Overview:

This Izzet spellslinger deck leverages Veyran, Voice of Duality to amplify triggered abilities from casting/copying instants and sorceries. The primary strategy involves deploying cost-reduction effects (Goblin Electromancer, Baral, Chief of Compliance, Stormcatch Mentor) and token generators (Talrand, Sky Summoner, Young Pyromancer, Third Path Iconoclast) to build incremental value. Win conditions center around storm-like turns enabled by rituals (Mana Geyser, Seething Song, Pyretic Ritual) and recursion (Past in Flames, Mizzix's Mastery), culminating in direct damage via Guttersnipe, Coruscation Mage, Grapeshot, or massive Comet Storm. Veyran acts as a critical engine, doubling triggers and enabling explosive turns, but the deck heavily relies on resolving multiple spells per turn and protecting its fragile payoff creatures.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Prioritize deploying cost reducers (Goblin Electromancer, Baral, Chief of Compliance, Stormcatch Mentor) and value engines (Archmage Emeritus, The Reality Chip). Use cantrips (Ponder, Preordain, Consider, Opt) to dig for key pieces and rituals. Establish token producers (Young Pyromancer, Third Path Iconoclast) for incremental pressure and blockers.
2. Mid-Game Engine (Turns 4-6): Cast Veyran, Voice of Duality with protection (Lightning Greaves, Swiftfoot Boots). Leverage draw engines (Expressive Iteration, Compulsive Research, Curiosity on a token flyer) and recursion (Mystic Sanctuary) to maintain momentum. Cast rituals to enable casting multiple spells per turn, amplifying Veyran's doubling effect on triggers like Storm-Kiln Artist (Treasures) and Runaway Steam-Kin (counters/mana).
3. Win Condition Execution (Turns 5-8):
   • Storm Burn: Chain rituals and cantrips to build a high storm count. Finish with Grapeshot (copied via Increasing Vengeance/Galvanic Iteration for lethal) or Guttersnipe/Coruscation Mage triggers amplified by Veyran.
   • Big X-Spell: Generate massive mana with Mana Geyser + copy effects or Storm-Kiln Artist Treasures. Cast Comet Storm with a large X, potentially copied for multiple targets/players.
   • Recursion Overload: Cast Past in Flames or Mizzix's Mastery to replay rituals and burn spells from the graveyard in a single explosive turn.
   • Token Overrun: Use Balmor, Battlemage Captain to give tokens +1/+0 and trample for a lethal swing after generating a wide board.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color fixing) and at least one early play: cost reducer, cantrip, or token generator.
• Prioritize hands containing a ritual + payoff (e.g., Seething Song + Veyran, Voice of Duality or Guttersnipe).
• Hands with Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, or Izzet Signet significantly improve early consistency.
• Avoid hands lacking early interaction, card draw, or a clear path to casting Veyran by turn 4-5.

Key Tips:

• Protect Veyran: Veyran is essential for doubling triggers. Deploy Lightning Greaves/Swiftfoot Boots before casting her. Use counterspells (Counterspell, Saw It Coming, Narset's Reversal) defensively.
• Sequence Rituals: Cast rituals after cost reducers are online. Use High Tide alongside Islands for explosive blue mana. Turnabout can untap lands/artifacts for a second ritual phase.
• Maximize Triggers: Cast instants after sorceries to benefit from Thousand-Year Storm copies. Copy rituals/burn spells with Dualcaster Mage, Galvanic Iteration, or Izzet Guildmage for amplified effects.
• Graveyard Setup: Use Faithless Looting, Compulsive Research, and Curiosity triggers to fill the graveyard for Past in Flames/Mizzix's Mastery turns. Mystic Sanctuary can recur key interaction or rituals.
• Interaction Timing: Hold up mana for counterspells or instant-speed interaction (Abrade, Chaos Warp) during opponents' turns to trigger prowess/payoff creatures defensively.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Extreme Vulnerability to Commander Removal: Veyran is essential for doubling triggers. Losing her repeatedly cripples the deck's explosiveness and win potential. Protection suite is minimal.
• Severely Hampered by Rule of Law Effects: Eidolon of Rhetoric, Deafening Silence, etc., prevent casting multiple spells per turn, shutting down the core strategy. No maindeck enchantment removal.
• Weak to Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void exile Past in Flames, Mizzix's Mastery, Flashback spells, and Mystic Sanctuary targets, removing key recursion lines.

Moderate

• Slow Against Aggro: Early creature pressure can overwhelm before the deck stabilizes. Board wipes (Blasphemous Act) are expensive and sorcery-speed.
• Fragile Mana Base: Reliance on tapped duals (Swiftwater Cliffs, Temple of Epiphany) slows early development. Few basics make the deck vulnerable to Blood Moon/Back to Basics.
• Susceptible to Board Wipes: Farewell, Merciless Eviction remove tokens, payoff creatures, and artifacts/enchantments simultaneously. Recovery is slow without specific recursion.

Minor

• Limited Stack Interaction: Counterspell density is low for protecting long storm turns. Relies heavily on Narset's Reversal and Memory Lapse as cheaper options.
• Can Fizzle: Storm turns without sufficient draw or mana can deplete resources without achieving lethal.

Most Important Cards:

• Veyran, Voice of Duality (Core engine: Doubles triggers, enables wins)
• Storm-Kiln Artist (Mana generation via Treasures, win condition)
• Archmage Emeritus (Primary card draw engine)
• Mana Geyser (Explosive mana for X-spells/storm turns)
• Past in Flames (Recurs instants/sorceries for combo turns)
• Guttersnipe (Primary damage payoff)
• Grapeshot (Storm finisher)
• The Reality Chip (Card advantage, topdeck manipulation)
• Third Path Iconoclast (Token generation, pressure, Curiosity target)
• Galvanic Iteration (Key spell copy effect, Flashback)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Capable of T5-6 wins via ritual chains into Grapeshot/Guttersnipe or massive Comet Storm, accelerated by cost reducers and Veyran doubling triggers. Goldfish potential is high.

Resilience: 4/10

• Heavily reliant on Veyran staying on board; minimal protection. Recursion exists but is slow/vulnerable to hate. Board wipes and targeted removal on payoff creatures cripple the game plan.

Consistency: 7/10

• High density of cantrips, rituals, and synergistic payoffs ensures frequent access to engine pieces. Tutors are limited, but card selection is strong. Veyran reliably enables explosive turns when resolved.

Interaction: 5/10

• Efficient counterspells (Counterspell, Memory Lapse) and versatile removal (Abrade, Chaos Warp) are present but low in quantity. Focuses more on protecting its own combo than disrupting opponents proactively.

Rating Justification:

This deck achieves high-speed T5-6 wins through potent storm/burn lines amplified by Veyran and rituals, placing it in the Focused Competitive tier. However, its critical vulnerability to commander removal, Rule of Law effects, and graveyard hate significantly reduces resilience, preventing higher optimization. The reliance on resolving multiple spells unimpeded limits its robustness in interactive pods.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0