifted deck is an artifact-centric build leveraging cost reduction, token generation, and explosive mana to deploy massive threats like Eldrazi titans and game-ending spells. Saheeli accelerates the strategy via her affinity-granting +1 ability and token-copying ultimate, but the deck also features strong backup engines like Urza, Lord High Artificer and Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain. The primary win conditions include overwhelming artifact swarms, massive Crackle with Power casts, and indestructible board states with Darksteel Forge/Mycosynth Lattice, supported by secondary threats like Hellkite Igniter and Mirrodin Besieged’s alt-win mode.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Izzet Signet), cost reducers (Etherium Sculptor, Liberator, Urza's Battlethopter), and token generators (Sai, Master Thopterist, Efficient Construction). Use Saheeli’s +1 to discount key spells.
2. Midgame Value (Turns 4-6): Cast high-impact artifacts like Mycosynth Lattice or Darksteel Forge using Saheeli’s affinity. Recur artifacts via Emry, Lurker of the Loch/Goblin Welder. Generate card advantage with Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain and Thopter Spy Network.
3. Endgame (Turns 6+):
   • Combat: Overwhelm with Hellkite Igniter, Cybermen Squadron’s myriad, or Eldrazi titans.
   • Spells: Cast Crackle with Power for X=5+ using artifact mana.
   • Locks: Establish Darksteel Forge + Mycosynth Lattice for indestructible permanents.
   • Alt Win: Trigger Mirrodin Besieged’s Phyrexian mode with 15+ artifacts in graveyard.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (prioritize artifact lands like Darksteel Citadel).
• Seek early ramp (Sol Ring, Etherium Sculptor) or token generators (Sai, Master Thopterist).
• Prioritize Saheeli-protection tools (Lightning Greaves, Swiftfoot Boots) in interactive metas.
• Avoid hands lacking artifact synergy or ramp.

Key Tips:

• Use Whir of Invention to tutor critical artifacts like Mycosynth Lattice or Skullclamp.
• Scrap Mastery can rebuild your board post-wipe while disrupting opponents.
• Phyrexian Metamorph/Sculpting Steel copy key artifacts like The Great Henge or opponents’ threats.
• Unwinding Clock untaps artifacts during opponents’ turns, enabling instant-speed activations.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Artifact Wipes: Vandalblast, Bane of Progress, or Consulate Crackdown cripple the deck’s mana and strategy.
• Stax Effects: Stony Silence, Collector Ouphe, or Karn, the Great Creator nullify artifact synergies.
• Exile Removal: Merciless Eviction or Farewell bypass Darksteel Forge’s indestructible.

Moderate

• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace disrupts Emry, Lurker of the Loch and Daretti, Scrap Savant.
• Countermagic: Key spells like Crackle with Power or Saheeli are vulnerable to counters.
• Fast Aggro: Struggles to stabilize if overwhelmed before establishing artifact defenses.

Minor

• Land Destruction: Strip Mine targeting artifact lands can slow mana.
• Tax Effects: Thalia, Guardian of Thraben delays early setup.

Most Important Cards:

• Mycosynth Lattice (Universal artifact synergy, enables indestructible lock)
• Darksteel Forge (Makes artifacts indestructible, critical for resilience)
• Crackle with Power (Primary spell-based finisher)
• Urza, Lord High Artificer (Mana generation, card advantage)
• Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain (Draw engine for historic spells)
• Hellkite Igniter (Scaling combat threat with artifact count)
• Whir of Invention (Tutor for game-winning artifacts)
• Emry, Lurker of the Loch (Recur key artifacts from graveyard)
• Mirrodin Besieged (Alt-win condition and token generation)
• Sai, Master Thopterist (Token generation and card draw)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten wins via combos or Eldrazi around T7-8, but lacks fast mana for cEDH-level explosiveness.

Resilience: 5/10

• Recursion (Emry, Daretti) and indestructible effects provide recovery, but over-reliance on artifacts makes it fragile to hate.

Consistency: 7/10

• Multiple tutors (Fabricate, Whir of Invention) and draw engines (Jhoira, Thopter Spy Network) ensure access to key pieces.

Interaction: 5/10

• Limited to Counterspell, Swan Song, and artifact-based removal (Steel Hellkite); struggles against resolved non-artifact threats.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a high-casual level with focused artifact synergies and T7-8 win potential via combat or combo, but its vulnerability to common artifact hate and slower setup compared to top-tier decks cap its power. The balance of tutors and resilience places it between Optimized Casual and Focused.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0