Overview:

This Mardu (R/W/B) deck helmed by Caesar, Legion's Emperor focuses on token swarm strategies with heavy emphasis on attack triggers and sacrifice synergies. The commander serves as a central engine, generating tokens, card draw, or direct damage each attack through its sacrifice mechanic. The deck leverages numerous token generators like Assemble the Legion, Felidar Retreat, and Captain of the Watch, amplified by anthem effects (Warleader's Call, Fervent Charge) and damage-pingers (Purphoros, God of the Forge, Impact Tremors). Secondary value engines like Thalisse, Reverent Medium and Black Market provide incremental advantage, while cards like Ruinous Ultimatum and Hour of Reckoning offer board control. Caesar is critical to the strategy, enabling explosive turns when combined with token generators and attack-trigger doublers like Isshin, Two Heavens as One.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Prioritize ramp (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Talisman of Indulgence) and early token generators (Impassioned Orator, Bastion of Remembrance, Secure the Wastes). Deploy Caesar by Turn 4 if possible.
2. Mid-Game Value (Turns 4-7): Activate Caesar's attack triggers to sacrifice tokens for card draw or more tokens. Use Skullclamp on expendable tokens. Deploy key engines: Assemble the Legion, Felidar Retreat, or Purphoros, God of the Forge.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 6-10):
   • Combat Overrun: Boost tokens with Intangible Virtue, Fervent Charge, or Elspeth, Sun's Champion's emblem.
   • Burn Damage: Stack Purphoros, God of the Forge, Impact Tremors, and Bastion of Remembrance triggers.
   • Board Control: Reset opponents with Ruinous Ultimatum or Martial Coup, then rebuild faster with token generators.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color-fixing like Command Tower).
• Prioritize early ramp (artifact or creature-based) and at least one token generator.
• Look for synergy pairs: Caesar + Isshin, Two Heavens as One, or Skullclamp + token producer.

Key Tips:

• Use Caesar's sacrifice effect on non-token creatures (e.g., Wasteland Raider tokens) to maximize value.
• Strionic Resonator doubles Caesar's triggered ability, enabling 4 effects per attack.
• Save Hour of Reckoning to clear non-token boards while preserving your army.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board Wipes: Lacks mass recursion; Fumigate and Ruinous Ultimatum are one-sided but slow. Recovery relies on redeploying engines.
• Commander Reliance: Caesar’s removal stalls the engine. Limited protection outside Iroas, God of Victory indestructible.
• Anti-Token Hate: Cursed Totem/Torpor Orb neuter key synergies; Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite shuts down small tokens.

Moderate

• Artifact/Enchantment Removal: Key pieces like Assemble the Legion, Skullclamp, and Black Market are vulnerable.
• Mana Constraints: Many tapped lands (e.g., Nomad Outpost, temples) slow early setup.

Minor

• Limited stack interaction (only V.A.T.S., Anguished Unmaking).
• No infinite combos for abrupt wins.

Most Important Cards:

• Caesar, Legion's Emperor (Engine: token/draw/damage on attack)
• Isshin, Two Heavens as One (Doubles Caesar's and other attack triggers)
• Purphoros, God of the Forge (Burn win condition)
• Assemble the Legion (Scaling token generation)
• Skullclamp (Card draw from tokens)
• Ruinous Ultimatum (Board reset)
• Felidar Retreat (Landfall token/counter synergy)
• Black Market (Mana acceleration from deaths)
• Elspeth, Sun's Champion (Token generation + finisher)
• Thalisse, Reverent Medium (Spirit token value)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can threaten lethal via combat/burn by Turn 8-10 but lacks fast mana or combos for earlier wins.

Resilience: 4/10

• Vulnerable to board wipes and commander removal; limited recursion beyond Marshal's Anthem.

Consistency: 6/10

• Multiple redundant token generators and card draw (Skullclamp, Morbid Opportunist), but few tutors.

Interaction: 3/10

• Spot removal (Mortify, Anguished Unmaking) and one mass wipe (Hour of Reckoning), but minimal countermagic.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a midrange token swarm with moderate speed and resilience, capable of winning via combat or burn around T8-10. While it has strong synergies and redundancy in token generation, its reliance on the commander and vulnerability to common disruption tools place it in the Casual/Precon tier.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5