Overview:

This artifact-centric deck leverages Mendicant Core's ability to copy artifact spells, generating value through token production, cost reduction, and synergistic payoffs. While lacking infinite combos, it employs overwhelming board states using Thopter swarms and scaled artifact creatures. The deck shows moderate interaction and resilience but relies heavily on artifact synergy, making it vulnerable to mass removal.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
Deploy low-cost artifacts and cost reducers (Etherium Sculptor, Foundry Inspector) to flood the board, triggering Mendicant Core's copy ability at max speed. Use token generators (Efficient Construction, Sai, Master Thopterist) to build an evasive army, amplified by anthem effects (Master of Etherium, Cyberdrive Awakener). Protect key pieces with Padeem, Consul of Innovation and Teferi's Protection, then close games via combat or mass artifact animation.

Mulligan Priorities:

• 3 lands (prioritize artifact lands)
• At least 1 artifact cost reducer or early token generator
• Interaction (Counterspell, Path to Exile) if available
  Avoid hands without artifact synergy or ramp.

Key Tips:

• Time Mendicant Core's activation to copy high-impact artifacts (Cyberdrive Awakener, Reality Heist).
• Use Urza, Lord High Artificer to convert artifacts into mana for explosive turns.
• Cyclonic Rift and Farewell reset opponents before committing to a win.

Avoid Traps:

• Overextending into board wipes without protection
• Keeping slow hands without early artifact deployment

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Mass artifact removal (Vandalblast, Bane of Progress)
• Commander dependency for copy value

Moderate:

• Limited redundancy for key effects (only 2 artifact cost reducers)
• Slow recovery from early stax pieces

Minor:

• Graveyard reliance (Wonder) mitigated by alternative evasion

Most Important Cards:

• Urza, Lord High Artificer
• Smothering Tithe
• Cyclonic Rift
• Master of Etherium
• Efficient Construction
• Teferi's Protection
• Farewell
• Cyberdrive Awakener
• Sai, Master Thopterist
• Reality Heist

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Goldfishes wins around T8-10 via token swarms or Cyberdrive Awakener bursts. Lacks fast mana beyond Sol Ring.

Resilience: 6/10

• Multiple protection layers (hexproof granters, counterspells) but folds to repeated artifact wipes. Recovers moderately via card advantage engines.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong draw engines (Thopter Spy Network, Esper Sentinel) and artifact redundancy. Limited tutors (3) offset by high synergy density.

Interaction: 6/10

• Efficient removal (Swords to Plowshares, Counterspell) and a Cyclonic Rift finisher. Lacks free interaction for critical turns.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at the upper end of optimized casual (5.0) with focused artifact synergies and moderate interaction. While faster than precons (T8-10 vs T10-12), it lacks the combo density or stax elements of high-power builds. Key weaknesses to mass removal and commander dependency prevent it from reaching 6.0.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0