Overview:

This Orzhov equipment voltron deck leverages Obzedat, Ghost Council as a resilient commander, combining lifegain synergies with a dense suite of equipment and tutors. The primary strategy involves suiting up Obzedat or secondary creatures like Balan, Wandering Knight or Danitha, Benalia's Hope with powerful artifacts (e.g., Colossus Hammer, Kaldra Compleat, Sword of Feast and Famine) to eliminate opponents via commander damage. Obzedat’s self-flicker ability and equipment-based protection (Robe of Stars, Mithril Coat) help dodge removal, while stax pieces like Blind Obedience and Aura of Silence slow opponents. Secondary value engines include Necrodominance for card advantage and Smothering Tithe for ramp.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet), tutors (Stoneforge Mystic, Enlightened Tutor), or protection (Mother of Runes, Giver of Runes). Fetch key equipment like Colossus Hammer or Sword of Fire and Ice.
2. Equipments Online (Turns 3-5): Cast Obzedat or another voltron target. Use Puresteel Paladin or Sigarda's Aid to cheat equip costs. Stack equipment for lethal power/trample (e.g., Hammer + Shadowspear).
3. Protection & Pressure (Turns 5+): Activate Obzedat’s flicker to dodge removal. Use Teferi's Protection or Flawless Maneuver to survive wipes. Close games with Akroma's Will for indestructible/double strike or Rogue's Passage for unblockable damage.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, at least one equipment tutor (Stoneforge Mystic, Open the Armory), and early protection/ramp.
• Prioritize Sol Ring, Esper Sentinel, or Land Tax for consistency.
• Avoid hands lacking equipment payoffs or mana acceleration.

Key Tips:

• Use Leonin Shikari to equip at instant speed in response to removal.
• Scroll Rack + Land Tax ensures consistent draws.
• Phyrexian Reclamation and Sevinne's Reclamation recover key creatures/equipment.
• Inkshield punishes combat-heavy opponents while generating blockers.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Artifact/Equipment Hate: Vandalblast or Austere Command cripples the deck’s core strategy.
• Sacrifice Effects: Grave Pact or Farewell bypass indestructible protection.
• Anti-Tutor Tech: Opposition Agent disrupts Stoneforge Mystic/Enlightened Tutor lines.

Moderate

• Board Wipes: Requires Teferi's Protection or Guardian of Faith to recover.
• Hexproof/Shroud: Limits equipment attachment unless Arcane Lighthouse is active.
• Mana Constraints: High equip costs (e.g., Kaldra Compleat) strain resources.

Minor

• Life Total Pressure: Aggro decks can outpace lifegain from Obzedat/equipment.
• Graveyard Exile: Rest in Peace nullifies recursion from Phyrexian Reclamation.

Most Important Cards:

• Stoneforge Mystic (Tutor/cheat equipment)
• Puresteel Paladin (Free equips + card draw)
• Teferi's Protection (Board wipe immunity)
• Colossus Hammer (Voltron power spike)
• Kaldra Compleat (Evasion + removal)
• Akroma's Will (Combat finisher)
• Smothering Tithe (Ramp under stax)
• Necrodominance (Card advantage engine)
• Sigarda's Aid (Flash equips)
• Enlightened Tutor (Flexible toolbox access)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten lethal commander damage by turn 6-7 with ideal equipment stacking, but lacks fast combo finishers.

Resilience: 7/10

• Robust protection suite (hexproof, phasing, indestructible) and recursion mitigate removal, but relies on resolving key creatures.

Consistency: 8/10

• 10+ tutors (e.g., Demonic Tutor, Recruiter of the Guard) and card draw (Esper Sentinel, Sram, Senior Edificer) ensure reliable access to equipment.

Interaction: 5/10

• Targeted removal (Path to Exile, Anguished Unmaking) and stax pieces disrupt opponents, but limited stack interaction beyond Silence/Imp's Mischief.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a focused voltron build with high consistency and resilience, capable of threatening T7-8 kills through combat. While it lacks the speed of infinite combos, its tutor density and protection suite elevate it above casual tiers. However, vulnerability to artifact hate and slower clock compared to combo decks cap its power.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5