Overview:

This Neheb, the Eternal deck focuses on burning opponents through direct damage spells and combat triggers to fuel massive mana generation, enabling explosive X-spell finishers. While synergistic and capable of powerful turns, it lacks the redundancy, protection, and speed of higher-tier decks.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck aims to:

1. Deal early damage using pingers (Guttersnipe, Electrostatic Field) and symmetrical burn (Flame Rift)
2. Cast Neheb post-combat to convert damage into red mana
3. Use this mana for game-ending X-spells (Comet Storm, Jaya's Immolating Inferno) or extra combats (Relentless Assault).

Key synergies include Repercussion amplifying board wipes like Blasphemous Act, and Imodane, the Pyrohammer converting single-target burns into player damage. The deck can theoretically win T5-6 with an unanswered Neheb turn into X-spells, but relies heavily on the commander staying on board.

Mulligan Priorities:

• 3+ lands (including MDFCs)
• Early damage engine (Spear Spewer, Kessig Flamebreather)
• Protection (Swiftfoot Boots) or recovery (Cathartic Reunion)
  Avoid hands without red mana generation or damage outlets.

Key Tips:

• Time Neheb casts after establishing damage sources
• Use Leyline Tyrant to bank mana between turns
• Prioritize wheels (Wheel of Misfortune) when low on gas
• Repercussion turns opponents' creatures into liability

Avoid Traps:

• Overextending creatures before wipes
• Casting X-spells without Neheb mana
• Keeping hands without damage outlets

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Commander dependency (3+ removals cripple strategy)
• No protection from life gain/damage prevention

Moderate:

• Limited artifact/enchantment removal
• Weak to stax pieces (Cursed Totem, Damping Sphere)

Minor:

• Predictable play patterns
• Medium card quality (includes Desolation Twin, Dragon Roost)

Most Important Cards:

• Blasphemous Act
• Repercussion
• Mana Geyser
• Fiery Confluence
• Knollspine Dragon
• Relentless Assault
• Dictate of the Twin Gods
• Jaya's Immolating Inferno
• Comet Storm
• Wheel of Misfortune

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10
Theoretical T5 wins with Neheb + X-spell, but requires setup turns. Most wins occur T7-8.

Resilience: 4/10
Folds to repeated commander removal. Limited protection (2 hexproof sources) and recursion.

Consistency: 5/10
12 wheel/draw effects but only 3 tutors. Damage engines are redundant but mana generation isn't.

Interaction: 5/10
10 targeted removal (mostly artifact), 4 board wipes. Lacks stack interaction and permanent recursion.

Rating Justification:

This sits between "Optimized Casual" (5.0) and "High-Power Casual" (5.5). While capable of explosive turns, it lacks:

• Free protection (Deflecting Swat)
• Fast mana beyond Sol Ring
• Compact wincons
  Comparable to strong precons with focused upgrades but below dedicated combo decks.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5