Overview:

This Rakdos deck helmed by Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin focuses on dealing precise 1-damage pings to opponents to grow Ob Nixilis exponentially while generating card advantage. The strategy combines storm-like spellcasting, artifact synergies, and infinite combos to win through damage amplification loops or overwhelming value. Ob Nixilis acts as both a scaling threat and a card advantage engine, with backup plans leveraging Underworld Breach, All Will Be One, and Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar to close games.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy fast mana (Mana Vault, Dark Ritual, Sol Ring) and 1-damage pingers like Kessig Flamebreather, Firebrand Archer, or Creeping Bloodsucker. Cast Ob Nixilis as early as Turn 3 using rituals.
2. Value Engine Activation (Turns 3-5): Trigger Ob Nixilis’ ability by casting noncreature spells (e.g., Wheel of Misfortune, Grapeshot) or using pingers to deal exactly 1 damage. Exile cards for future casting via Ob Nixilis or Prosper, Tome-Bound.
3. Combo/Lock Assembly (Turns 4-6):
   • Infinite Damage: All Will Be One + Walking Ballista (counters placed on Ballista trigger AWBO, dealing damage to reset Ob Nixilis’ trigger).
   • Storm Finish: Underworld Breach + rituals (e.g., Rite of Flame, Cabal Ritual) to fuel a massive Grapeshot.
   • Commander Kill: Equip Lightning Greaves/Commander's Plate to Ob Nixilis, then attack with Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar to triple commander damage.
4. Backup Plans: Use Demonic Tutor, Grim Tutor, and Imperial Seal to find missing combo pieces or Deflecting Swat for protection.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with fast mana (Sol Ring, Mana Vault), a 1-damage enabler, and Ob Nixilis.
• Prioritize hands with rituals if lacking land drops.
• Avoid hands without early plays or excessive high-CMC cards.

Key Tips:

• Use Mox Amber and Paradise Mantle to cast Ob Nixilis earlier.
• Underworld Breach can recur critical spells like Jeska's Will or Demonic Tutor.
• Saw in Half on pingers doubles triggers for Ob Nixilis.
• Grinding Station mills opponents while fueling Underworld Breach.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander Dependency: Repeated removal of Ob Nixilis cripples the deck’s engine and combo potential.
• Graveyard Reliance: Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void nullifies Underworld Breach and recursion tools.
• Anti-Combo Hate: Torpor Orb stops Walking Ballista/Ob Nixilis synergies; Drannith Magistrate blocks exile casting.

Moderate

• Life Loss: Multiple Dark Ritual, Mana Vault, and Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx activations risk self-damage.
• Artifact Destruction: Vandalblast or Null Rod disrupts mana rocks and combo pieces like Staff of Domination.

Minor

• Limited Board Wipes: Relies on Pestilence and Delayed Blast Fireball for mass removal.
• Hand Disruption: Opposition Agent and Hymn to Tourach can strip key combo pieces.

Most Important Cards:

• Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin (Engine: card advantage + threat scaling)
• All Will Be One (Combo finisher with +1/+1 counters)
• Underworld Breach (Recursion engine for storm/combo turns)
• Walking Ballista (Primary combo payoff)
• Demonic Tutor (Tutoring critical pieces)
• Mana Vault (Explosive ramp)
• Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar (Commander damage tripler)
• Deflecting Swat (Protection/combat trick)
• Jeska's Will (Mana/card advantage burst)
• Grapeshot (Storm win condition)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10

• Capable of T3-4 wins with ideal draws (rituals into Ob Nixilis + All Will Be One/Walking Ballista), averaging T5-6 with interaction.

Resilience: 5/10

• Vulnerable to commander removal and graveyard hate, but redundancy in pingers and protection spells (Mithril Coat, Imp's Mischief) provides some recovery.

Consistency: 7/10

• 10+ tutors and card-advantage engines (Prosper, Ob Nixilis) ensure reliable access to key pieces, but combo assembly requires specific sequences.

Interaction: 6/10

• Targeted removal (Deadly Rollick, Saw in Half), stack interaction (Pyroblast, Deflecting Swat), and stax (Roiling Vortex) disrupt opponents, but lacks board wipes.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH-adjacent speeds with T3-4 win potential via compact combos and explosive mana, but its reliance on an unprotected commander and vulnerability to common hate cards (graveyard/artifact removal) prevent it from reaching tiered cEDH status. Its resilience and meta-dependent interaction suite align it with high-power casual play.

Power level: 7.5 - 8.0