Overview:

This Esper (WUB) control/combo deck helmed by Aminatou, the Fateshifter leverages high-powered stax pieces, enchantment synergies, and miracle cost reduction to dominate the game. The strategy combines resource denial through cards like Nether Void and The Abyss with potent card advantage engines like Necropotence and Bolas's Citadel. Aminatou enables explosive miracle plays (e.g., Redress Fate for {3}{W}) while providing consistent topdeck manipulation. The deck wins through layered combos involving Hullbreaker Horror bounce locks, Bolas's Citadel life payment chains, and stax-backed attrition.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-3): Deploy fast mana (Sol Ring, Lotus Petal) and stax pieces (Chains of Mephistopheles, Damping Sphere). Use Aminatou's surveil to set up miracle discounts on key enchantments.
2. Midgame Control (T4-6): Lock opponents with Nether Void/The Abyss while developing value engines. Cast discounted miracles like Redress Fate to recur enchantments. Use Bolas's Citadel to cheat permanents into play.
3. Win Conditions:
   • Hullbreaker Lock: Pair Hullbreaker Horror with low-cost artifacts (Lotus Petal, Sensei's Divining Top) for infinite bounce/storm.
   • Citadel Storm: Chain spells using Bolas's Citadel + Sensei's Divining Top for life management.
   • Stax Attrition: Grind opponents out with The Abyss/Gravebreaker Lamia recursion while protecting planeswalkers like Jace, the Mind Sculptor.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including at least one blue source
• Prioritize fast mana (Sol Ring, Lotus Petal) or early stax (Chains of Mephistopheles)
• Look for Aminatou enablers (miracle cards, Leyline of Anticipation)
• Avoid hands without early interaction or mana acceleration

Key Tips:

• Use Bazaar of Baghdad to fuel graveyard synergies with Gravebreaker Lamia
• Spirit-Sister's Call enables recursive value with stax pieces
• One with the Multiverse provides free casts of miracle-enablers
• Necrologia pairs with Vilis, Broker of Blood for massive draw

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Vulnerable to enchantment/artifact wipe cascades (Cleansing Nova destroys key pieces)
• Damping Matrix/Null Rod shuts off mana rocks and Top/Citadel
• Struggles against fast combo decks pre-stax setup

Moderate

• Life payment engines (Citadel/Necropotence) vulnerable to burn strategies
• Rest in Peace disrupts graveyard recursion lines
• High density of nonbasics makes Blood Moon problematic

Minor

• Limited board presence early makes planeswalkers vulnerable
• Some anti-synergy between Necropotence and miracle triggers

Most Important Cards:

• Nether Void (Stax centerpiece)
• Bolas's Citadel (Primary win engine)
• Necropotence (Card advantage engine)
• Hullbreaker Horror (Combo finisher)
• Chains of Mephistopheles (Disruption)
• The Abyss (Creature control)
• Gravebreaker Lamia (Graveyard tutor)
• Leyline of Anticipation (Flash enabler)
• Vampiric Tutor (Consistency tool)
• Sensei's Divining Top (Miracle setup)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10

• Capable of T3-4 stax locks or T5-6 combo wins with optimal draws

Resilience: 7/10

• Multiple recursion engines (Spirit-Sister's Call, Hall of Heliod's Generosity) but vulnerable to resolved hosers

Consistency: 8/10

• 10 tutors + topdeck manipulation ensure key pieces are accessible

Interaction: 9/10

• 14 targeted removal + 6 counterspells + 4 board wipes create robust defense

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH-adjacent power with T3-4 lockdown potential and multiple protected wincons, but lacks the ultra-efficient compact combos of top-tier lists. Its stax-heavy approach and high-quality interaction justify an 8.0-8.5 rating, positioning it between optimized high power and cEDH viable tiers.

Power level: 8.0 - 8.5