Overview:

This Etrata, Deadly Fugitive deck focuses on Assassin tribal synergies and value generation through cloaking opponents' cards. The primary strategy involves evasive combat damage with Assassins to trigger Etrata's cloaking ability, supplemented by creature-type manipulation (Arcane Adaptation) and payoff engines like Kindred Discovery. Win conditions include incremental value from exiled cards, Ramses' alt-win trigger, and combat damage from unblockable/deathtouch threats.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck aims to deploy evasive Assassins (Changeling Outcast, Cover of Darkness) to trigger Etrata's cloaking ability, generating card advantage and casting opponents' exiled spells. Key phases:

1. Early Setup: Play 1-2 mana Assassins (Hired Poisoner) while establishing creature-type enablers (Arcane Adaptation) and evasion (Shizo).
2. Midgame Engine: Use Training Grounds to cheaply flip cloaked cards while deploying value engines (Thassa, Conjurer's Closet) to reuse ETB effects.
3. Finishers: Overwhelm with Ramses' alt-win condition or Kindred Dominance-backed alpha strikes. Backup plans include casting high-impact exiled cards.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with early Assassins (1-2 CMC) and evasion enablers (Cover of Darkness, Access Tunnel)
• Prioritize lands supporting UB pip requirements (Watery Grave over basics)
• Avoid hands lacking creature-type manipulation or combat triggers

Key Tips:

• Use Ghostly Flicker on Etrata to reset her after removal while reusing key ETBs
• Hold mana for free interaction (Fierce Guardianship) when deploying Ramses
• Prioritize flipping cloaked creatures during opponents' end steps to preserve mana

Avoid Traps:

• Overcommitting to board before establishing evasion
• Wasting removal on non-critical threats when holding key Assassins
• Flipping cloaked cards without mana to cast them immediately

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Heavy reliance on combat damage triggers (folds to Propaganda/Ghostly Prison effects)
• Limited recovery from board wipes (only Unearth/Reanimate)

Moderate:

• Vulnerable to flying blockers (only 4 flyers in deck)
• Cloak mechanic requires substantial mana investment

Minor:

• Some high-CMC payoffs (Kindred Dominance) risk being dead cards

Most Important Cards:

• Arcane Adaptation
• Ramses, Assassin Lord
• Cover of Darkness
• Kindred Dominance
• Training Grounds
• Demonic Tutor
• Vampiric Tutor
• Fierce Guardianship
• Thassa, Deep-Dwelling
• Kindred Discovery

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• No fast mana beyond Sol Ring
• Primary win condition requires multiple combat phases (T8+)

Resilience: 6/10

• Free protection spells (Fierce Guardianship)
• Limited recursion (Vat of Rebirth, Unearth)
• Vulnerable to repeated board wipes

Consistency: 7/10

• 5 tutors (Demonic/Vampiric/Imperial Seal + 2 land fetchers)
• Redundant creature-type manipulation (Leyline of Transformation)

Interaction: 6/10

• S-tier: Fierce Guardianship, Deadly Rollick
• A-tier: Swan Song, Dismember
• Weak board wipe coverage

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between "Optimized Casual" (5.0) and "Focused" (6.0) on the rubric. While it lacks cEDH-speed combos, its tutor density and free interaction exceed typical precon levels. The T8+ win clock and vulnerability to stax effects prevent higher ratings, but the coherent tribal strategy and redundancy justify placement above upgraded jank tiers.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0