Overview:

This Mardu (R/W/B) deck leverages Isshin, Two Heavens as One to double attack-trigger abilities, creating overwhelming value through token generation, card advantage, extra combats, and damage amplification. The primary strategy involves deploying creatures with potent attack triggers (e.g., Winota, Joiner of Forces, Etali, Primal Storm, Anim Pakal, Thousandth Moon) and enabling multiple combat steps (e.g., Aurelia, the Warleader, Aggravated Assault). Isshin is essential as the engine multiplier—removal cripples the deck's output. While resilient to recast due to moderate cost, its reliance on attacking makes it vulnerable to stax and board wipes. Godo, Bandit Warlord + Helm of the Host serves as a "hidden commander" for infinite combat steps.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Prioritize ramping (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Fellwar Stone) and deploying Isshin or key enablers like Curse of Opulence/Smothering Tithe. Protect Isshin with boots or Deflecting Swat. Cast low-cost attackers (e.g., Norika Yamazaki, the Poet) to trigger value engines early.
2. Trigger Amplification (Turns 4-6): Resolve Isshin if not already present. Attack with creatures to double potent triggers: Winota, Joiner of Forces for free Humans, Etali, Primal Storm for free spells, Anim Pakal, Thousandth Moon for Gnome tokens, or Thundering Raiju for damage/counters. Use Blade of Selves or Duke Ulder Ravengard for myriad to multiply triggers.
3. Combat Loops & Finishers (Turns 5-7):
   • Extra Combats: Chain additional combats via Aurelia, the Warleader, Aggravated Assault (fueled by Treasures), Raiyuu, Storm's Edge, or Godo, Bandit Warlord. Fiery Emancipation triples damage for lethal swings.
   • Infinite Combats: Assemble Godo, Bandit Warlord + Helm of the Host. Godo fetches Helm, equips, attacks to create a non-legendary copy. The copy's attack trigger untaps Godo and grants another combat. Repeat infinitely.
   • Token Overrun: Flood the board with tokens (Gnomes, Inklings from Inkshield) and finish with Akroma's Will or Berserkers' Onslaught.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-4 lands (including color fixing) and at least 1 ramp artifact.
• Prioritize hands containing Isshin, a protection piece (Lightning Greaves, Boros Charm), or an early attacker/enabler (Curse of Opulence, Winota, Joiner of Forces).
• Look for combo pieces (Godo, Helm) or extra combat enablers if mana allows.
• Avoid hands lacking creatures, ramp, or Isshin without a strong alternative plan.

Key Tips:

• Sequence Triggers: Order attacks to maximize Isshin's doubling (e.g., attack with Winota before tokens enter to double her trigger).
• Protect Isshin: Equip Lightning Greaves/Swiftfoot Boots immediately. Hold protection spells (Boros Charm, Deflecting Swat) for key turns.
• Leverage Treasures: Use Treasures from Curse of Opulence, Deadly Dispute, or Smothering Tithe to fuel extra combats via Aggravated Assault or cast high-impact spells early.
• Recursion & Value: Recur key permanents with Heiko Yamazaki, the General (artifacts) or Norika Yamazaki, the Poet (enchantments). Forge Anew retrieves Equipment.
• Interaction Timing: Use Inkshield defensively to create an army. Take the Bait disrupts opponents' combat and forces attacks.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board Wipes: Mass removal (e.g., Vanquish the Horde) devastates the creature-dependent strategy. Recovery relies heavily on drawing into recursion/rebuild engines.
• Attack Prevention: Effects like Propaganda, Ghostly Prison, or Silent Arbiter severely limit the deck's ability to trigger its core mechanics.
• Trigger Suppression: Cards like Torpor Orb or Hushbringer nullify ETB/attack triggers, crippling Winota, Etali, Anim Pakal, and Raiju.

Moderate

• Commander Removal: Repeatedly removing Isshin slows the deck significantly, as he is the primary engine. The deck lacks efficient ways to protect him beyond equipment.
• Stax Pieces: Rule of Law/Deafening Silence limits multiple spells per turn, hindering combo execution. Cursed Totem shuts off mana dorks and activated abilities.
• Graveyard Hate: Disrupts recursion from Heiko/Norika and cards like Deadly Dispute/In Garruk's Wake.

Minor

• Spot Removal: Targeted removal on key non-commander pieces (Winota, Godo) can delay but not halt the deck due to redundancy.
• Flying Threats: Limited reach makes blocking difficult, but tokens and deathtouch from Vault of the Archangel can mitigate.

Most Important Cards:

• Isshin, Two Heavens as One (Core engine - doubles all attack triggers)
• Godo, Bandit Warlord (Primary combo piece - fetches Helm, enables infinite combats)
• Helm of the Host (Combo finisher with Godo, creates exponential value)
• Winota, Joiner of Forces (Value engine - puts multiple Humans into play attacking)
• Aurelia, the Warleader (Extra combats, untaps attackers)
• Aggravated Assault (Repeatable extra combats, synergizes with Treasure)
• Fiery Emancipation (Damage tripler - enables sudden lethal swings)
• Smothering Tithe (Mana acceleration - fuels combats/interaction)
• Akroma's Will (Finisher/protection - grants indestructible, double strike, or lifelink)
• Deflecting Swat (Critical protection - redirects removal for free)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can win via infinite combats (Godo + Helm) as early as T5 with optimal ramp, or through overwhelming combat damage/Treasure-fueled extra turns by T6-7. Slower without Godo/Helm.

Resilience: 5/10

• Includes protection (Boros Charm, Deflecting Swat) and some recursion (Yamazaki sisters, Forge Anew), but heavily reliant on maintaining a board presence. Struggles to recover from wipes or consistent commander removal.

Consistency: 7/10

• Multiple tutors (Diabolic Tutor, Profane Tutor, Godo) and card draw (Deadly Dispute, Smothering Tithe, attack triggers) reliably find key pieces. Functional redundancy in extra combat sources and token generators.

Interaction: 5/10

• Efficient targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Path to Exile, Chaos Warp) and combat tricks (Inkshield, Deflecting Palm), but lacks stack interaction beyond Deflecting Swat. Heavy reliance on combat makes disruption timing-sensitive.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates high consistency and focused speed, capable of T5-7 wins through infinite combats or overwhelming combat triggers, placing it in the Focused tier (T7-8 wins). However, its reliance on attacking creatures and vulnerability to board wipes/stax reduces resilience, preventing it from reaching optimized competitive levels.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5