Overview:

This UW artifact deck leverages Shorikai, Genesis Engine as a card advantage engine and token generator, focusing on Vehicles and artifact synergy. The primary strategy involves using Shorikai's draw/discard ability to fuel graveyard recursion while creating Pilot tokens to animate Vehicles. Win conditions include combat with oversized Vehicles (e.g., Parhelion II, Reaver Titan), Mechanized Production alt-win, and mass animation via Cyberdrive Awakener. Shorikai is essential as the engine but vulnerable to removal when animated, though its high crew cost encourages operating as a non-creature.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet) or cost reducers (Etherium Sculptor, Foundry Inspector). Cast Shorikai T3-T4 and activate immediately to draw/discard and create a Pilot. Prioritize untappers like Drumbellower or Unwinding Clock.
2. Engine Activation (Turns 4-6): Use Shorikai repeatedly for card advantage, discarding artifacts for recursion (Emry, Lurker of the Loch, Argivian Restoration). Animate key Vehicles with Pilots: Mobilizer Mech enables multi-Vehicle attacks, Prodigy's Prototype generates more Pilots. Tutor for pieces like Mechanized Production or Cyberdrive Awakener with Enlightened Tutor/Inventors' Fair.
3. Win Execution (Turns 6-8):
   • Combat: Swing with massive Vehicles (e.g., Reaver Titan dealing 5 to each opponent) supported by Kotori, Pilot Prodigy for lifelink/vigilance. Parhelion II creates Angel tokens for wide pressure.
   • Alt-Win: Stick Mechanized Production on a token-generator (e.g., Sai, Master Thopterist) to win via copies.
   • Mass Animation: Resolve Cyberdrive Awakener or Dance of the Manse (X≥6) turning all artifacts into 4/4 flyers for lethal.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with Shorikai + 3 lands/ramp. Prioritize untappers (Drumbellower), cost reducers, or early interaction.
• Avoid hands lacking blue sources, Shorikai activation enablers, or excessive high-cost Vehicles.

Key Tips:

• Protect Shorikai: Activate before animating to avoid commander tax. Use Teferi's Protection/Fierce Guardianship to shield key turns.
• Maximize Untaps: Unwinding Clock + Drumbellower enable multiple Shorikai activations per turn cycle.
• Recursion Targets: Prioritize discarding bombs (Reaver Titan, Cyberdrive Awakener) or value engines (Panharmonicon).
• Combat Tricks: Use Mobilizer Mech to animate multiple Vehicles simultaneously. Caught in the Brights removes blockers when Vehicles attack.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Artifact/Stax Hate: Stony Silence/Null Rod cripple mana rocks, Shorikai activations, and Vehicle animation.
• Board Wipes: Farewell exiles Vehicles/Pilots, bypassing recursion; recovery is slow without draw engines.

Moderate

• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace disrupts recursion (Emry, Dance of the Manse, Academy Ruins).
• Anti-Token Effects: Cursed Totem/Torpor Orb nullify Pilot generation and ETB synergies.

Minor

• Flyer Evasion: Struggles against decks with superior air defenses if key Vehicles are blocked.
• Mana Constraints: Limited color fixing; relies on artifacts for colored mana.

Most Important Cards:

• Shorikai, Genesis Engine (Card draw, token generation, deck engine)
• Unwinding Clock (Untap artifacts for multiple Shorikai activations)
• Cyberdrive Awakener (Mass animation wincon)
• Mechanized Production (Alt-win condition)
• Drumbellower (Untap Shorikai/Pilots during opponents' turns)
• Emry, Lurker of the Loch (Graveyard recursion for artifacts)
• Teferi's Protection (Protects against wipes/targeted removal)
• Fierce Guardianship (Free countermagic to protect combos)
• Parhelion II (Combat finisher with token generation)
• Inventors' Fair (Tutors key artifacts)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten wins via combat or Cyberdrive Awakener by T7-8, but relies on setup and lacks fast mana.

Resilience: 5/10

• Recursion (Emry, Academy Ruins) and protection (Teferi's Protection) exist, but heavily commander-dependent and vulnerable to stax/graveyard hate.

Consistency: 7/10

• Shorikai provides steady card draw, and tutors (Enlightened Tutor, Inventors' Fair) find key pieces, but limited redundancy for core engines.

Interaction: 6/10

• Efficient removal (Swords to Plowshares, Dispatch, Generous Gift) and counterspells (Fierce Guardianship, Negate), but lacks board wipes beyond Austere Command.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a Focused level (T7-8 wins) with strong card advantage and combo potential, but its reliance on Shorikai and vulnerability to artifact hate limit resilience. Speed aligns with T7-8 wins, placing it between Optimized Casual and Focused tiers.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0