Overview:

This Winota, Joiner of Forces deck employs an aggressive stax-combat strategy, leveraging low-cost non-Human creatures to trigger Winota's ability and cheat out impactful Humans. The deck combines token generation, combat tricks, and stax elements (Rule of Law effects, tax artifacts) to disrupt opponents while building overwhelming board states. Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker and Combat Celebrant provide an infinite combat combo backup plan. Winota is the critical engine, enabling explosive value turns but vulnerable to removal.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-3): Deploy 0-2 CMC non-Human attackers (Ornithopter, Gingerbrute, Phoenix Chick) and stax pieces (Thorn of Amethyst, Thalia). Ramp with Sol Ring, Boros Signet, or Myrs.
2. Winota Activation (T3-4): Cast Winota and attack with 3+ non-Humans. Prioritize free Humans like Blade Historian (double strike enabler), Hero of Bladehold (token generator), or Boromir (protection).
3. Snowball Phase: Use Winota triggers to assemble combat multipliers (Goldnight Commander, Angrath's Marauders) or combo pieces. Protect board with Selfless Spirit/Unbreakable Formation.
4. Win Conditions:
   • Combat Overkill: Double strike (Blade Historian) + token armies (Hero of Bladehold, Hordeling Outburst)
   • Infinite Combos: Kiki-Jiki + Combat Celebrant (infinite combat) or Splinter Twin + Village Bell-Ringer (infinite hasty tokens)

Mulligan Priorities:

• 2-3 lands (prioritize red/white sources)
• At least 2 early non-Human attackers (0-1 CMC preferred)
• Winota enablers (ramp like Sol Ring) or protection (Mother of Runes)
• Avoid hands without early creatures or excessive high-CMC cards

Key Tips:

• Use stax pieces (Ethersworn Canonist, Rule of Law) to slow opponents while building your board.
• Protect Winota with Alseid of Life's Bounty or Boromir's indestructible sacrifice.
• Prioritize Humans that generate immediate value (Fiend Hunter removal, Mentor of the Meek draws).

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Extreme reliance on Winota – repeated removal cripples the deck's engine.
• Board wipes bypass indestructible protection (e.g., Toxic Deluge, Merciless Eviction).

Moderate

• Artifact hate (Null Rod, Collector Ouphe) shuts down mana rocks and key attackers.
• Graveyard recursion is minimal – limited recovery from wipes.

Minor

• Flyer-heavy decks can chump block ground tokens without Blade Historian.
• Limited card draw outside combat phases/Winota triggers.

Most Important Cards:

• Winota, Joiner of Forces (Engine for free Humans and board flood)
• Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker (Combo piece with Combat Celebrant)
• Blade Historian (Double strike for alpha strikes)
• Hero of Bladehold (Token generation + anthem effect)
• Thalia, Guardian of Thraben (Stax effect to slow opponents)
• Selfless Spirit (Board wipe protection)
• Combat Celebrant (Infinite combat enabler)
• Rule of Law (Hobbles spell-based decks)
• Mentor of the Meek (Card draw from token generation)
• Angrath's Marauders (Damage multiplier for lethal swings)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10
Capable of T4 kills with ideal Winota triggers (e.g., Blade Historian + token army) or T5 Kiki-Jiki combos.

Resilience: 5/10
Relies heavily on Winota staying alive; limited recursion but includes some protection spells.

Consistency: 7/10
High density of non-Human enablers (15+ 0-2 CMC creatures) and redundant combat multipliers.

Interaction: 6/10
Stax elements and targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Fiend Hunter) disrupt opponents, but lacks counterspells.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH-adjacent speeds with explosive T4-5 wins but lacks the interaction density and commander independence of true cEDH builds. Its stax elements and combo potential elevate it above casual tiers, while Winota's fragility caps its ceiling.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0