Overview:

This Boros deck leverages Joshua's discard/draw ETB to fuel graveyard-centric strategies and damage amplification. The transformed Phoenix Saga provides recurring board damage and creature recursion, enabling a resilient midrange plan. Primary win conditions involve stacking damage multipliers like Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might and Fiery Emancipation with mass damage sources (Blasphemous Act, Phoenix Saga triggers) or combat via token swarms. Secondary lines include Underworld Breach recursion loops and Zirda, the Dawnwaker cost reduction synergies. Joshua serves as both card filter and transformation enabler, though the deck functions reasonably without it.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy ramp (Sol Ring, Mana Vault, Ruby Medallion) and discard outlets (Faithless Looting, Inti, Seneschal of the Sun). Cast Joshua for filtering or hold for protection.
2. Engine Activation (Turns 4-6): Transform Joshua into Phoenix Saga for recurring damage. Leverage discard payoffs (Monument to Endurance, Banon, the Returners' Leader) while establishing damage amplifiers (Ojer Axonil, City on Fire). Use wheels (Wheel of Fortune, Snort) to refill.
3. Win Execution (Turns 5-8):
   • Mass Damage: Pair amplified Saga triggers/Blasphemous Act with Fiery Emancipation or Ojer Axonil.
   • Combat: Overrun with tokens from Anim Pakal, Thousandth Moon/Otharri, Suns' Glory enhanced by Warleader's Call.
   • Combo: Underworld Breach + Wheel of Misfortune + cost reducers for storm turns.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including red/white sources.
• Prioritize early ramp, a discard outlet, or a damage amplifier.
• Ensure at least one piece of interaction (e.g., Deflecting Swat, Swords to Plowshares).
• Avoid hands lacking early plays or clogged with high-CMC cards.

Key Tips:

• Transform Timing: Activate Joshua's transform ability only when Phoenix Saga's damage or recursion will impact the board immediately.
• Graveyard Management: Use Underworld Breach for critical sorceries (e.g., Farewell, Akroma's Will). Monument to Endurance turns discards into direct value.
• Amplifier Stacking: Sequence damage multipliers carefully—Ojer Axonil applies before Fiery Emancipation.
• Protection: Deploy Lightning Greaves/Teferi's Protection before committing key pieces like Ojer Axonil.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Severe vulnerability to graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void), crippling recursion and discard payoffs.
• Heavy reliance on noncreature permanents for damage amplification makes it weak to mass enchantment/artifact removal (Farewell, Austere Command).

Moderate

• Board wipes disrupt token/recursion strategies; recovery relies on limited recursion (Phoenix Saga, Karmic Guide).
• Cursed Totem/Null Rod shuts down activated abilities from Staff of Compleation, mana rocks, and utility creatures.

Minor

• Limited stack interaction beyond protection spells; struggles against uncounterable combos.
• Mana base has 8 ETB-tapped lands, potentially slowing early turns.

Most Important Cards:

• Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might (Damage amplification cornerstone)
• Underworld Breach (Recursion engine enabling combo lines)
• Fiery Emancipation (Triples damage for mass burn wins)
• Monument to Endurance (Converts discards into card draw/life loss/Treasure)
• Blasphemous Act (Primary board wipe with damage scaling)
• Zirda, the Dawnwaker (Cost reduction for abilities/combo acceleration)
• Teferi's Protection (Protects against wipes/combo disruption)
• Wheel of Fortune (Refills hand, fuels graveyard)
• The One Ring (Card draw and temporary immunity)
• Akroma's Will (Protection/lethal combat finisher)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Capable of T5-7 wins via amplified mass damage (e.g., Phoenix Saga + Fiery Emancipation) or Breach combos, accelerated by cost reducers and fast mana.

Resilience: 5/10

• Recursion (Phoenix Saga, Karmic Guide) and protection (Teferi's Protection, Flawless Maneuver) offer recovery, but over-reliance on graveyard and key permanents creates fragility.

Consistency: 7/10

• Abundant wheels, looting, and Monument value ensure card flow; tutors are limited but redundancy in damage sources helps.

Interaction: 6/10

• Efficient targeted removal (Swords, Path) and protection (Deflecting Swat), but lacks countermagic depth and struggles with resolved permanents.

Rating Justification:

This deck achieves Focused power (T7-8 wins) through explosive damage amplification and graveyard synergy, but its critical weakness to graveyard hate and reliance on vulnerable permanents cap its resilience. Speed aligns with T6-7 wins, placing it between Focused and Optimized tiers.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5