Overview:

This Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow deck is a highly optimized ninjutsu strategy focused on evasive creatures, extra turn spells, and topdeck manipulation to drain opponents rapidly. The deck leverages Yuriko's triggered ability to bypass commander tax and convert high mana-value spells into consistent damage while maintaining strong interaction and protection.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck aims to deploy evasive 1-2 mana creatures (Changeling Outcast, Mist-Cloaked Herald) early, then ninjutsu in Yuriko and other ninjas to trigger massive life loss via high-CMC spells like Temporal Trespass and Expropriate. Key phases:

1. Setup (T1-3): Play unblockable creatures, mana accelerants (Mox Diamond, Chrome Mox), and protection (Lightning Greaves).
2. Yuriko Activation (T3+): Ninjutsu Yuriko into play, using topdeck manipulation (Scroll Rack, Brainstone) to maximize damage from her triggers.
3. Finishing (T4-6): Chain extra turn spells (Nexus of Fate, Temporal Mastery) while countering opposition with free interaction (Fierce Guardianship, Force of Will).

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands and an evasive creature.
• Prioritize fast mana and protection over high-CMC payoffs early.
• Avoid hands without early ninjutsu enablers or interaction.

Key Tips:

• Use Cunning Evasion to dodge removal while retriggering ninjutsu.
• Sequence extra turn spells after stacking high-CMC cards with Vampiric Tutor.
• Opposition Agent disrupts tutors while enabling your own plays.

Avoid Traps:

• Overextending ninjas into board wipes without protection.
• Casting high-CMC spells from hand instead of reserving them for Yuriko triggers.

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Relies on maintaining unblocked attackers (folds to Propaganda/Silent Arbiter).
• Limited recovery if Yuriko is removed 3+ times.

Moderate:

• Vulnerable to graveyard hate exiling extra turn spells.

Minor:

• Weak to Rule of Law effects but runs counterspells to mitigate.

Most Important Cards:

• Scroll Rack
• Demonic Tutor
• Force of Will
• Temporal Trespass
• Vampiric Tutor
• Imperial Seal
• Cyclonic Rift
• Rhystic Study
• Opposition Agent
• Nexus of Fate

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10
Can deploy lethal Yuriko triggers by T5-6 via extra turns. Fast mana enables T2 Yuriko with protection.

Resilience: 7/10
12 free/protection spells and ninjutsu’s inherent resilience to removal. Struggles against layered stax.

Consistency: 9/10
14 tutors/topdeck manipulators and redundant evasive creatures ensure Yuriko triggers fire consistently.

Interaction: 8/10
10 counterspells (4 free) and targeted removal. Lacks board wipes beyond Cyclonic Rift.

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between "Focused Competitive" (7.0) and "Highly Optimized" (7.5) on the rubric. Its T5-6 deterministic wins via extra turns and 8/10 Speed align with 7.5’s T4-5 benchmark when factoring in interaction resilience. However, the absence of infinite combos and reliance on combat damage prevent it from reaching 8.0.

Power level: 7.0 - 7.5