Overview:

This Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow deck leverages unblockable creatures and ninjutsu to trigger Yuriko's life-drain ability while manipulating the top of the library for maximum damage. The commander is central to the strategy, enabling card advantage and acting as a persistent threat. Secondary win conditions include a Thassa's Oracle combo with Demonic Consultation/Tainted Pact and combat damage amplified by Quietus Spike. The deck balances evasive creatures, top-deck control, and efficient interaction to pressure opponents early and often.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy unblockable creatures (Changeling Outcast, Mist-Cloaked Herald) or low-cost ninjas (Moon-Circuit Hacker) to enable Yuriko’s ninjutsu. Use Sensei's Divining Top, Scroll Rack, and cantrips (Brainstorm, Preordain) to stack high mana value cards (e.g., Hidetsugu and Kairi, Cyclonic Rift).
2. Mid-Game Pressure (Turns 3-5): Recast Yuriko via ninjutsu, triggering life loss and card draw. Deploy value ninjas like Ingenious Infiltrator for additional draw or Fallen Shinobi for disruption. Use High Tide or Lotus Petal to fuel explosive turns.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 4+):
   • Yuriko Triggers: Stack high-CMC cards (e.g., Hidetsugu and Kairi’s MV=5) to drain the table.
   • Thassa’s Oracle Combo: Tutor for Demonic Consultation/Tainted Pact to exile the library and win with Oracle’s ETB.
   • Combat Kills: Equip Quietus Spike to evasive creatures for life halving or use Thousand-Faced Shadow to clone threats.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Prioritize hands with 1-2 evasive creatures (e.g., Slither Blade, Gingerbrute).
• Include at least one top-deck manipulator (Brainstorm, Sensei's Divining Top) or tutor (Mystical Tutor).
• Ensure early interaction (Force of Will, Dispel) if facing removal-heavy metas.

Key Tips:

• Use ninjutsu on opponents’ end steps to avoid sorcery-speed removal.
• Scroll Rack + fetchlands (e.g., Fetid Pools) lets you shuffle away unwanted stacked cards.
• Save Mystic Sanctuary to recur key instants like Cyclonic Rift or Demonic Consultation.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Relies heavily on Yuriko staying on board; repeated removal cripples the engine.
• Thassa's Oracle combo is fragile to instant-speed interaction (Stifle, Tales End).

Moderate

• Board wipes (Damnation, Blasphemous Act) reset evasive creature base.
• Cursed Totem/Torpor Orb nullifies ninjutsu activations and ETB triggers.

Minor

• Limited answers to resolved enchantments/artifacts (relies on Cyclonic Rift).
• Struggles against hexproof/shroud commanders.

Most Important Cards:

• Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow (Commander, life-drain engine)
• Thassa's Oracle (Primary combo wincon)
• Demonic Consultation/Tainted Pact (Combo enablers)
• Scroll Rack/Sensei's Divining Top (Top-deck manipulation)
• Force of Will (Free interaction)
• Cyclonic Rift (Board reset)
• Quietus Spike (Combat multiplier)
• Mystical Tutor/Personal Tutor (Tutor key pieces)
• Hidetsugu and Kairi (High MV trigger + value)
• High Tide (Mana acceleration for combo turns)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10

• Can win via Oracle combo as early as Turn 3 with perfect draws (Tutor + Consultation), but typically threatens lethal via Yuriko triggers or combat by Turns 5-6.

Resilience: 5/10

• Vulnerable to commander removal and board wipes, but counterspells (Force of Will, Turn Aside) and recursion (Mystic Sanctuary) provide some recovery.

Consistency: 7/10

• Multiple tutors (Mystical Tutor, Dimir Infiltrator), card selection, and Yuriko’s draw engine ensure reliable access to key pieces.

Interaction: 6/10

• Counterspells (Force of Will, Dispel) and targeted removal (Snuff Out, Deadly Rollick) protect the game plan but lack broad answers.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH-adjacent speeds with a Turn 3-5 combo potential and consistent Yuriko pressure, but its reliance on the commander and vulnerability to disruption place it just below top-tier lists. The Oracle combo elevates its ceiling, while its fragility to interaction caps its resilience.

Power level: 7.0 - 7.5