Overview:
This is an artifact-focused deck that leverages powerful equipment and value engines to generate card advantage and resources through combat and graveyard recursion. The deck combines efficient artifact synergies with strong equipment-based combat strategies.
Primer:
The deck operates on multiple synergistic axes, with Lara Croft, Tomb Raider serving as both a value engine and combat enabler. The primary gameplan involves establishing early artifact acceleration through cards like Sol Ring, Mox Opal, and various mana rocks, then deploying powerful equipment and value generators. The commander's ability to recur legendary artifacts from graveyards provides excellent recursion while generating Treasure tokens through combat.
The secondary strategy involves utilizing powerful artifact synergy pieces like Urza, Lord High Artificer, Academy Manufactor, and Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain to generate card advantage and resources. The deck can pivot between aggressive equipment-based combat with cards like Embercleave and Kaldra Compleat, or value-based grinding through artifacts and Treasure generation. Protection pieces like Lightning Greaves and Fierce Guardianship help maintain board presence.
Weaknesses:
The deck is particularly vulnerable to artifact hate like Vandalblast or Collector Ouphe, which can severely hamper its gameplan. While it has some interaction, it's primarily reactive rather than proactive, which can leave it exposed to faster combo decks. The reliance on equipment makes it somewhat vulnerable to targeted removal, though it has some protection pieces and recursion available.
Most Important Cards:
- Urza, Lord High Artificer
- The One Ring
- Mox Opal
- Academy Manufactor
- Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain
- Cyclonic Rift
- Fierce Guardianship
- Mana Drain
- Lightning Greaves
- Sol Ring
Attribute Ratings:
- Speed: 7/10
- Resilience: 7/10
- Consistency: 8/10
- Interaction: 6/10
Rating Justification:
This deck sits comfortably in the 7.0-7.5 range due to its efficient mana base, strong card quality, and ability to establish powerful board states by turn 5-6. While it lacks the explosive speed of higher-powered decks, it makes up for it with consistent value generation and strong recursion elements. The presence of high-impact interaction pieces and efficient threats puts it above focused casual decks, but it falls short of true cEDH territory due to its combat-oriented strategy and somewhat slower win conditions.
Final power level rating: 7.0 - 7.5
The deck has several elements that could push it higher, like the efficient mana rocks and powerful interaction suite, but its reliance on combat damage and equipment-based strategies keeps it from reaching the highest power levels. It's well-tuned and optimized within its strategy, but maintains a fair and interactive gameplay pattern typical of focused competitive decks.
Lara Croft, Tomb Raider