Overview:

This Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow deck focuses on evasive 1-power creatures to enable ninjutsu triggers, leveraging topdeck manipulation and high-CMC spells to burn opponents while drawing cards. While lacking infinite combos, it uses redundancy in evasive creatures and ninja payoffs to create consistent pressure. The deck operates at a "Focused" level but lacks the speed/protection of top-tier builds.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
Deploy unblockable 1-drops (Ornithopter, Changeling Outcast) early, then ninjutsu in Yuriko and other ninjas for card advantage and life drain. Use topdeck manipulation (Brainstorm, Mystical Tutor) to maximize Yuriko triggers with high-CMC hits like Shadow of Mortality and Temporal Trespass. Finish through cumulative burn damage and combat with evasive threats.

Key Lines:

1. Turn 1: Evasive creature (Invisible Stalker, Faerie Seer)
2. Turn 2: Ninjutsu Yuriko, start triggering draws/damage
3. Midgame: Chain ninjas like Prosperous Thief for treasure generation while stacking the deck with Lim-Dûl's Vault
4. Endgame: Cast delve spells for massive Yuriko triggers or finish with copied attackers via Thousand-Faced Shadow

Mulligan Priorities:

• 2-3 lands (preferably untapped)
• At least 1 evasive creature
• Ninja enabler (Silver-Fur Master) or topdeck manipulation
  Reject hands without early attackers or excessive high-CMC spells.

Key Tips:

• Use Mystic Sanctuary to recur key counterspells/removal
• Tainted Isle provides color fixing without life loss in this low-curve deck
• Moon-Circuit Hacker enables discard synergies with Yuriko triggers
• Preserve protection spells (Siren Stormtamer) for critical ninjas

Avoid Traps:

• Overextending into board wipes - maintain 2-3 evasive threats
• Holding high-CMC spells - prioritize putting them on top for Yuriko
• Wasting removal on non-critical creatures - focus on protecting your attackers

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Heavy reliance on maintaining 1-2 unblockable creatures
• No recovery from repeated Yuriko removal (3+ kills)

Moderate:

• Limited board wipe protection (only Force of Despair/Submerge)
• No graveyard recursion beyond Mystic Sanctuary

Minor:

• Weak to flying blockers (mitigated by numerous evasive creatures)
• Vulnerable to Cursed Totem-effects shutting off ninjutsu

Most Important Cards:

• Ornithopter
• Changeling Outcast
• Invisible Stalker
• Mystical Tutor
• Lim-Dûl's Vault
• Silver-Fur Master
• Temporal Trespass
• Shadow of Mortality
• Prosperous Thief
• Ingenious Infiltrator

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10
Can deal 15+ life loss by T4 with optimal triggers, but requires multiple combat phases to close. Fastest goldfish win ~T7 through cumulative burn.

Resilience: 5/10
12 pieces of interaction (counters/removal) and redundancy in evasive creatures, but folds to 3+ Yuriko removals. Weak to resolved Ghostly Prison effects.

Consistency: 7/10
15 evasive 1-drops, 5 topdeck manipulators, and 4 ninja cost reducers create reliable engine. Lacks high-density tutors for specific answers.

Interaction: 6/10
Efficient counters (Counterspell, An Offer You Can't Refuse) and targeted removal (Dismember), but limited board wipes and no free protection spells.

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between "Focused" (6.0) and "Optimized Casual" (5.5):

• Faster than typical Casual decks with T7 kill potential
• More interaction than Precon-level but less than cEDH
• Lacks fast mana (only Sol Ring) and free counterspells
• Key combos require combat steps rather than instant wins

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0