Overview:

This Izzet spellslinger deck leverages Vivi Ornitier as a synergistic engine and win condition. The strategy revolves around casting cheap noncreature spells to rapidly grow Vivi's power (via +1/+1 counters) while dealing incremental damage to opponents. Vivi's activated ability converts its power into explosive colored mana, enabling massive storm turns or combo finishes. Win conditions include storm payoffs (Grapeshot, Aetherflux Reservoir), damage amplifiers (Harmonic Prodigy, Ghyrson Starn), and infinite combos (Dramatic Reversal + Isochron Scepter). Vivi is the deck's core, enabling mana acceleration and serving as a primary damage source.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Deploy Vivi & Setup (Turns 1-4): Prioritize ramping with artifacts (Sol Ring, Izzet Signet) and casting Vivi by turn 3. Protect Vivi immediately with Swiftfoot Boots or Slip Out the Back. Deploy cost reducers (Goblin Electromancer, Sapphire Medallion) and value engines (Storm-Kiln Artist, Archmage of Runes).
2. Accumulate Value (Turns 3-6): Chain cantrips (Consider, Opt) and cheap spells to grow Vivi, generate Treasures, and draw cards. Use Vivi's mana ability to fuel bigger spells like Jeska's Will or Mizzix's Mastery. Position damage amplifiers like Harmonic Prodigy or Fiery Inscription.
3. Execute Win (Turns 5-7):
   • Storm: Cast 10+ spells in a turn with Grapeshot, Aetherflux Reservoir, or Thousand-Year Storm to kill opponents.
   • Infinite Mana: Isochron Scepter imprinting Dramatic Reversal + mana rocks generates infinite mana/spells. Use Vivi to convert this into damage or draw your deck.
   • Amplified Pingers: Pair Curiosity/Ophidian Eye with Vivi or Guttersnipe for draw/damage loops. Ghyrson Starn doubles all 1-damage triggers.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with Vivi + 2-3 lands and early ramp/protection.
• Prioritize hands with T1-T2 ramp (e.g., Sol Ring, Lotus Petal) or cost reducers.
• Include at least 1 cantrip or draw spell (e.g., Expressive Iteration).
• Avoid hands lacking blue/red sources or Vivi enablers.

Key Tips:

• Protect Vivi: Boots/Greaves make Vivi hexproof. Slip Out the Back phases it out dodging removal. Riptide Laboratory bounces it to hand.
• Maximize Triggers: Harmonic Prodigy doubles Vivi's damage and counter triggers. Veyran, Voice of Duality doubles magecraft (e.g., Storm-Kiln Artist).
• Leverage Mana: Use Vivi's ability before casting spells to float mana for big turns. Seething Song/Jeska's Will enable explosive plays.
• Recursion: Mystic Sanctuary/Mizzix's Mastery recur key instants/sorceries.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander-Dependent: Vivi removal cripples mana generation and damage output. Recovery is slow without protection.
• Board Wipes: Mass removal (e.g., Blasphemous Act) kills critical creatures (Vivi, cost reducers, pingers) with minimal recursion.
• Anti-Storm Hate: Rule of Law/Eidolon of Rhetoric shut down the primary game plan.

Moderate

• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace disrupts Mizzix's Mastery and Mystic Sanctuary.
• Lifegain Strategies: Outpaces incremental damage; requires storm/combo to overcome.
• Stack Interaction: Counterspells targeting Vivi or key combo pieces (Scepter) are devastating.

Minor

• Artifact Removal: Hurts mana rocks but the deck has redundancy.
• Hand Disruption: Limited protection against forced discard.

Most Important Cards:

• Vivi Ornitier (Commander, mana engine, win condition)
• Harmonic Prodigy (Doubles Vivi's triggers)
• Isochron Scepter (Infinite combo with Dramatic Reversal)
• Grapeshot (Primary storm win condition)
• Aetherflux Reservoir (Alternate storm/lifegain win)
• Ghyrson Starn (Amplifies all 1-damage triggers)
• Storm-Kiln Artist (Treasure generation for storm)
• Archmage of Runes (Cost reduction and card draw)
• Jeska's Will (Explosive mana/card advantage)
• Mizzix's Mastery (Recurs key spells for storm turns)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Can win T5-6 via storm or infinite combos with optimal draws. Vivi accelerates mana for explosive turns.

Resilience: 5/10

• Protection for Vivi exists but is limited. Recursion (Mizzix's Mastery) helps but struggles against repeated removal.

Consistency: 7/10

• High density of cantrips and cost reducers ensures smooth early turns. Lacks tutors for specific combo pieces.

Interaction: 7/10

• Efficient counterspells (Fierce Guardianship, Swan Song), targeted removal (Chaos Warp, Pongify), and board wipes (Cyclonic Rift).

Rating Justification:

This deck achieves T5-6 wins through efficient storm lines and combos, supported by strong interaction and cantrips. However, its reliance on Vivi and vulnerability to disruption caps its resilience, placing it below optimized cEDH tiers.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0