Overview:

This Grixis (UBR) deck leverages Sauron, the Dark Lord as a resilient card advantage engine and secondary win enabler, but primarily functions as a high-speed combo deck. Its core strategy revolves around turboing into Ad Nauseam or assembling efficient two-card win conditions (Thassa's Oracle + Demonic Consultation/Tainted Pact) backed by extensive free interaction and fast mana. Sauron provides value through Ring-tempting card draw and amassed Army tokens, yet the deck's potency stems from its cEDH-grade fast mana, tutors, and protected combo finishes.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Acceleration (Turns 0-2): Deploy fast mana (Sol Ring, Mana Crypt, Lotus Petal, Dark Ritual, Cabal Ritual) and low-cost rocks (Arcane Signet, Talismans). Cast early value engines like Mystic Remora or Rhystic Study if possible.
2. Assemble Combo/Setup (Turns 1-3): Use tutors (Demonic Tutor, Vampiric Tutor, Gamble, Diabolic Intent) to find Ad Nauseam, Thassa's Oracle, or combo support like Underworld Breach. Protect key plays with free counters (Force of Will, Fierce Guardianship).
3. Execute Win (Turns 2-5):
   • Thoracle Combo: Cast Thassa's Oracle, then Demonic Consultation/Tainted Pact naming a nonexistent card to exile library and win.
   • Ad Nauseam: Resolve Ad Nauseam to draw most of the deck, then win with Thoracle combo or Underworld Breach + Brain Freeze/Lion's Eye Diamond (if available).
   • Breach Lines: Leverage Underworld Breach with Lotus Petal/rituals and Brain Freeze to mill opponents out or fuel Thoracle.
   • Sauron Backup: If combos are disrupted, deploy Sauron to amass Orcs, tempt the Ring for card draw, and pressure life totals.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with fast mana (Sol Ring, Crypt, Rituals), a tutor, or a protected combo piece (Thoracle + Consult/Pact).
• Prioritize blue sources for free counters. Hands lacking acceleration or interaction should be mulliganed aggressively.
• Acceptable hands include early interaction (Miscast, Mental Misstep) plus card selection (Ponder, Preordain).

Key Tips:

• Sequence Protection: Hold free counters (Force of Negation, Fierce Guardianship) for critical disruption against your combo. Use Deflecting Swat to redirect targeted removal.
• Leverage Sauron: Cast Sauron post-wipe or when opponents are tapped out. Sacrifice expendable legends (e.g., Opposition Agent) to pay Ward if needed. His card draw refills hands after disruption.
• Breach Efficiency: Exile spent rituals/fetchlands first with Underworld Breach to minimize escape costs. Brain Freeze yourself to fuel Breach if necessary.
• Interaction Timing: Deploy Opposition Agent in response to fetches/tutors. Notion Thief punishes wheel effects or Rhystic Study. Orcish Bowmasters pressures opposing Thoracle attempts.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void, or Dauthi Voidwalker cripple Underworld Breach, Reanimate, and Cabal Ritual threshold.
• Anti-Search Effects: Opposition Agent or Aven Mindcensor disrupts the deck's dense tutor suite.
• Rule of Law Effects: Deafening Silence or Rule of Law shuts down storm lines and multiple spells per turn.

Moderate

• Discard/Hand Attack: Targeted discard (Thoughtseize) can strip key combo pieces preemptively.
• Dedicated Stax: Cursed Totem nullifies Orcish Bowmasters/Grim Hireling; Chalice of the Void on 0/1 hits fast mana/tutors.
• Life Total Pressure: Aggressive decks can reduce life below Ad Nauseam safety margins (~25 life).

Minor

• Mass Artifact Removal: Vandalblast can slow mana rocks, but the deck recovers quickly.
• Commander Focus: Sauron removal delays card draw, but isn't essential to the primary combo plan.

Most Important Cards:

• Ad Nauseam (Primary draw engine/combo setup)
• Thassa's Oracle (Primary win condition)
• Demonic Consultation (Win enabler with Thoracle)
• Underworld Breach (Recursion engine/combo piece)
• Force of Will (Free protection)
• Mystic Remora (Early card advantage)
• Dark Ritual (Explosive mana acceleration)
• Vampiric Tutor (Efficient tutor)
• Deflecting Swat (Free redirection)
• Fierce Guardianship (Free countermagic)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 9/10

• Capable of T2-3 wins with perfect hands (e.g., Ritual + Ad Naus, Thoracle + Consult) and consistently threatens T3-5 victories through tutors and fast mana.

Resilience: 7/10

• Extensive free interaction protects combos, and Sauron provides card advantage backup. However, it remains vulnerable to resolved graveyard hate or Rule of Law effects.

Consistency: 9/10

• 10+ tutors, ample card selection (Ponder/Preordain), and potent draw engines (Ad Naus, Remora) ensure reliable access to combo pieces.

Interaction: 8/10

• High density of free/cheap counters (Force, Fierce Guardianship, Swan Song) and targeted removal (Deadly Rollick, Chain of Vapor). Lacks board wipes beyond Toxic Deluge/Cyclonic Rift.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH velocity with T2-3 win potential via Ad Naus or Thoracle combos, supported by premium tutors, fast mana, and free interaction. Its resilience against disruption is high but not absolute, as graveyard hate or Rule of Law can cripple key lines, preventing Tier 0/1 status.

Power level: 8.5 - 9.0