Overview:

This Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow deck is a tempo-driven ninjutsu strategy focused on deploying evasive creatures, triggering Yuriko's damage-triggered card advantage/drain effect, and manipulating the topdeck to maximize life loss. The commander is the central engine, enabling consistent value and acting as a win condition via repeated high-CMC reveals (e.g., Temporal Trespass, Dig Through Time). Secondary ninjas like Fallen Shinobi and Silent-Blade Oni provide disruptive value, while unblockable creatures (Changeling Outcast, Tetsuko Umezawa) enable reliable ninjutsu triggers. The deck supplements its core strategy with extra turns, topdeck manipulation (Scroll Rack, Sensei's Divining Top), and efficient interaction.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-3): Deploy evasive 1-drops (Mist-Cloaked Herald, Slither Blade) or utility creatures (Faerie Seer). Use mana rocks (Sol Ring, Dimir Signet) and cantrips (Ponder, Preordain) to set up.
2. Ninjutsu Engine (T3+): Swap unblocked attackers for Yuriko or value ninjas (Ingenious Infiltrator, Prosperous Thief). Prioritize recurring Yuriko triggers via ninjutsu to drain opponents and fuel card advantage.
3. Topdeck Manipulation: Use Scroll Rack, Brainstorm, and Sensei's Divining Top to position high-CMC cards (Temporal Mastery, Temporal Trespass) for maximum drain triggers.
4. Closing the Game: Chain extra turns to multiply Yuriko triggers, steal threats with Fallen Shinobi, or deploy combat finishers like Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni.

Mulligan Priorities:

• At least 1 evasive creature or ninjutsu enabler (Ornithopter, Changeling Outcast)
• Early interaction/protection (Counterspell, Lightning Greaves)
• Topdeck manipulation (Preordain, Faerie Seer) or card draw
• Avoid hands without evasive creatures or excessive high-CMC spells

Key Tips:

• Use Arcane Adaptation to turn all creatures into Ninjas for maximum synergy.
• Cunning Evasion protects key attackers while enabling repeated ninjutsu.
• Time Cyclonic Rift to clear blockers before a critical combat phase.
• Prioritize tutoring for Scroll Rack to control Yuriko triggers.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Heavy reliance on Yuriko triggers makes the deck vulnerable to Torpor Orb effects and commander removal.
• Struggles against decks with flying/reach blockers or mass creature removal (Propaganda, Crawlspace).

Moderate

• Limited recovery from board wipes due to low creature recursion.
• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace) disrupts delve spells and Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni.

Minor

• Low creature toughness makes the deck susceptible to incidental damage-based removal.
• Mana base lacks sufficient dual lands for consistent color access.

Most Important Cards:

• Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow (Core engine for card draw/damage)
• Scroll Rack (Topdeck manipulation for max Yuriko triggers)
• Cyclonic Rift (Mass bounce to enable combat wins)
• Temporal Trespass (High-CMC drain enabler + extra turn)
• Sensei's Divining Top (Consistency/topdeck control)
• Ingenious Infiltrator (Card draw engine)
• Mystical Tutor (Finds key sorceries/extra turns)
• Fallen Shinobi (Value theft and pressure)
• Arcane Adaptation (Universal ninja synergy)
• Cunning Evasion (Protection + ninjutsu recursion)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Can threaten lethal via compounded Yuriko triggers as early as T5-6 with ideal topdeck manipulation and extra turns.

Resilience: 5/10

• Limited protection for Yuriko beyond ninjutsu evasion. Recovers poorly from repeated board wipes but has counterspells for critical threats.

Consistency: 8/10

• Extensive card selection (12+ cantrips/topdeck manipulators) and redundant evasive creatures ensure reliable ninjutsu triggers.

Interaction: 6/10

• Efficient counterspells (An Offer You Can't Refuse, Negate) and targeted removal (Deadly Rollick), but lacks board wipes beyond Cyclonic Rift.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH-adjacent speeds (T5-6 wins via optimized Yuriko triggers) but lacks the combo density and free interaction of top-tier lists. Its reliance on combat damage and vulnerability to stax place it in the optimized casual/high-power range.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0