Overview:

This Feather, the Redeemed deck leverages Boros combat tricks and heroic synergies to create a resilient aggro-control strategy. Feather serves as the central engine, enabling infinite recursion of low-cost instants that target creatures – generating card advantage, pumping attackers, and providing protection. The primary win conditions involve building massive heroic creatures (e.g., Favored Hoplite, Phalanx Leader) or executing infinite combat steps through Aurelia, the Warleader + Helm of the Host. Secondary paths include Dualcaster Mage combos and commander damage. Feather is indispensable for the recursion engine, costing {R}{W}{W} – vulnerable to removal but protected by numerous instant-speed shields.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet) and early heroic creatures (Favored Hoplite, Boros Elite). Prioritize casting Feather by turn 3-4.
2. Engine Activation (Turns 4-6): Cast 1-2 targeted instants per turn cycle (e.g., Defiant Strike for draw, Emerge Unscathed for protection). These spells return to hand via Feather's end-step trigger, creating recurring value. Pump key creatures and establish equipment (Sunforger, Swiftfoot Boots).
3. Win Execution (Turns 5-8):
   • Combat Overkill: Deploy finishers like Blade Historian or Aurelia, the Warleader, then attack with pumped heroic creatures. Use Master Warcraft to force favorable blocks.
   • Infinite Combats: Equip Helm of the Host to Aurelia to generate non-legendary copies, enabling unlimited combat phases.
   • Combo Finish: Cast Twinflame targeting Dualcaster Mage to create infinite hasty tokens.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with Feather + at least one protection spell (Boros Charm, Shelter) or a heroic creature + cantrip (Defiant Strike).
• Require 2-3 lands including red/white sources. Prioritize Sol Ring or turn-1 dork.
• Avoid hands without early creatures or Feather enablers.

Key Tips:

• Recursion Looping: Cast protection spells (e.g., Feat of Resistance) during opponents' turns to permanently shield Feather.
• Sunforger Chains: Fetch Boros Charm for indestructible against wipes, or Deflecting Swat to redirect removal.
• Heroic Stacking: Target Phalanx Leader first to distribute +1/+1 counters army-wide before other heroic triggers.
• Graveyard Setup: Use Anger and Valor to grant haste/first strike from the graveyard during combat.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander-dependent strategy: Feather removal cripples the recursion engine.
• Board wipes bypassing indestructible (e.g., Settle the Wreckage, Toxic Deluge) devastate the creature-based plan.
• Graveyard hate (e.g., Rest in Peace) disrupts Anger/Valor and Feather's delayed return.

Moderate

• Limited card advantage without Feather; relies on cantrips for draw.
• Stax effects (e.g., Deafening Silence) restrict multiple spell casts per turn.
• Aura/Equipment removal (e.g., Nature's Claim) disables key win enablers like Helm of the Host.

Minor

• Mana constraints for high-cost finishers (e.g., Aurelia at 6 mana).
• Vulnerability to flying blockers without reach/trample sources.

Most Important Cards:

• Feather, the Redeemed (Recursion engine)
• Sunforger (Tutorable interaction/protection)
• Dualcaster Mage (Combo piece with Twinflame/Heat Shimmer)
• Aurelia, the Warleader (Primary combat finisher)
• Phalanx Leader (Army-wide +1/+1 counter scaling)
• Defiant Strike (Card draw + heroic trigger)
• Boros Charm (Indestructible shield/burn)
• Swiftfoot Boots (Commander protection)
• Helm of the Host (Infinite combat enabler)
• Twinflame (Infinite token combo with Dualcaster)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Threatens wins via combat or infinite tokens as early as turn 5-6 with perfect draws (e.g., T3 Feather → T4 Aurelia → T5 Helm), but averages T7-8.

Resilience: 5/10

• Strong protection suite shields Feather and key creatures, but recovery from wipes is slow without draw engines. Recursion mitigates single-target removal.

Consistency: 7/10

• Redundant cantrips (8+), tutors (Enlightened Tutor, Recruiter of the Guard), and Feather's recursion ensure reliable access to core pieces.

Interaction: 7/10

• Robust instant-speed interaction (12+ cards) including protection (Deflecting Swat), removal (Path to Exile), and combat tricks. Sunforger amplifies flexibility.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a Focused power level (rubric 6.0), consistently threatening T7-8 wins through combat or combos with high resilience to targeted disruption. Its commander dependency and wipe vulnerability prevent higher optimization, placing it below cEDH viability.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5