Overview:

This Mardu (R/W/B) deck helmed by Zurgo Stormrender focuses on aggressive token generation through attack triggers and leveraging token deaths for value. The strategy revolves around creating numerous Warrior tokens via Mobilize and other attack-trigger effects, then draining opponents through death triggers (Zulaport Cutthroat, Mirkwood Bats) or sacrificing tokens for direct damage (Goblin Bombardment, Mayhem Devil). Zurgo acts as both an engine (providing card draw/life loss) and a token generator, with support from "hidden commanders" like Isshin, Two Heavens as One (doubling attack triggers) and Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin (exponential token production). The deck aims to flood the board, pressure life totals through combat and attrition, and finish with explosive turns enabled by extra combats (All-Out Assault) or mass token generation.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4):
   • Ramp with Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, or Talismans.
   • Deploy key token generators: Bone-Cairn Butcher, Shock Brigade, or Zurgo's Vanguard.
   • Establish payoff engines: Impact Tremors, Warleader's Call, or Nadier's Nightblade.

2. Midgame Pressure (Turns 4-7):

   • Cast Zurgo and attack to generate tokens. Prioritize Isshin, Two Heavens as One to double Mobilize triggers.
   • Use Reconnaissance to protect attackers post-combat.
   • Sacrifice tokens to Goblin Bombardment or Hardened Tactician for damage/card draw.

3. Endgame (Turns 7+):

   • Resolve game-swinging plays: All-Out Assault for deathtouch + extra combat, Ruinous Ultimatum to clear opposing boards, or Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin with counters to create massive token armies.
   • Leverage Iroas, God of Victory to make combat damage unavoidable.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color-fixing).
• Prioritize early token generators (e.g., Shock Brigade, Bone-Cairn Butcher) or payoff engines (Zulaport Cutthroat).
• Include at least one piece of interaction (Swords to Plowshares, Anguished Unmaking).
• Avoid hands lacking token production or ramp.

Key Tips:

• Use Fake Your Own Death and Duty Beyond Death to protect key creatures while triggering death effects.
• Reconnaissance lets you attack risk-free to trigger Mobilize, then remove creatures from combat.
• Skullclamp turns 1/1 tokens into card advantage.
• Victimize can recur payoff creatures like Mayhem Devil and token generators.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board wipes (Blasphemous Act included, but lacks mass recursion): Rebuilding after a wipe requires significant setup.
• Enchantment/artifact hate: Key engines (Impact Tremors, Goblin Bombardment) are vulnerable.
• Anti-token tech: Torpor Orb/Cursed Totem nullifies death triggers and Mobilize.

Moderate

• Graveyard reliance: Recursion (Victimize, Undead Sprinter) is easily disrupted.
• Mana constraints: High density of 3-4 CMC spells with limited fast mana beyond Sol Ring.

Minor

• Flying threats: Limited reach outside Dragonback Lancer.
• Life gain decks: May outpace incremental drain effects.

Most Important Cards:

• Zurgo Stormrender (Token generation + card advantage engine)
• Isshin, Two Heavens as One (Doubles Mobilize triggers)
• Zulaport Cutthroat (Primary life-drain payoff)
• Goblin Bombardment (Sacrifice outlet + damage)
• Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin (Exponential token scaling)
• All-Out Assault (Deathtouch enabler + extra combat)
• Mayhem Devil (Punishes sacrifices)
• Iroas, God of Victory (Combat protection)
• Skullclamp (Card draw from tokens)
• Ruinous Ultimatum (Board reset)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten lethal via token swarms or drain effects by turns 7-8, but lacks fast mana for explosive early turns.

Resilience: 5/10

• Moderate recursion/protection (Fake Your Own Death, Reconnaissance), but heavily reliant on keeping key engines in play.

Consistency: 6/10

• Redundant token generators and card draw (Tocasia's Welcome, Skullclamp), but limited tutors for combo pieces.

Interaction: 5/10

• Efficient spot removal (Swords to Plowshares, Despark) but minimal counterspells and struggles against resolved enchantments.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a synergistic aggro-combo list with T7-8 win potential through token swarms and incremental drain effects. While it has strong synergy and redundancy in its core strategy, its reliance on combat and vulnerability to common disruption (board wipes, stax) place it in the optimized casual tier.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5