Overview:

This Boros (R/W) deck helmed by Arabella, Abandoned Doll focuses on swarming the board with low-power creatures (power ≤2) to amplify Arabella's attack trigger for direct damage and lifegain. The strategy leverages token generation, creature recursion, and synergistic payoffs like Purphoros, God of the Forge and City on Fire to convert board presence into lethal damage. Arabella serves as both an enabler (through card advantage engines like Skullclamp) and a scalable win condition, with hidden commander elements in Delney, Streetwise Lookout doubling triggered abilities.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Mox Amber), low-CMV creatures (Esper Sentinel, Mother of Runes), and token generators (Skrelv's Hive, Prosperous Partnership). Use tutors like Enlightened Tutor to find key pieces.
2. Board Expansion (Turns 3-5): Cast mass token generators (Call the Coppercoats, Secure the Wastes) and value engines (The One Ring, Assemble the Players). Protect key pieces with Flawless Maneuver or Clever Concealment.
3. Win Condition Activation (Turns 5-7):
   • Combat: Overwhelm with City on Fire tripling damage or Forth Eorlingas! creating an army. Purphoros, God of the Forge pings opponents for each creature entering.
   • Combo: Use Underworld Breach + Wheel of Fortune/Jeska's Will to generate infinite storm count with Mox Amber and Loran of the Third Path, finishing with Arabella's scaled damage.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Prioritize hands with 2-3 lands including color-fixing (fetch lands preferred).
• Seek early token generators (Skrelv's Hive, Sram's Expertise) or tutors (Imperial Recruiter).
• Ensure at least one protection spell (Mother of Runes, Reprieve) against interaction.
• Avoid hands clogged with high-CMC cards without ramp.

Key Tips:

• Use Delney, Streetwise Lookout to double triggers from Esper Sentinel, Professional Face-Breaker, and Arabella herself.
• Underworld Breach can recur Wheel of Misfortune for explosive card advantage or Sevinne's Reclamation for recursion chains.
• Sacrifice tokens to Skullclamp for card draw while preserving Arabella's damage scaling.
• Reconnaissance lets you attack with all creatures for Arabella triggers without risking combat damage.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board Wipes: Lacks mass recursion outside Underworld Breach/Sevinne's Reclamation. Cards like Clever Concealment only delay threats.
• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void cripples Breach/Reclamation lines.
• Anti-Token Tech: Cursed Totem/Torpor Orb shuts down key creature ETBs and activated abilities.

Moderate

• Stax Effects: Archon of Emeria limits spell sequencing; Rule of Law hinders token generation.
• Artifact Removal: Targets critical equipment (Skullclamp, Lightning Greaves) and mana rocks.

Minor

• Flyers: Limited aerial blockers, though Clarion Conqueror provides some defense.
• Life Total Pressure: Lifegain from Arabella helps offset aggro, but Skrelv's Hive self-damage adds up.

Most Important Cards:

• Underworld Breach (Combo enabler/recursion engine)
• Purphoros, God of the Forge (Passive damage amplifier)
• Delney, Streetwise Lookout (Trigger doubler for critical abilities)
• Skullclamp (Primary card draw engine)
• Esper Sentinel (Early stax + card advantage)
• Enlightened Tutor (Tutors key artifacts/enchantments)
• Wheel of Fortune (Mass draw + Breach fuel)
• City on Fire (Triple damage finisher)
• The One Ring (Uninterrupted card advantage)
• Imperial Recruiter (Fetches critical 2-power creatures)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10
Can threaten wins via Purphoros pings or combat around T6-7, but lacks turbo fast mana for earlier explosive turns.

Resilience: 5/10
Moderate protection (phasing, indestructible) and recursion, but over-reliant on board presence for engine functionality.

Consistency: 7/10
Strong tutor density (9 tutors) and card draw engines ensure key pieces are found, though some combo lines require specific sequences.

Interaction: 6/10
Efficient targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Skyclave Apparition) and stack interaction (Deflecting Swat), but lacks board wipes.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates focused synergy with T6-7 win potential through combat or Purphoros/Underworld Breach combos, supported by strong tutoring and card advantage. However, its reliance on maintaining a board state and vulnerability to common stax pieces place it below optimized competitive tiers.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0