Overview:

This Rafiq of the Many deck focuses on leveraging the Exalted mechanic to enable a single, massive creature to deal lethal combat damage. Rafiq amplifies this strategy by granting double strike to creatures attacking alone, turning even modest threats into one-hit kills. The deck combines evasive creatures like Invisible Stalker and Blighted Agent with equipment/aura synergies (e.g., Blackblade Reforged, Sovereigns of Lost Alara) to create unblockable, protected threats. Secondary win conditions include infect via Blighted Agent and an "angel lock" using The Book of Exalted Deeds. Rafiq is critical to the strategy, as his double strike enables explosive damage and synergizes with Exalted triggers.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3):
   • Ramp with Cultivate, Nature's Lore, or mana dorks like Noble Hierarch.
   • Deploy Exalted enablers (e.g., Akrasan Squire, Sublime Archangel) to build attack triggers.
   • Tutor key equipment with Stoneforge Mystic (e.g., Lightning Greaves, Sword of Feast and Famine).

2. Mid-Game Threats (Turns 4-6):

   • Cast Rafiq and protect him with Teferi's Protection or hexproof equipment.
   • Equip evasive creatures (e.g., Blighted Agent) with power-boosting gear like Behemoth Sledge or Blackblade Reforged.
   • Use Sovereigns of Lost Alara to cheat in game-winning auras (e.g., Eldrazi Conscription—not listed but implied by Sovereigns’ ability).

3. Win Conditions:

   • Combat Damage: Attack with a single creature buffed by 5+ Exalted triggers and Rafiq’s double strike for 20+ damage.
   • Infect: Eliminate players in 1-2 hits via unblockable Blighted Agent with double strike.
   • Angel Lock: Use The Book of Exalted Deeds to grant an Angel "can’t lose" text, stalling until combat victory.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, early ramp, and at least one Exalted creature or equipment tutor.
• Prioritize Rafiq protection (e.g., Swiftfoot Boots) in removal-heavy metas.
• Avoid hands without green mana for ramp.

Key Tips:

• Use Finest Hour to chain combat phases for multiple Exalted triggers.
• Sword of Feast and Famine untaps lands post-combat, enabling follow-up plays.
• Shalai, Voice of Plenty protects your board from targeted disruption.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Reliance on Rafiq: The deck falters if Rafiq is repeatedly removed or taxed.
• Board Wipes: Lacks mass recursion; rebuilding after Wrath of God is slow.
• Artifact/Enchantment Hate: Vandalblast or Bane of Progress cripples equipment/aura dependencies.

Moderate

• Limited Card Draw: Relies on Toski, Bearer of Secrets and Consecrated Sphinx—vulnerable to removal.
• Inefficient Exalted Payoffs: Many low-impact Exalted creatures (e.g., Dawnray Archer).

Minor

• Slow Mana Base: Multiple tapped lands (e.g., Temples) delay early plays.
• No Infinite Combos: Wins through combat alone, which is disruptable.

Most Important Cards:

• Rafiq of the Many (Double strike enabler)
• Blighted Agent (Infect win condition)
• Sovereigns of Lost Alara (Aura cheat engine)
• Stoneforge Mystic (Tutors critical equipment)
• Finest Hour (Extra combats for lethal)
• The Book of Exalted Deeds (Alternate win lock)
• Sword of Feast and Famine (Mana untap + protection)
• Teferi's Protection (Board wipe insurance)
• Noble Hierarch (Mana + Exalted trigger)
• Lightning Greaves (Protects Rafiq)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten lethal via Rafiq + Exalted/equipment by Turn 5-6, but lacks fast mana for earlier kills.

Resilience: 5/10

• Limited protection beyond equipment hexproof and Teferi’s Protection; struggles against repeated removal.

Consistency: 6/10

• Tutors for equipment and ramp ensure core pieces are found, but Exalted payoffs are diluted by low-impact creatures.

Interaction: 5/10

• Spot removal (Swords to Plowshares, Bant Charm) is efficient but lacks counterspell density or stax elements.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at Optimized Casual levels, threatening T6-8 kills through combat but lacking the speed (no fast mana) and resilience (fragile to removal) of higher tiers. Its Exalted theme and equipment synergies are cohesive but outclassed by combo-centric strategies.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5