Overview:

This Grixis deck leverages Sauron, the Dark Lord as a potent value engine and win condition enabler, focusing on amassing armies, exploiting the Ring's temptation, and utilizing discard synergies. The primary strategy involves generating overwhelming board presence through amass (triggered by Sauron and cards like Dreadhorde Invasion/Orcish Bowmasters), amplified by Ring-tempting effects from Nazgûl and combat damage. Discard outlets (e.g., Windfall, Dark Deal) synergize with payoffs like Bone Miser, Waste Not, and Mystic Redaction for card advantage, tokens, and mill. The deck also incorporates a compact Thassa's Oracle combo with Demonic Consultation/Tainted Pact (implicit via tutors) and leverages high-powered free interaction for protection. Sauron acts as both a card draw engine (via Ring-tempting discard) and a resilient threat, though the deck can win without him.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy fast mana (Sol Ring, Mox Opal, Lotus Petal), mana rocks (Arcane Signet, Dimir Signet), and value engines (Mystic Remora, Rhystic Study). Use tutors (Vampiric Tutor, Demonic Tutor) to find key pieces. Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer or Changeling Outcast can apply early pressure and tempt the Ring.
2. Mid-Game Value (Turns 4-6): Cast Sauron to amass on opponent spells. Deploy Nazgûl to accumulate +1/+1 counters via Ring-tempting. Utilize wheel effects (Windfall, Dark Deal, Winds of Change) to disrupt hands, trigger discard payoffs (Bone Miser, Waste Not), and refuel. The One Ring provides protection and card draw.
3. Win Condition Execution:
   • Combat: Attack with amassed Army tokens and buffed Nazgûl (using The Ozolith to preserve counters). Rogue's Passage ensures unblockability. Sauron's 7-power enables commander damage.
   • Discard Synergies: Generate zombies/mana/cards via Bone Miser/Waste Not or mill opponents with Mystic Redaction.
   • Thoracle Combo: Tutor for Thassa's Oracle + Demonic Consultation (exiling library to win on ETB). Underworld Breach enables graveyard recursion for combo reassembly.
   • Ad Nauseam: Draw most of the deck with Ad Nauseam (low avg. CMC) to find combo/outlets.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (prioritize untapped duals/fetches) and at least one ramp source (Sol Ring, Signet, Mox).
• Favor hands with early interaction (free counters, Orcish Bowmasters) or a value engine (Mystic Remora, Rhystic Study).
• Combo hands (Tutor + Thoracle/Consultation) are ideal if protected.
• Avoid hands lacking ramp, card draw, or a clear path to Sauron.

Key Tips:

• Sequence Discard Wisely: Cast wheels only when Bone Miser/Waste Not are on board. Use Sauron's draw-four ability post-wheel to refill.
• Protect the Combo: Deploy free counters (Fierce Guardianship, Force of Will) to defend Thoracle/Consultation. Deflecting Swat redirects targeted removal.
• Leverage Ring-Tempting: Prioritize making a Nazgûl or unblockable creature (Changeling Outcast) the Ring-bearer to grow the board and enable Sauron's draw.
• Recursion is Key: Underworld Breach recasts Thoracle/Consultation or wheels. Reanimate retrieves key creatures like Sheoldred, the Apocalypse or Opposition Agent.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void (opponent's) cripples Underworld Breach, Reanimate, Bone Miser, and Mystic Redaction.
• Anti-Search Effects: Opposition Agent (opponent's) counters tutor-dependent combos and land fetching.
• Stack Interaction: Counterspells targeting Thoracle or Consultation can foil the primary combo without protection backup.

Moderate

• Board Wipes: Mass removal (e.g., Toxic Deluge) resets amassed armies/Nazgûl. Limited recursion outside Breach.
• Artifact/Enchantment Removal: Destroying discard payoffs (Bone Miser, Waste Not) or value engines (The One Ring) slows the deck significantly.
• Taxing Effects: Thalia, Guardian of Thraben or Trinisphere delay key spells and combo turns.

Minor

• Land Destruction: Nonbasic hate (Blood Moon) is mitigated by fetches/shocks/basics, but can strain mana fixing.
• Hand Disruption: Targeted discard can remove combo pieces, but the deck recovers via wheels and draw engines.

Most Important Cards:

• Thassa's Oracle (Primary combo win condition)
• Demonic Consultation (Combo enabler, exiles library for Thoracle)
• Underworld Breach (Combo recursion, enables graveyard loops)
• Ad Nauseam (Draws most of the deck to assemble win)
• Bone Miser (Discard payoff: tokens, mana, card draw)
• Sauron, the Dark Lord (Value engine, amass trigger, card draw)
• Windfall (Wheel effect, fuels discard synergies)
• Mystic Remora (Early card advantage, taxes opponents)
• Fierce Guardianship (Free protection for combo/commander)
• Vampiric Tutor (Searches for any combo piece or answer)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 9/10

• Capable of T1-T3 wins with perfect draws (e.g., fast mana into Ad Nauseam/Thoracle combo), consistently threatens wins by T4-5 via consultation or combat.

Resilience: 7/10

• Free interaction protects key plays, and wheels/draw engines provide recovery. However, graveyard reliance and commander-centric value create vulnerabilities to targeted hate.

Consistency: 8/10

• Extensive tutors (Demonic, Vampiric, Ringsight), abundant card draw (Rhystic, Remora, The One Ring), and redundant discard payoffs ensure reliable access to win conditions.

Interaction: 9/10

• Premium free counters (Force of Will, Fierce Guardianship, Deflecting Swat), targeted removal (Deadly Rollick, The Meathook Massacre), and stax (Opposition Agent, Leyline of the Void) disrupt opponents efficiently.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH-viable speeds with T1-4 win potential via Thoracle combo, backed by efficient tutors, free interaction, and explosive mana. While highly resilient to conventional disruption, its reliance on the graveyard and vulnerability to specific hate (e.g., Rest in Peace) prevent it from reaching top-tier cEDH robustness.

Power level: 8.5 - 9.0