Overview:

This Sultai deck helmed by Rayami, First of the Fallen focuses on exiling creatures with key keywords to turn Rayami into an evasive, resilient threat. The strategy revolves around sacrificing low-CMC creatures with valuable abilities (flying, deathtouch, hexproof, etc.) to grant Rayami permanent keyword soup, while using pod-style tutors like Birthing Pod and Prime Speaker Vannifar to chain into utility creatures. Secondary win conditions include voltron damage via equipment like Blackblade Reforged and attrition through keyword-stacked creatures like Nightveil Predator. Rayami acts as both the engine and primary wincon, requiring careful protection and recursion to maintain momentum.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy keyword-rich creatures (Baleful Strix, Vampire Nighthawk, Sylvan Caryatid), sac outlets (Viscera Seer, Ashnod's Altar), and ramp (Cultivate, Simic Signet). Prioritize exiling creatures with Rayami’s trigger to build keyword defenses.
2. Midgame Value (Turns 5-7): Use tutors (Eldritch Evolution, Neoform) to fetch high-impact creatures like Prime Speaker Vannifar or Eradicator Valkyrie. Equip Rayami with Fireshrieker or Blackblade Reforged for lethal commander damage.
3. Late Game: Leverage recursion (Evolutionary Leap, Grim Backwoods) and protection (Heroic Intervention) to maintain board presence. Close games with an unblockable, hexproof Rayami using Rogue's Passage.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, a 1-2 CMC keyword creature (e.g., Vampire of the Dire Moon), and a sac outlet or ramp.
• Prioritize early interaction (Assassin's Trophy, Counterspell) against stax-heavy metas.
• Avoid hands lacking creatures or ways to protect Rayami.

Key Tips:

• Use Darksteel Myr as a recurring indestructible source for Rayami.
• Evolutionary Leap and Birthing Ritual enable creature cycling while feeding Rayami’s keyword triggers.
• Raised by Giants turns Rayami into a 10/10 Giant, enabling faster commander damage kills.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander Dependency: Rayami’s removal cripples the deck’s keyword accumulation. Limited protection beyond Heroic Intervention.
• Slow Setup: Lacks explosive ramp, requiring multiple turns to assemble keywords and equipment.

Moderate

• Graveyard Disruption: Exiling Rayami’s blood-countered creatures (e.g., Rest in Peace) resets progress.
• Artifact/Enchantment Hate: Key pieces like Birthing Pod and Blackblade Reforged are vulnerable.

Minor

• Limited Card Draw: Relies on situational engines like Hollowmurk Siege and Vampiric Rites.
• Inefficient Interaction: Minimal stack control beyond Counterspell and Negate.

Most Important Cards:

• Birthing Pod (Tutor chain enabler)
• Prime Speaker Vannifar (Creature toolbox tutor)
• Heroic Intervention (Critical protection)
• Blackblade Reforged (Voltron damage amplifier)
• Ashnod's Altar (Sac outlet + mana acceleration)
• Baleful Strix (Flying/deathtouch source + draw)
• Nightveil Predator (Hexproof/flying/deathtouch threat)
• Eradicator Valkyrie (Board control + evasion)
• Viscera Seer (Sac outlet + scry)
• Sylvan Caryatid (Hexproof mana dork)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Threatens wins via commander damage or stacked keywords around T8-10. Lacks fast mana or combo finishers.

Resilience: 4/10

• Moderately reliant on Rayami staying alive. Limited recursion and protection outside key spells.

Consistency: 6/10

• Multiple tutors (Pod, Vannifar) and sac outlets improve access to key pieces, but lacks redundancy for critical roles.

Interaction: 5/10

• Efficient targeted removal (Beast Within, Assassin's Trophy) but minimal counterspells or stax.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a midrange voltron strategy with a T8-10 combat win clock, relying on incremental keyword stacking and equipment synergies. While tutors improve consistency, its dependency on Rayami and vulnerability to removal align it with Casual/Precon tiers.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5