Overview:

Neheb, the Eternal leverages aggressive damage-dealing effects to generate explosive red mana, fueling game-ending X-spells and combat loops. The deck focuses on symmetrical life loss via effects like Heartless Hidetsugu and Flame Rift, then converts Neheb's post-combat mana into lethal Comet Storm casts or infinite combat steps with Aggravated Assault. While capable of T5-7 wins with optimal draws, reliance on commander-centric strategies and limited interaction keep it below cEDH thresholds.

Primer:

Core Strategy: This deck aims to:

1. Ramp Early: Deploy Neheb by T4 using Mana Vault, Sol Ring, and Extraplanar Lens.
2. Trigger Damage Synergies: Use symmetrical burn (Acidic Soil, Flame Rift) and combat damage to maximize Neheb's mana generation.
3. Convert to Win: Channel massive red mana into:
   • Infinite combat loops via Aggravated Assault/Savage Beating
   • Board-clearing X-spells (Jaya's Immolating Inferno, Comet Storm)
   • Burst card advantage (Etali, Primal Storm, Knollspine Dragon)

Key Lines:

• T4 Neheb + T5 Flame Rift → 8 mana → Aggravated Assault activation = infinite combat
• Chandra's Ignition on Neheb → 4 damage to all opponents → 12 mana → lethal Comet Storm
• Heartless Hidetsugu activation → halve life totals → Sizzle for cleanup

Mulligan Priorities:

• 3+ lands with red sources
• 1-2 ramp pieces (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet)
• At least 1 damage enabler (Fervor, Thermo-Alchemist)

Critical Sequencing:

1. Protect Neheb with Lightning Greaves/Darksteel Plate
2. Time symmetrical damage effects before combat
3. Reserve mana doublers (Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx) for post-combat phases

Avoid:

• Overextending creatures before establishing protection
• Casting X-spells without guaranteed lethal
• Wasting mana on non-game-ending plays

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Commander dependency (3+ removals cripples strategy)
• No graveyard recursion for key pieces
• Vulnerable to lifegain strategies

Moderate:

• Limited stack interaction (only Electrodominance as pseudo-counter)
• Weak to enchantment-based stax (Rest in Peace irrelevant here, but Rule of Law effects)

Minor:

• High average CMC (3.2) risks slow starts
• Basic-heavy mana base susceptible to Blood Moon

Most Important Cards:

• Aggravated Assault
• Extraplanar Lens
• Mana Vault
• Wheel of Fortune
• Embercleave
• Jaya's Immolating Inferno
• Sword of Feast and Famine
• Comet Storm
• Sunbird's Invocation
• Electrodominance

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• T5 goldfish kills possible (Neheb + Aggravated Assault + damage enablers)
• Average T7-9 wins in practice

Resilience: 5/10

• Dies to 2-3 targeted removals on Neheb
• Limited protection beyond equipment
• Recovers poorly from wraths pre-Platinum Emperion

Consistency: 6/10

• 8 wheel/tutors (Wheel of Fortune, Memory Jar, Sunbird's Invocation)
• Redundant damage sources (7 symmetrical burn spells)
• No direct combo tutors

Interaction: 4/10

• Primarily damage-based removal (Sulfurous Blast, Slagstorm)
• Limited artifact hate (Vandalblast, Viashino Heretic)
• No counterspells/stack interaction

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between "Optimized Casual" (5.0) and "High-Power Casual" (5.5) on the rubric. It exceeds T8-10 win benchmarks through explosive Neheb synergies but lacks the interaction density and combo redundancy of true 6.0+ decks. While capable of faster kills than most casual decks, its commander dependency and vulnerability to common removal keep it from higher tiers.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5