Overview:

This Azorius artifact deck leverages Stenn, Paranoid Partisan's cost reduction (typically choosing "artifact") alongside numerous artifact cost reducers to storm off with cheap artifacts. The primary win conditions involve generating massive storm counts for Aetherflux Reservoir, creating infinite tokens via Mechanized Production, or recurring Approach of the Second Sun with bounce effects. Stenn serves as a key enabler, reducing costs while protecting itself with its self-bounce ability. Secondary strategies include overwhelming with artifact creature swarms via Cyberdrive Awakener or controlling the board with Hullbreaker Horror loops.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Mind Stone) and cost reducers (Etherium Sculptor, Foundry Inspector, Cloud Key). Cast Stenn early, choosing "Artifact." Prioritize cantripping artifacts (Alchemist's Vial, Guild Globe, Sleeper Dart) to dig for engines.
2. Engine Activation (Turns 3-6): Resolve key draw engines (Vedalken Archmage, The One Ring, Padeem, Consul of Innovation, Replication Specialist) and untappers (Unwinding Clock). Chain low-cost artifacts to build storm count and draw through the deck. Use bounce spells (Paradoxical Outcome, Consuming Tide) to reuse enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects and protect Stenn.
3. Win Condition Execution (Turns 5-8):
   • Aetherflux Reservoir: Cast 10+ spells in a turn (enabled by cost reduction and card draw), then activate Reservoir targeting opponents.
   • Mechanized Production: Enchant a token-generating artifact (e.g., Mirrorworks, Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam copy) or a cantrip artifact. Create 8 copies to win on upkeep.
   • Approach of the Second Sun: Cast Approach once, then use bounce effects (Stenn's ability, Paradoxical Outcome) to recast it quickly from hand.
   • Hullbreaker Horror: Generate infinite mana/bounce with Horror + two mana-positive rocks (e.g., Sol Ring + Mana Vault equivalent), then bounce all opponents' permanents.
   • Cyberdrive Awakener: Animate your noncreature artifacts for a lethal alpha strike.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color fixing) and at least one early mana rock or cost reducer.
• Prioritize hands containing Stenn + a cost reducer or a card draw engine (The One Ring, Vedalken Archmage).
• Hands with Aetherflux Reservoir + setup are strong but risky without protection.
• Avoid hands lacking early artifacts or reliant solely on high-cost spells (e.g., Gilded Lotus, Brilliant Restoration).

Key Tips:

• Maximize Cost Reduction: Stack multiple reducers (Stenn + Etherium Sculptor + Foundry Inspector) to make artifacts nearly free. Use Semblance Anvil exiling an artifact for additional discount.
• Protect Critical Engines: Use Stenn's self-bounce proactively to dodge removal targeting reducers or win conditions. Padeem, Consul of Innovation provides hexproof to key artifacts.
• Leverage Bounce Synergies: Paradoxical Outcome and Consuming Tide reset your artifacts for more ETB draws/storm count while disrupting opponents. Pair with Replication Specialist or Mirrorworks for extra value.
• Manage Resources: Use Reliquary Tower, Thought Vessel, and Decanter of Endless Water to maintain large hands. Buried Ruin and Conjurer's Bauble recur key artifacts from the graveyard.
• Combo Sequencing: For Reservoir wins, ensure you have sufficient life and mana to chain spells uninterrupted. For Mechanized Production, prioritize copying artifacts that generate tokens or draw cards.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Artifact Board Wipes (Farewell, Vandalblast): Obliterates mana base, reducers, and win conditions simultaneously. Limited recursion makes recovery near-impossible.
• Graveyard Hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void): Shuts down Brilliant Restoration, Roar of Reclamation, Buried Ruin, and Conjurer's Bauble recursion.
• Anti-Activated Ability Stax (Null Rod, Karn, the Great Creator): Disables mana rocks, card draw from The One Ring/Mind Stone, and Unwinding Clock untapping.

Moderate

• Rule of Law Effects (Deafening Silence, Eidolon of Rhetoric): Severely limits storm potential and combo turns by restricting spell casts per turn.
• Targeted Removal on Engines: Killing Vedalken Archmage, Etherium Sculptor, or The One Ring slows the deck significantly. Limited protection beyond Stenn bounce.
• Hand Disruption (Thoughtseize, Duress): Can strip key win conditions (Reservoir, Approach) before they can be protected.

Minor

• Countermagic on Key Spells: While the deck has some counters, resolving critical sorceries (Approach, Brilliant Restoration) can be challenging against heavy control.
• Land Destruction: Mana base is fragile with many tap-lands and artifact reliance; Blood Moon effects hurt color fixing.

Most Important Cards:

• Stenn, Paranoid Partisan (Core cost reduction engine & protection)
• Aetherflux Reservoir (Primary win condition)
• Etherium Sculptor (Critical cost reducer enabling storm)
• Paradoxical Outcome (Draw engine, protection, storm enabler)
• The One Ring (Card draw engine and temporary protection)
• Vedalken Archmage (Massive card advantage engine)
• Unwinding Clock (Untaps artifacts for multiple activations per turn cycle)
• Hullbreaker Horror (Win condition, interaction, combo piece)
• Mechanized Production (Alternate win condition)
• Foundry Inspector (Essential cost reducer)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Capable of T5-7 wins with perfect draws (e.g., T1 Rock, T2 Stenn + Reducer, T3-T4 Storm), but heavily reliant on assembling multiple reducers/engines. Average goldfish win around T8.

Resilience: 4/10

• Stenn's self-bounce provides limited protection, but the deck lacks widespread hexproof/shroud or counterspells. Recursion exists but is slow and vulnerable to graveyard hate. Folds to resolved board wipes.

Consistency: 5/10

• Numerous cantripping artifacts and strong draw engines (The One Ring, Vedalken Archmage) dig deep, but lacks efficient tutors for specific win conditions (Reservoir, Approach). Functional redundancy exists only for cost reduction.

Interaction: 5/10

• Runs targeted bounce (Consuming Tide, Hullbreaker Horror), counterspells (Counterspell, Arcane Denial), and artifact removal (Meteor Golem), but density is low relative to the deck's vulnerability. Focuses more on self-protection than disrupting opponents.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates focused speed (T7-8 goldfish) through artifact storm synergies and cost reduction, but its critical vulnerability to board wipes and graveyard hate severely limits resilience. While possessing strong draw engines, the lack of efficient tutors and protection places it below optimized tiers. Its performance aligns with decks that threaten wins via combat or slow combos around T8-10.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5