Overview:

This Orzhov deck leverages Squall, SeeD Mercenary as a voltron/recursion engine, focusing on equipping a single attacker (often Squall itself) to trigger double strike via "Rough Divide" and recur key permanents. The strategy combines knight tribal synergies, exalted triggers, and equipment support to enable powerful solo attacks. Squall serves as the core enabler, providing both offensive pressure and graveyard recursion for low-CMC permanents like equipment or utility creatures. The deck includes multiple equipment tutors and value engines to consistently deploy threats but lacks explosive combos, relying on incremental combat damage and recursion value.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet), equipment tutors (Steelshaper's Gift, Sram, Senior Edificer), or exalted enablers (Aven Squire, Guardians of Akrasa). Cast Squall by turn 3-4 using lands like Command Tower or Fetid Heath.
2. Equip & Attack (Turns 3-6): Attach key equipment (Buster Sword, Sword of Feast and Famine) to Squall or another attacker using free equip effects (Puresteel Paladin, Sigarda's Aid). Attack alone to trigger double strike and Squall's recursion. Prioritize recurring value pieces like Phoenix Down or Sigarda's Aid.
3. Midgame Value (Turns 5-8): Use recursion to rebuild after disruption. Deploy finishers like Beatrix, Loyal General for mass equipping or Summon: Knights of Round for token pressure. Leverage Akroma's Will for lethal alpha strikes or protection.
4. Win Condition Execution:
   • Combat: Stack equipment bonuses (e.g., Excalibur II + lifegain) and double strike for massive commander damage or regular combat kills.
   • Recursion Value: Outlast opponents by repeatedly recurring key permanents like Knight Exemplar or Ghostly Prison.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color fixing) and at least one of:
  • Early ramp (Sol Ring, Orzhov Signet)
  • Equipment tutor (Steelshaper's Gift, Cloud, Midgar Mercenary)
  • Key synergy piece (Sigarda's Aid, Puresteel Paladin)
• Avoid hands without early plays or equipment targets.

Key Tips:

• Protect Squall: Use Lightning Greaves, Kaya's Ghostform, or Clever Concealment to safeguard your commander for repeated attacks.
• Maximize Recursion: Prioritize recurring equipment (e.g., Forge Anew) or stax pieces (Authority of the Consuls) with Squall's trigger.
• Timely Interaction: Hold Inkshield or Toxic Deluge for opposing combat steps. Use Swords to Plowshares and Vindicate sparingly on game-winning threats.
• Leverage Synergies: Puresteel Paladin enables free equips; Blade of Selves on utility knights (e.g., Knight of the White Orchid) generates value.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) shuts down Squall's recursion and key cards like Phoenix Down.
• Mass artifact/enchantment removal (Farewell, Vandalblast) cripples equipment reliance and stax pieces.
• Evasive threats bypass the "attack alone" requirement and devalue exalted triggers.

Moderate

• Board wipes force slow rebuilds despite recursion tools.
• Anti-equipment tech (Collector Ouphe) disrupts core synergies.
• Stack interaction counters key setup spells (tutors, Squall casts).

Minor

• Life total pressure challenges low-life plays like Dark Knight's Greatsword.
• Land destruction affects color-sensitive mana base.

Most Important Cards:

• Squall, SeeD Mercenary (Commander, win enabler, recursion engine)
• Puresteel Paladin (Free equips, card draw)
• Sigarda's Aid (Flash equips, free attachment)
• Buster Sword (Card advantage, free spell casting)
• Sword of Feast and Famine (Untap synergy, disruption)
• Akroma's Will (Combat finisher/protection)
• Steelshaper's Gift (Tutor key equipment)
• Cloud, Midgar Mercenary (Equipment tutor, double triggers)
• Knight Exemplar (Tribal buff, indestructible)
• Inkshield (Combat trick, token generation)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Wins typically around turns 8-10 via combat or incremental value; lacks fast combos but can pressure life totals steadily.

Resilience: 6/10

• Recursion (Squall, Forge Anew) and protection (Clever Concealment, Kaya's Ghostform) mitigate removal, but reliant on board presence.

Consistency: 7/10

• 10+ tutors/draw engines for equipment/creatures; redundant synergies ensure plan execution.

Interaction: 5/10

• Targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Despark) and board wipes (Toxic Deluge) are efficient but lacks stack interaction beyond combat tricks.

Rating Justification:

This deck executes a focused voltron/recursion strategy with strong consistency and moderate resilience, threatening wins via combat or value around T8-10. Its reliance on combat and vulnerability to grave/artifact hate caps its speed below optimized tiers, aligning with "Focused Casual" in the rubric.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0