Overview:

This Mardu (RWB) deck revolves around token generation, sacrifice synergies, and attack triggers with Caesar, Legion's Emperor as the central engine. The primary strategy involves creating a wide board of tokens (especially Soldiers), attacking to activate Caesar's ability, sacrificing tokens for value, and leveraging death/drain effects like Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim and Bastion of Remembrance to whittle down opponents. Caesar enables card draw, token generation, and direct damage while synergizing with attack/doublers like Isshin, Two Heavens as One. The deck wins through combat overruns amplified by anthems (Captain of the Watch), sacrifice-based life drain, and direct damage from Caesar/Mirkwood Bats.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, signets) and low-cost token generators (Oketra's Monument, Bastion of Remembrance). Prioritize establishing Caesar by turn 4.
2. Token Swarm & Attack (Turns 4-7): Attack with Caesar + tokens, sacrificing one to trigger Caesar. Choose "create 2 Soldiers" and "draw a card" for value, or "deal damage" if tokens are abundant. Scale with mass token producers (Rabble Rousing, Increasing Devotion).
3. Amplify Triggers: Play doublers like Teysa Karlov (death triggers) or Isshin, Two Heavens as One (attack triggers) to magnify Caesar, drain effects, and token payoffs.
4. Win Condition Execution:
   • Combat: Overrun with token armies boosted by Felidar Retreat, Akroma's Will, or Captain of the Watch.
   • Sacrifice/Drain: Sacrifice tokens to Caesar/Deadly Dispute while Mirkwood Bats, Mayhem Devil, and Cruel Celebrant drain opponents.
   • Finishers: Resolve Finale of Glory for a massive swing or Ruinous Ultimatum to clear the path.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color fixing) and at least one early token generator or ramp artifact.
• Prioritize Caesar enablers: low-CMC creatures for sacrifice fodder or token producers like Bastion of Remembrance.
• Avoid hands lacking ramp or with only high-CMC spells (e.g., Ruinous Ultimatum without setup).

Key Tips:

• Sacrifice Sequencing: Use Caesar's sacrifice after declaring attackers but before damage to maximize token creation for that combat phase.
• Protect Engines: Deploy Unbreakable Formation or Akroma's Will defensively against wipes. Skullclamp on 1/1 tokens for card draw.
• Leverage Doublers: Isshin, Two Heavens as One makes Caesar trigger twice per attack, enabling explosive turns.
• Recover Smartly: Use Marshal's Anthem or Battle of Hoover Dam (NCR mode) to rebuild after wipes.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board Wipes: Heavy reliance on tokens makes Farewell/Blasphemous Act devastating. Limited recovery beyond slow recursion.
• Commander Reliance: Caesar removal cripples the engine; lacks efficient protection beyond Unbreakable Formation.
• Anti-Token Hate: Cursed Totem/Torpor Orb shuts down token ETBs and Caesar's sacrifice outlet.

Moderate

• Graveyard Disruption: Rest in Peace nullifies recursion from Marshal's Anthem/Battle of Hoover Dam.
• Stax Effects: Rule of Law limits token-spam turns; Blood Moon strains mana fixing.

Minor

• Flying Threats: Limited reach to block flyers; relies on drain effects for mitigation.
• Artifact/Enchantment Focus: Key pieces (Skullclamp, Rabble Rousing) vulnerable to targeted removal.

Most Important Cards:

• Isshin, Two Heavens as One (Doubles Caesar's attack triggers)
• Teysa Karlov (Doubles death/drain triggers)
• Mirkwood Bats (Primary drain engine for token creation/sacrifice)
• Pitiless Plunderer (Generates Treasures from deaths, enabling more plays)
• Rabble Rousing (Scaling token generation and potential free spell)
• Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim (Life drain/gain on creature ETB/death)
• Bastion of Remembrance (Token on ETB + drain on death)
• Skullclamp (Draw engine when equipped to tokens)
• Akroma's Will (Combat finisher/board protection)
• Mayhem Devil (Ping damage on every sacrifice)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten wins via combat/drain around turns 7-9 with ideal setups (e.g., Caesar + Isshin + token swarm), but lacks fast mana or turbo combos.

Resilience: 5/10

• Recovers slowly from wipes due to limited card draw/recursion; heavily reliant on Caesar staying alive. Protection is sparse outside Unbreakable Formation.

Consistency: 6/10

• Multiple token generators and payoffs provide redundancy, but tutors are weak (Lagomos, Hand of Hatred is conditional). Draw relies on Caesar/sacrifices.

Interaction: 7/10

• Strong targeted removal (Anguished Unmaking, Lethal Scheme, Wear // Tear) and board wipes (Blasphemous Act, Farewell), but lacks counterspells.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a focused token-sacrifice engine with clear win lines (combat/drain) and solid interaction, but its T7-9 win speed and vulnerability to board wipes/commander removal place it below optimized tiers. Resilience issues prevent higher consistency.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0