Overview:

This Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow deck employs a ninja-tribal strategy focused on evasive combat damage to trigger Yuriko's card advantage and life-drain effects. The commander serves as both the primary value engine and a win condition through repeated high-CMC reveals. Secondary paths include Assassin/Rogue synergies, extra-turn spells for multiple combat phases, and a potential Exquisite Blood/Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose lifedrain combo. The deck utilizes ninjutsu to cheat impactful creatures like Fallen Shinobi and Silent-Blade Oni while maintaining pressure through unblockable threats like Changeling Outcast.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy evasive 1-drops (Changeling Outcast, Baleful Strix) or mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet). Use Dark Ritual for explosive starts.
2. Ninjutsu Deployment (Turns 2-5): Return unblocked attackers to hand via ninjutsu, deploying threats like Yuriko, Satoru Umezawa, or Thousand-Faced Shadow to clone attackers. Activate Silver-Fur Master to reduce ninjutsu costs.
3. Value Generation (Mid-Game): Use Yuriko triggers and Black Market Connections for card advantage. Maskwood Nexus enables tribal synergies while Bolas's Citadel provides topdeck manipulation.
4. Win Conditions:
   • Yuriko Triggers: Stack high-CMC spells (Expropriate, In Garruk's Wake) via topdeck manipulation.
   • Combat: Enhance threats with Levitation and Blade of the Oni. Ramses, Assassin Lord offers an alternate wincon.
   • Lifedrain: Pair Exquisite Blood with Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose or Yuriko triggers.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Prioritize 1-2 evasive creatures (Changeling Outcast, Baleful Strix).
• Keep mana acceleration (Sol Ring, Dark Ritual) or ninjutsu enablers (Satoru Umezawa).
• Ensure at least 2-3 lands with color fixing.
• Avoid hands without early evasion or excessive high-CMC spells.

Key Tips:

• Use Walker of Secret Ways to bounce ninjas for reuse and hand intel.
• Thousand-Faced Shadow clones can duplicate Yuriko triggers or key attackers.
• Lim-Dûl's Vault and Demonic Collusion help stack high-CMC cards for Yuriko.
• Preserve counterspells (Counterspell, Negate) for board wipes or combo disruption.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board Wipes: Lacks mass recursion; rebuilding after Wrath of God requires key draws like Defossilize.
• Anti-Ability Effects: Cursed Totem/Hushbringer disable ninjutsu and ETBs.
• Combat Prevention: Propaganda-effects and flying blockers nullify the primary strategy.

Moderate

• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace disrupts Defossilize and Kami of Restless Shadows.
• Hand Disruption: Limited protection against Thoughtseize-effects targeting key combo pieces.

Minor

• Artifact/Enchantment Reliance: Maskwood Nexus and Bolas's Citadel are vulnerable to removal.
• High CMC Spells: Clunky draws with multiple 6+CMC cards can slow tempo.

Most Important Cards:

• Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow (Value engine/wincon)
• Satoru Umezawa (Ninjutsu enabler/tutor)
• Exquisite Blood (Lifedrain combo piece)
• Maskwood Nexus (Tribal synergy amplifier)
• Fallen Shinobi (Value theft engine)
• Lim-Dûl's Vault (Topdeck manipulation)
• Ramses, Assassin Lord (Alternate wincon)
• Black Market Connections (Resource generation)
• Thousand-Faced Shadow (Trigger duplication)
• Bolas's Citadel (Topdeck exploitation)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10
Can pressure life totals via Yuriko triggers as early as T3, but relies on combat damage and topdeck RNG for explosive turns.

Resilience: 5/10
Limited protection for key pieces; relies on counterspells and ninjutsu flexibility to recover from removal.

Consistency: 7/10
Strong card advantage from Yuriko and tutors, but high-CMC spells can create variance.

Interaction: 6/10
Efficient targeted removal and counterspells, but lacks board wipes and struggles against noncreature strategies.

Rating Justification:

The deck demonstrates focused speed through Yuriko triggers and ninjutsu value, capable of T6-8 wins in ideal scenarios. While resilient against spot removal, it falters against widespread disruption and lacks the redundancy of higher-tier decks.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0