Overview:

This is a highly tuned control deck that uses GAAIV's tax effects alongside other stax pieces to slow opponents while establishing card advantage and eventually winning through various control elements and infinite combos (Helm of Obedience + Rest in Peace).

Primer:

The deck operates as a draw-go control strategy, leveraging GAAIV's ability to make opponents' spells more expensive while reducing the cost of our own interaction. The early game focuses on establishing tax effects (Thalia, Heretic Cathar, Rhystic Study) and mana acceleration (Sol Ring, Mana Vault). The deck maintains control through a dense suite of counterspells and removal while building card advantage through various draw engines.

The win conditions are primarily through the Helm of Obedience + Rest in Peace combo or Painter's Servant + Grindstone combo, with planeswalkers like Jace, the Mind Sculptor and Teferi, Hero of Dominaria serving as backup win conditions. The deck can also win through combat damage with creatures like Sun Titan after establishing control.

Weaknesses:

• Heavily relies on artifacts and enchantments, making it vulnerable to mass removal targeting these permanent types
• Can struggle against aggressive strategies if they deploy threats before control is established
• Relatively dependent on the commander for optimal performance
• Can be vulnerable to cards that prevent counterspells or tax effects

Most Important Cards:

1. Mana Drain
2. Force of Will
3. Rest in Peace
4. Helm of Obedience
5. Rhystic Study
6. Mystic Remora
7. Smothering Tithe
8. Mana Vault
9. Sol Ring
10. Back to Basics

Attribute Ratings:

• Speed: 7/10
• Resilience: 8/10
• Consistency: 9/10
• Interaction: 10/10

Rating Justification:

This deck sits firmly in the 8.0-8.5 range due to its ability to establish strong control by turn 3-4 consistently. While it's not as explosive as top-tier cEDH decks, it can effectively control the game and prevent opponents from executing their strategies while assembling its win conditions. The high density of interaction, tutors, and card advantage engines ensures consistent performance, while the stax elements can slow down faster decks.

Final power level rating: 8.2 - 8.4

The deck features a highly optimized manabase with all relevant fetchlands, ABUR duals, and utility lands. The interaction suite is comprehensive, featuring both hard counters and flexible answers. The inclusion of multiple tutors and card selection spells ensures consistency in finding key pieces. While it may not consistently threaten turn 2-3 wins like higher-powered cEDH decks, it can reliably establish control of the game by those turns and maintain it until securing a win.