Overview:

This Mardu deck helmed by Isshin, Two Heavens as One focuses on doubling attack-trigger effects to generate overwhelming board states through token swarms and extra combat phases. The strategy leverages aggressive creatures like Adeline, Resplendent Cathar, Brimaz, King of Oreskos, and Aurelia, the Warleader to create wide boards, amplified by Cathars' Crusade and Akroma's Will. Isshin is critical to the deck’s engine, doubling triggers from cards like Myrel, Shield of Argive and Karlach, Fury of Avernus to accelerate token production and combat phases. While the primary win condition is combat damage, Goblin Bombardment and Blade of Selves provide alternative value and reach.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet) and early attackers with triggers like Audacious Thief or Hardened Tactician. Protect Isshin with Swiftfoot Boots or Dolmen Gate.
2. Mid-Game Pressure (Turns 4-6): Cast Isshin and high-impact attackers (Adeline, Aurelia, Myrel). Use Skullclamp or Phyrexian Arena to maintain card flow. Activate Blade of Selves on key creatures for exponential triggers.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 5-8):
   • Combat Overload: Stack multiple combat phases via Aurelia, the Warleader and Karlach, Fury of Avernus, buffing tokens with Cathars' Crusade.
   • Sacrifice Outlets: Use Goblin Bombardment to convert tokens into direct damage.
   • Protection/Finisher: Cast Akroma's Will or Boros Charm to protect the board and swing for lethal.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Prioritize hands with 2-3 lands (including color-fixing), 1-2 ramp pieces, and at least one early attacker or protection (e.g., Authority of the Consuls).
• Avoid hands lacking Isshin enablers (ramp, equipment) or with too many high-cost cards.

Key Tips:

• Time board wipes (Blasphemous Act, Wrath of God) to reset opponents before rebuilding with Isshin.
• Use Rogue's Passage to ensure Isshin or key attackers connect.
• Skullclamp sacrifices tokens post-combat to refuel your hand.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board Wipe Vulnerability: Relies heavily on creature-based strategies; lacks mass recursion to recover from repeated wipes.
• Commander Dependency: Isshin’s removal cripples trigger doubling, and recasting him becomes costly without consistent ramp.

Moderate

• Slow Mana Base: Includes several taplands (e.g., Caves of Koilos, Sulfurous Springs), delaying early aggression.
• Limited Interaction: Minimal stack interaction (no counterspells) and spot removal is sparse outside Swords to Plowshares and Terminate.

Minor

• Graveyard Reliance: Recursion tools are minimal; graveyard hate disrupts Aclazotz, Deepest Betrayal and Eternal Witness-like effects.

Most Important Cards:

• Isshin, Two Heavens as One (Doubles attack triggers)
• Adeline, Resplendent Cathar (Token generation engine)
• Aurelia, the Warleader (Extra combats)
• Cathars' Crusade (Scales board power exponentially)
• Akroma's Will (Protection + finisher)
• Goblin Bombardment (Sac outlet for tokens)
• Skullclamp (Card draw from tokens)
• Blade of Selves (Multiplies attack triggers)
• Myrel, Shield of Argive (Token generation + anti-interaction)
• Karlach, Fury of Avernus (Extra combats)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten wins via combat by turns 6-8 but lacks fast mana or combos for earlier kills.

Resilience: 5/10

• Moderately protected by equipment and indestructible effects, but struggles to rebuild after wipes.

Consistency: 6/10

• Relies on Isshin and key creatures; limited tutors beyond Steelshaper's Gift and draw engines.

Interaction: 5/10

• Efficient spot removal (Swords to Plowshares, Terminate) but minimal answers to noncreature threats.

Rating Justification:

This deck has a focused combat strategy with strong synergies but lacks the speed and resilience of optimized lists. Its T6-8 win potential and vulnerability to disruption align with the "Focused" tier (6.0), though inconsistent mana and reliance on Isshin lower its floor.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0