Overview:

This Elsha of the Infinite deck is a high-powered storm/combo build leveraging artifact cost reduction (Helm of Awakening, Cloud Key) and top-deck manipulation (Sensei's Divining Top, Scroll Rack) to chain noncreature spells. Elsha enables casting from the top of the library with flash, serving as the engine for explosive turns. Primary win conditions involve storming off with Aetherflux Reservoir, milling opponents via Brain Freeze + Underworld Breach loops, or generating infinite mana with Isochron Scepter/Dramatic Reversal to fuel lethal outlets. The deck operates at instant speed, leveraging free interaction and stax pieces like Counterbalance to disrupt opponents while assembling its game-ending sequences.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Mox Opal, Mana Vault, Signets), cost reducers (Helm of Awakening, Birgi, God of Storytelling), and top-deck manipulation (Sensei's Divining Top, Scroll Rack). Cast Elsha ASAP.
2. Engine Activation (Turns 3-5): Use tutors (Gamble, Enlightened Tutor, Whir of Invention) to find key pieces like Underworld Breach, Aetherflux Reservoir, or Isochron Scepter. Draw aggressively via Rhystic Study, Mystic Remora, or The One Ring.
3. Win Execution:
   • Storm: Cast 10+ spells in a turn with cost reducers, then activate Aetherflux Reservoir for lethal.
   • Breach Loop: Exile Lotus Petal/Mox Amber and Brain Freeze with Underworld Breach. Loop to mill opponents out.
   • Isochron Scepter: Imprint Dramatic Reversal with sufficient nonland mana sources (e.g., 3+ rocks) for infinite mana → draw deck with Top or cast Walking Ballista.
   • Displacer Kitten: Blink mana rocks or The One Ring for value, or combo with Teferi, Time Raveler for extra turns.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including 1+ blue source), 1-2 ramp pieces (e.g., Sol Ring, Signet), and either a tutor, card filter (Top), or engine card (Elsha, Breach).
• Prioritize hands with early protection (Force of Will, Silence) in suspected interactive pods.
• Mulligan hands lacking blue mana, card velocity, or proactive plays.

Key Tips:

• Sequence Elsha Carefully: Cast her only when you can protect her or immediately leverage her ability. Use Teferi's Protection or Deflecting Swat defensively.
• Top is Critical: Use Top to set up Elsha casts, enable Counterbalance, and enable infinite draws with Scepter/Reversal. Recur it with Academy Ruins.
• Breach Lines: Gitaxian Probe and Windfall fuel Breach escapes. Jeska's Will provides explosive red mana for Breach turns.
• Free Interaction: Time Fierce Guardianship, Force of Will, and Deflecting Swat to protect combo turns or disrupt key opponent plays.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void cripples Underworld Breach and recursion from Academy Ruins/Sevinne's Reclamation.
• Artifact Mass Removal: Vandalblast or Farewell destroys mana base and combo pieces (Scepter, Reservoir, cost reducers).
• Anti-Storm Stax: Eidolon of Rhetoric, Deafening Silence, or Rule of Law prevent spell chaining.

Moderate

• Stack Interaction: Heavy countermagic can disrupt combo assembly if protection is exhausted.
• Commander Focus: Repeated Elsha removal slows the deck significantly, forcing recasts at {8}{U}{R}{W}.
• Permanent-Based Hate: Cursed Totem shuts off Displacer Kitten and mana dorks.

Minor

• Hand Disruption: Targeted discard can remove key pieces pre-combo, but the deck recovers via top-deck manipulation.
• Fast Aggro: Early creature pressure can race if the deck stumbles on setup.

Most Important Cards:

• Underworld Breach (Primary combo engine enabling graveyard loops)
• Sensei's Divining Top (Core manipulation tool, enables Elsha, combos with Scepter/Reversal)
• Isochron Scepter (Infinite mana combo with Dramatic Reversal, imprints key instants)
• Aetherflux Reservoir (Primary storm win condition)
• Birgi, God of Storytelling (Mana generation for storm turns, alternative win with Harnfel)
• Displacer Kitten (Value engine, protects permanents, enables extra turns with Teferi)
• Counterbalance (Stax piece that disrupts opponents while protecting your combo)
• Rhystic Study / Mystic Remora (Critical card advantage engines)
• Mana Vault / Mox Opal (Explosive fast mana enabling early wins)
• Gamble (Efficient tutor for Breach/Top/Reservoir despite randomness)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10

• Capable of T3-4 wins with perfect hands (e.g., T1 Top, T2 Elsha + reducers, T3 Breach loop). Consistently threatens T5-6 wins through tutors and redundancy.

Resilience: 7/10

• Runs free protection (Force of Will, Fierce Guardianship), recursion (Underworld Breach, Academy Ruins), and stax (Counterbalance) to fight through disruption. Still vulnerable to resolved GY/artifact hate.

Consistency: 8/10

• 10+ tutors, 8+ top-deck manipulators, and redundant combo lines (Breach, Scepter, Storm) ensure reliable access to win conditions.

Interaction: 9/10

• Exceptional stack control with free counterspells, targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares), and stax. Can protect combos while disrupting opponents efficiently.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH-viable speeds (T3-4 wins) with robust interaction and high consistency, but its reliance on graveyard synergies and vulnerability to artifact mass removal prevent it from reaching top-tier cEDH resilience. Its performance aligns with High Power (T3-4 win/lock) but falls short of Tier 1/2 cEDH due to fragility against specific hate.

Power level: 8.0 - 8.5