Overview:

This Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow deck focuses on ninja tribal synergy and combat damage triggers to drain opponents through Yuriko's ability. The primary win condition is incremental life loss via high mana value reveals, supported by evasive creatures and ninjutsu-enabled value engines. While lacking infinite combos, it leverages efficient interaction and redundancy in unblockable creatures to maintain pressure.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
The deck aims to deploy evasive 1-drops (Changeling Outcast, Mist-Cloaked Herald) early, then use ninjutsu to swap in Yuriko and other ninjas for damage triggers. Key phases:

1. Setup (T1-3): Play unblockable creatures, deploy mana rocks, and protect early board presence.
2. Trigger Storm (T4+): Activate ninjutsu chains with value ninjas (Ingenious Infiltrator for draw, Fallen Shinobi for theft) while manipulating topdeck reveals (Brainstorm, Scroll Rack effects missing here).
3. Finisher: Amplify Yuriko triggers with high MV spells (Dig Through Time, Treasure Cruise) and alt-win ninjas (Thousand-Faced Shadow cloning key attackers).

Mulligan Priorities:

• 2-3 lands with at least 1 blue source
• 1-2 evasive creatures (Slither Blade > mana rocks)
• Interaction/protection if keeping slow hands

Key Tips:

• Use ninjutsu post-declare blockers to maximize surprise factor
• Sequence Brainstorm/Crystal Ball after Yuriko trigger resolves but before draw step
• Satoru Umezawa enables ninjutsu for non-ninja bombs like Baleful Strix

Avoid Traps:

• Overextending ninjas before establishing protection
• Holding high MV spells in hand - prioritize topdeck manipulation

Weaknesses:

Moderate:

• Vulnerable to board wipes (limited recursion beyond Tortured Existence)
• Relies on combat damage for engine (folds to Propaganda/Ghostly Prison)
• Topdeck manipulation underdeveloped (only 3 scry effects)

Minor:

• Slow graveyard recovery (only Bojuka Bog for self-recursion)
• No infinite mana/card draw combos

Most Important Cards:

• Ingenious Infiltrator
• Satoru Umezawa
• Fallen Shinobi
• Dig Through Time
• Treasure Cruise
• Changeling Outcast
• Dauthi Voidwalker
• Bident of Thassa
• Thousand-Faced Shadow
• Mystic Confluence

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10
Can begin pressuring life totals T2 with ninjutsu, but lacks explosive "one-shot" turns. Average goldfish win ~T8 through accumulated triggers.

Resilience: 6/10
12 counterspells/removal and evasive creatures provide protection, but overreliance on combat leaves it vulnerable to stax.

Consistency: 7/10
15 evasive creatures and 4 tutors enable ninjutsu chains, but lacks topdeck manipulation for guaranteed high MV reveals.

Interaction: 8/10
Efficient instant-speed answers (Drown in the Loch, Counterspell) and stack interaction (Misdirection) handle most threats.

Rating Justification:

The deck demonstrates focused ninja synergy with optimized interaction and redundancy, comparable to rubric level 6.0 ("T7-8 via combat/synergies"). However, lacking fast mana/consultation lines and having moderate stax vulnerability prevents reaching 7.0+ tiers.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5