Overview:

This Naya (RGW) equipment-focused deck leverages Cloud as a powerful card draw engine and combat threat. The primary strategy revolves around cheating equipment costs using effects like Ardenn, Intrepid Archaeologist, Bruenor Battlehammer, and Puresteel Paladin, then attaching multiple pieces to Cloud or other creatures to trigger his draw ability and enable massive combat damage wins. Key themes include equipment tutoring, cost reduction, extra combat steps, and leveraging high-power creatures modified by equipment. Cloud serves as the central card advantage engine and win condition enabler, though the deck can function without him using backup threats like Tifa, Martial Artist or Godo, Bandit Warlord.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet), tutors (Stoneforge Mystic, Steelshaper's Gift), or cost reducers (Puresteel Paladin, Fighter Class). Fetch key equipment like Hammer of Nazahn (auto-attach) or Sword of the Animist (ramp).
2. Board Development (Turns 3-5): Cast Cloud or alternative commanders (Ardenn + Reyav). Cheat high-impact equipment onto creatures using Ardenn's ability, Bruenor's cost reduction, or Hammer of Nazahn. Prioritize equipping Cloud to draw cards and generate Treasures.
3. Win Condition Execution (Turns 5-8):
   • Combat Overkill: Use equipment like Colossus Hammer, Kaldra Compleat, or Blackblade Reforged to create massive threats. Activate extra combats via Godo, Bandit Warlord, Aurelia, the Warleader, Tifa, Martial Artist, or Genji Glove. Finish with Triumph of the Hordes (infect) or City on Fire (triple damage).
   • Combo Lines: Infinite combats with Helm of the Host on Godo/Aurelia. Isochron Scepter imprinted with Deflecting Swat or Boros Charm provides protection.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color fixing), an early play (tutor, ramp, or reducer), and at least one equipment or payoff.
• Prioritize hands containing Ardenn, Intrepid Archaeologist, Puresteel Paladin, or a tutor like Stoneforge Mystic.
• Avoid hands lacking early plays or color sources.

Key Tips:

• Maximize Ardenn: Use Ardenn's combat trigger to attach multiple equipments for free each turn, enabling massive Cloud draws.
• Protect Key Pieces: Deploy Heroic Intervention, Deflecting Swat, or Mithril Coat to shield Cloud or critical engines. Shadowspear strips hexproof/indestructible from threats.
• Leverage Draw Engines: Cloud's attack trigger is the primary draw source. Supplement with Sram, Senior Edificer, Puresteel Paladin, and Esper Sentinel.
• Recurse Resources: Sun Titan and Mantle of the Ancients recover lost equipment. Inventory Management reattaches everything at instant speed.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Artifact/Equipment Hate: Stony Silence, Collector Ouphe, or Null Rod cripple the deck's core strategy by disabling equipment and tutors.
• Board Wipes: Mass removal (e.g., Farewell) before indestructible protection is online devastates the board-dependent plan.
• Commander Tax: Repeated Cloud removal strains mana resources despite Treasures.

Moderate

• Anti-Synergy Effects: Torpor Orb nulls ETB triggers (Stoneforge, Sun Titan); Cursed Totem shuts off activated abilities (Ardenn, Puresteel).
• Stack Interaction: Limited counterspells make resolving key sorceries (Full Throttle, Triumph) risky against blue decks.

Minor

• Mana Base: Several tap lands (e.g., Boros Garrison, Gruul Turf) slow early tempo.
• Graveyard Reliance: Recursion (Sun Titan, Mantle) is vulnerable to Rest in Peace.

Most Important Cards:

• Ardenn, Intrepid Archaeologist (Free equipment attachment each turn)
• Puresteel Paladin (Cost reduction and card draw)
• Stoneforge Mystic (Tutor and cheat equipment)
• Hammer of Nazahn (Auto-attach and indestructible)
• Cloud, Planet's Champion (Card draw engine and win condition)
• Godo, Bandit Warlord (Tutor, extra combat, Helm combo)
• Sunforger (Instant-speed toolbox)
• Heroic Intervention (Board wipe protection)
• Triumph of the Hordes (Alternative win condition)
• Colossus Hammer (Massive power boost for cheap)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Can threaten wins via combat or infect as early as turn 5-6 with optimal draws (e.g., Ardenn + Hammer + extra combat), but typically closes around turn 7-8.

Resilience: 5/10

• Has protection (Heroic Intervention, Deflecting Swat) and recursion (Sun Titan, Mantle), but heavily reliant on key creatures/artifacts vulnerable to targeted removal.

Consistency: 6/10

• Numerous tutors (Stoneforge, Steelshaper's Gift, Open the Armory) and card draw (Cloud, Sram) find key pieces, but lacks redundancy for commanders.

Interaction: 6/10

• Efficient targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Path to Exile, Beast Within), flexible protection (Boros Charm, Deflecting Swat), and Sunforger package provide solid answers, but lacks countermagic.

Rating Justification:

The deck operates at a Focused level (Rubric 6.0), leveraging efficient tutors and explosive combat turns to threaten wins by turn 7-8. While resilient to spot removal, it falters against artifact hate and board wipes, preventing higher optimization. Speed and consistency align with T7-8 benchmarks, but meta-dependent vulnerabilities cap its ceiling.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5