Overview:

This Frodo, Sauron's Bane deck focuses on accumulating Ring temptations through synergistic triggers while protecting/evolving its commander into a game-ending threat. The primary win condition is achieving 4+ Ring temptations and connecting with Frodo's Rogue form, supported by a Nazgûl army and equipment-based evasion. While lacking infinite combos, it employs stax elements and protective measures to enable its linear strategy.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
Deploy Frodo early and use equipment/evasion to trigger Ring temptations. Transition Frodo to Rogue mode once 4+ temptations are achieved for instant-kill potential. Use Nazgûl as secondary threats that scale with Ring triggers. Protect the board with asymmetrical wipes (Divine Reckoning, Everybody Lives!) while limiting opponents' options via Drannith Magistrate and Ghostly Prison.

Key Phases:

1. Setup (T1-4): Ramp with Sol Ring/Arcane Signet, deploy protection like Mother of Runes, and begin Ring temptation engines (Call of the Ring, Nazgûl).
2. Evolution (T5-6): Activate Frodo's Rogue mode, using Bilbo's Ring/Rogue's Passage for unblockable attacks.
3. Closure (T7+): Leverage accumulated Ring bonuses (indestructible from Mithril Coat, card draw triggers) to eliminate opponents through Frodo's alt-win or Nazgûl beats.

Mulligan Priorities:

• 2-3 lands including color sources
• Early protection (Giver of Runes) or Ring temptation enabler
• Evasion equipment (Whispersilk Cloak) or ramp

Critical Interactions:

• Sigarda's Aid enables instant-speed equipment attachments to dodge removal
• Flaming Fist gives Frodo double strike to potentially kill through commander damage
• One Ring to Rule Them All clears nonlegendary blockers while progressing temptations

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Relies entirely on combat damage with minimal non-combat win conditions
• Foldsto repeated commander removal (3+ targeted kills cripple strategy)

Moderate:

• Limited card advantage outside Ring temptation triggers
• Weak to flying/evasive threats due to ground-based defense

Minor:

• Mana base susceptible to Blood Moon effects (multiple color-specific utility lands)

Most Important Cards:

• Call of the Ring
• Nazgûl
• Bilbo's Ring
• Mithril Coat
• Rogue's Passage
• Drannith Magistrate
• Sigarda's Aid
• One Ring to Rule Them All
• Flaming Fist
• Archivist of Oghma

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10
Theoretical T7 kill with perfect draws (T1-2 setup, T3-4 temptations, T5-6 evasion, T7 lethal). Most wins occur T8-10 through gradual Ring progression.

Resilience: 4/10
Moderate protection (hexproof/indestructible equipment) but crumbles under focused removal. No graveyard recursion for Frodo beyond Command Beacon.

Consistency: 6/10
9 Nazgûl provide temptation redundancy. 5 equipment tutors (Steelshaper's Gift, Sigarda's Aid) enable evasion setups. Limited card draw beyond Ring triggers.

Interaction: 5/10
12 targeted answers (Swords to Plowshares, Generous Gift) and 3 board wipes. Lacks free counterspells or stax beyond Drannith Magistrate.

Rating Justification:

This deck aligns with 4.5-5.0 on the rubric:

• Matches "Focused Casual" (T9-11 wins) through combat
• Exceeds precons with synergistic equipment packages
• Lacks the redundancy/protection of 5.5+ decks
• Slower than optimized combo decks but more resilient than jank

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0