Overview:
This is a theft and control-based Grixis deck that leverages opponent's resources while maintaining card advantage through various value engines. The deck aims to win through a combination of stolen spells, combat damage, and occasional big plays like Insurrection or Rise of the Dark Realms.
Primer:
The deck operates on multiple axes, with Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge serving as both a value engine and potential combo piece. The primary gameplan involves establishing early card advantage through powerful enchantments like Rhystic Study, Mystic Remora, and Necropotence, while deploying theft effects through creatures like Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer, Fallen Shinobi, and Opposition Agent.
The secondary strategy involves controlling the game through countermagic and removal while building up resources through treasure generation and card advantage. The deck can pivot between aggressive strategies with creatures like Ancient Copper Dragon and more controlling plays depending on the game state. The inclusion of multiple tutors allows for consistency in finding key pieces, while cards like Underworld Breach provide potential combo finishes.
Weaknesses:
- The deck is vulnerable to graveyard hate, which shuts down several key recursion elements.
- Heavy reliance on enchantments makes it susceptible to enchantment removal.
- The mana base is somewhat slow with many lands entering tapped, and the relatively low land count (31) can lead to consistency issues.
Most Important Cards:
- Necropotence
- Rhystic Study
- Opposition Agent
- Dauthi Voidwalker
- Ancient Copper Dragon
- Demonic Tutor
- Sol Ring
- Underworld Breach
- Black Market Connections
- Prosper, Tome-Bound
Attribute Ratings:
- Speed: 6/10
- Resilience: 7/10
- Consistency: 7/10
- Interaction: 8/10
Rating Justification:
This deck sits comfortably in the 6.5-7.0 range due to its ability to consistently generate value and interact with opponents while maintaining a reasonable win condition package. While it lacks the explosive fast mana and turn 3-4 wins of higher-powered decks, it can establish strong board control by turn 5-6 and maintain that advantage through multiple value engines. The interaction suite and ability to play at instant speed gives it game against stronger decks, but it's not quite optimized enough to compete at the highest levels.
Final power level rating: 6.7 - 7.0
The deck shows strong optimization within its strategy but deliberately avoids some of the most powerful options available in these colors. It's positioned well for focused competitive pods but would struggle against true cEDH decks that can win consistently before it establishes its engine pieces.
Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge