Overview:

This Frodo, Sauron's Bane deck focuses on accumulating Ring temptations while protecting an evasive commander to trigger an instant-win condition. It combines equipment-based voltron strategies with Orzhov control elements, using efficient tutors and protection spells to enable its game plan.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
The deck aims to:

1. Cast Frodo early and transform it into the Rogue mode
2. Protect it with equipment (Mithril Coat, Lightning Greaves) and phasing effects (Robe of Stars)
3. Accelerate Ring temptations through synergistic permanents (Call of the Ring, Samwise the Stouthearted)
4. Connect for combat damage 4+ times to enable Frodo's instant-win Rogue ability

Key Phases:
Early Game (Turns 1-3):

• Deploy mana rocks (Mox Amber, Sol Ring)
• Tutor key equipment (Enlightened Tutor, Forge Anew)
• Establish card advantage engines (Esper Sentinel, Black Market Connections)

Mid Game (Turns 4-6):

• Transform Frodo to Rogue mode using BBB mana (enabled by Dark Ritual, Cabal Coffers)
• Deploy evasive equipment (Thieves' Tools, Trailblazer's Boots)
• Stack Ring temptations through ETB effects (Uruk-hai Berserker, Slip On the Ring)

Late Game (Turns 7+):

• Activate Frodo's instant-win ability
• Backup plans: One Ring to Rule Them All saga or Witch-king of Angmar attrition

Mulligan Priorities:

1. Frodo protection (≥1 equipment/tutor)
2. Ring temptation source
3. Mana acceleration
4. Interaction (Grand Abolisher, Drannith Magistrate)

Key Tips:

• Use Teferi's Protection defensively and offensively (phases out equipped Frodo)
• Forge Anew enables instant-speed equipment swaps
• Opposition Agent disrupts while progressing game plan
• Vexilus Praetor provides commander protection

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• No backup wincon if Frodo gets locked out (3+ removals)
• Relies on 4+ combat connections for primary win

Moderate:

• Vulnerable to mass artifact/enchantment removal
• Limited card advantage without Frodo

Minor:

• Life payment synergies (Ancient Tomb, Phyrexian Arena)
• Graveyard reliance mitigated by Stone of Erech

Most Important Cards:

• The One Ring
• Call of the Ring
• Mithril Coat
• Thieves' Tools
• Demonic Tutor
• Teferi's Protection
• Esper Sentinel
• Opposition Agent
• Vampiric Tutor
• Lightning Greaves

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10
Theoretical T6 win with perfect draws (T1-2 setup, T3 Frodo Rogue, T4-5 temptations, T6 lethal). Average goldfish win ~T8-9.

Resilience: 7/10
Multiple protection layers (hexproof, indestructible, phasing), 7 tutors, and 8 targeted removal spells. Weak to back-to-back board wipes.

Consistency: 7/10
11 tutors/draw engines, 8 Ring-temptation sources, and 9 evasion enablers create redundant paths. Reliant on commander staying active.

Interaction: 8/10
Premium removal (Swords, Path), stax pieces (Drannith Magistrate), and protection (Grand Abolisher). Lacks counterspell density.

Rating Justification:

This deck exceeds optimized casual (5.0) through tutor density and protection packages but lacks cEDH's speed (no T3 wins) and compact combos. It matches Focused (6.0) benchmarks with T7-8 goldfish wins and robust interaction, but commander dependency prevents higher ratings. The stax/protection suite gives it meta flexibility against faster decks.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5