Overview:

This Temur (G/U/R) deck leverages Loot, the Pathfinder as a versatile value engine and combo facilitator. The primary strategy exploits Loot's powerful "exhaust" abilities (ramp, draw, removal) by enabling multiple activations per turn via untap effects like Ioreth of the Healing House and Elvish Refueler, or by flickering/resetting Loot with cards like Ghostly Flicker and Teferi's Time Twist. Win conditions center on generating infinite mana (Food Chain + exilable creatures like Squee, the Immortal/Misthollow Griffin) to fuel Loot's abilities infinitely, storming off with Grapeshot, or overwhelming combat via pumped threats. Loot is essential as the primary mana sink and enabler, but the deck has strong backup plans via tutors and value engines.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana acceleration (Sol Ring, Birds of Paradise, Exploration, Utopia Sprawl) and value pieces (Mystic Remora, Mirri's Guile). Prioritize casting Loot by turn 3-4 using cost reducers (Goblin Anarchomancer, Delighted Halfling).
2. Engine Activation (Turns 3-5): Use Loot's exhaust abilities for ramp, card draw, or removal. Enable multiple activations via Elvish Refueler (resets exhaust) or untappers like Ioreth of the Healing House. Protect Loot with counterspells or flicker effects (Teferi's Time Twist, Blur).
3. Assemble Win Condition (Turns 4-7):
   • Infinite Mana: Tutor for Food Chain (Worldly Tutor, Gifts Ungiven, Muddle the Mixture) and pair with exilable creatures (Squee, the Immortal, Misthollow Griffin). Generate infinite colored mana.
   • Win via Loot: Use infinite mana to draw the deck with Loot's {U} ability or kill opponents with Loot's {R} ability repeated infinitely.
   • Storm: Cast Grapeshot with a high storm count enabled by cheap spells, draw engines, and mana.
   • Combat: Deploy large threats like Avenger of Zendikar or Consecrated Sphinx, amplified by pumps like Boon of Boseiju or Dragonclaw Strike.
4. Protection/Recovery: Use counterspells (Counterspell, Swan Song), flicker effects, and recursion (Eternal Witness, Conduit of Worlds) to protect the combo or recover from disruption.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color fixing) and early ramp (dorks, rocks, enchantments).
• Prioritize hands containing Loot + protection/flicker, a tutor (Worldly Tutor, Gifts Ungiven), or a key engine piece (Food Chain, The One Ring, Mystic Remora).
• Ensure access to all three colors by turn 3-4. Avoid hands lacking acceleration or reliant solely on high-CMC cards without setup.

Key Tips:

• Reset Exhaust: Elvish Refueler allows multiple Loot activations per turn. Flicker Loot (Ghostly Flicker, Essence Flux) to reset all exhaust abilities and trigger ETBs.
• Tutor Efficiently: Use transmute cards (Muddle the Mixture for Food Chain, Dizzy Spell for Grapeshot) and Gifts Ungiven to find combo pieces or answers. Fauna Shaman searches creatures like Squee.
• Leverage Exile: Food Chain exiles creatures for mana – use Squee, the Immortal, Misthollow Griffin, or Eternal Witness (flickered) for repeated value. Spark Double copying Loot doubles exhaust potential.
• Protect the Combo: Hold up counterspells or flicker effects when attempting to win. Vexing Shusher ensures key spells resolve. Use The One Ring for protection and card draw.
• Alternative Lines: Animar, Soul of Elements reduces creature costs, enabling explosive turns. Conduit of Worlds allows land/creature recursion. Consecrated Sphinx provides massive card advantage.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander Dependency: Loot is essential for the primary game plan. Repeated removal (especially exile) cripples the deck's engine and win potential. Limited protection beyond counterspells.
• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void shuts off Food Chain combos, Eternal Witness, Conduit of Worlds, and Reclaim.
• Anti-Exile Effects: Torpor Orb/Hushbringer stops ETB flicker value. Drannith Magistrate prevents casting from exile (Squee, Misthollow, Loot's ability activations).

Moderate

• Stack Interaction: Heavy countermagic can disrupt combo assembly, especially targeting tutors or Food Chain. Limited ability to fight through multiple counters.
• Artifact/Enchantment Removal: Targeted removal on Food Chain, The One Ring, or mana rocks (Sol Ring) slows the deck significantly. Enchantment removal is sparse in Temur.
• Board Wipes: Mass removal (Farewell, Toxic Deluge) can reset the board before combo setup, though flicker effects provide some mitigation.

Minor

• Mana Base Consistency: Some lands enter tapped (Temples, Bivouac), potentially slowing early turns. Reliance on non-basics makes it vulnerable to Blood Moon/Back to Basics, though basics are present.
• Life Loss: The One Ring and pain lands (Mana Confluence) can accumulate life loss against aggressive decks.

Most Important Cards:

• Food Chain (Core infinite mana combo enabler)
• Squee, the Immortal (Primary Food Chain fodder)
• Elvish Refueler (Enables multiple Loot activations per turn)
• Gifts Ungiven (Tutors for combo pieces/interaction)
• The One Ring (Protection, card draw engine)
• Ghostly Flicker (Resets Loot, protects creatures, enables ETB value)
• Misty Rainforest/Scalding Tarn (Mana fixing, enables shuffle/delve)
• Muddle the Mixture (Counters interaction or transmutes for Food Chain/Grapeshot)
• Consecrated Sphinx (Massive card advantage)
• Ioreth of the Healing House (Untaps Loot for repeated ability use)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10

• Capable of T3-4 wins with perfect hands (e.g., T1 ramp, T2 reducer + Loot, T3 Food Chain + Squee + activation), consistently threatens wins by T5-6 via tutors and draw.

Resilience: 6/10

• Good recursion (Eternal Witness, Conduit), protection (counterspells, flicker), and alternative value engines mitigate disruption, but heavy reliance on Loot and exile-based combos creates key vulnerabilities.

Consistency: 8/10

• High density of tutors (Worldly, Gifts, transmute), card selection (Brainstorm, Ponder), and draw engines (Sphinx, One Ring) ensure reliable access to combo pieces or backup plans.

Interaction: 7/10

• Efficient counterspells (Swan Song, Counterspell), targeted removal (Pongify, Hull Breach), and board wipes (Evacuation) provide solid disruption. Lacks stack-based protection beyond Shusher.

Rating Justification:

This deck achieves high-speed T3-4 win potential and exceptional consistency through tutors and card draw, placing it firmly in the competitive range. However, its reliance on the commander and vulnerability to graveyard/exile hate limit resilience against focused disruption, preventing it from reaching higher cEDH tiers.

Power level: 7.0 - 7.5