Overview:

This Yuriko deck is a high-powered ninja tribal build focused on leveraging Yuriko's triggered ability to drain opponents while drawing into high mana value bombs. It combines evasive 1-drops, efficient ninjas, topdeck manipulation, and free interaction to create a potent tempo/control hybrid strategy.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
Deploy unblockable creatures (Changeling Outcast, Gingerbrute) to enable Yuriko ninjutsu by turn 2-3. Use topdeck manipulation (Brainstorm, Scroll Rack) to reveal high MV cards like Draco and Shadow of Mortality for massive life drain. Protect the engine with free counterspells (Force of Will, Fierce Guardianship) while chaining extra turns (Temporal Trespass) and cloning effects (Thousand-Faced Shadow) to multiply triggers. Win through either cumulative Yuriko damage or overwhelming card advantage.

Key Lines:

• T1: Evasive creature -> T2: Ninjutsu Yuriko -> T3: Arcane Adaptation making all creatures Ninjas
• Roaming Throne naming Ninja to double Yuriko triggers
• Temporal Mastery into Temporal Trespass for 3 combat phases in 2 turns
• Lim-Dûl's Vault to stack Draco on top before damage

Mulligan Priorities:

1. At least 2 lands (preferably untapped)
2. 1-2 evasive creatures
3. Topdeck manipulation or protection
4. Pitchable blue cards for Force effects

Critical Sequencing:

• Always hold mana for free counters when Yuriko is on board
• Use Smoke Shroud recursion from graveyard to enhance key attackers
• Time Cover of Darkness after opponents commit blockers

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Heavy commander reliance (3+ removals cripples ninjutsu engine)
• Vulnerable to Cursed Totem/Torpor Orb effects

Moderate:

• Limited graveyard recursion for key pieces
• Struggles against go-wide token strategies

Minor:

• Life payment synergies (Black Market Connections) can become risky

Most Important Cards:

• Arcane Adaptation
• Cover of Darkness
• Draco
• Roaming Throne
• Scroll Rack
• Temporal Trespass
• Force of Will
• Demonic Tutor
• Lim-Dûl's Vault
• Thousand-Faced Shadow

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10
Can establish lethal pressure by T5 through extra turns and cloned Yuriko triggers. Multiple T3-T4 lines with optimal draws (e.g., T1 Universal Automaton, T2 Yuriko + Imperial Seal to stack Draco).

Resilience: 7/10
12 free/low-cost interaction spells and 8 protection effects, but overrelies on Yuriko staying in play. Recovers poorly from multiple wipes.

Consistency: 9/10
15 tutors/topdeck manipulators, 8 Ninja redundancy pieces, and 6 clone effects ensure consistent access to key components.

Interaction: 8/10
Premium counterspells (Force of Negation, Fierce Guardianship) and targeted removal (Toxic Deluge, Damnation). Lacks permanent-based answers.

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between Focused Competitive (7.0) and Highly Optimized (7.5) on the rubric. It consistently threatens T5-6 kills through layered interaction and redundancy, but isn't quite at T4 cEDH speeds. The combination of free interaction, high tutor density, and multiple angles of attack (direct damage, card advantage, tempo) push it beyond typical optimized casual builds. However, its commander dependency and lack of true infinite combos prevent it from reaching tier 1 cEDH status.

Power level: 7.0 - 7.5