Overview:

This Ashling the Pilgrim deck focuses on leveraging the commander's board-wiping ability enhanced by damage multipliers (Gratuitous Violence, Fiendish Duo) and damage redirection (Stuffy Doll, Brash Taunter). The primary win condition involves charging Ashling to critical mass (3+ activations/turn) while amplifying the damage via synergy pieces. Secondary strategies include equipment-based voltron and value engines like Etali, Primal Storm. The deck operates at a mid-power casual level with moderate interaction and redundancy but lacks fast mana or robust protection.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
The deck aims to resolve Ashling’s third activation in a single turn, amplified by damage doublers and redirected through indestructible creatures. Key phases:

1. Setup (Turns 1–4): Ramp with artifacts (Sol Ring, Treasonous Ogre), protect Ashling via Swiftfoot Boots/Darksteel Plate, and deploy enablers like Repercussion.
2. Amplification (Turns 5–7): Cast damage multipliers (Angrath's Marauders, Torbran, Thane of Red Fell) and redirectors (Stuffy Doll).
3. Detonation: Activate Ashling 3x in a turn (cost-reduced by Heartstone if available), dealing massive damage to all players via multipliers and redirection.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3+ lands and early ramp (Arcane Signet, Sol Ring).
• Prioritize protection (Swiftfoot Boots) or damage redirection (Brash Taunter) over slow value pieces.

Key Tips:

• Time Ashling’s third activation post-combat to avoid overextending into removal.
• Use Arcbond on Ashling during her explosion for exponential damage.
• Chandra's Ignition with a high-power Ashling can close games.

Avoid Traps:

• Overcommitting to the board before securing protection.
• Casting Ashling without immediate activation mana.

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Relies heavily on Ashling surviving to execute the core strategy.
• Minimal graveyard recursion for key pieces.

Moderate:

• Limited instant-speed interaction (only Abrade, Shunt).
• No infinite combos; damage output capped by available synergies.

Minor:

• Weak to enchantment removal (Repercussion, Gratuitous Violence are linchpins).

Most Important Cards:

• Repercussion
• Stuffy Doll
• Brash Taunter
• Gratuitous Violence
• Fiendish Duo
• Angrath's Marauders
• Heartstone
• Darksteel Plate
• Arcbond
• Chandra's Ignition

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Theoretical T6–7 kills with optimal draws (Ashling + 2 doublers + activation). No fast mana or cost-cheating accelerates earlier wins.

Resilience: 4/10

• Dies to 2–3 removal spells targeting Ashling or key enchantments. Limited protection beyond equipment.

Consistency: 5/10

• 2 tutors (Gamble, Professional Face-Breaker), moderate card draw (Thrill of Possibility, Valakut Exploration). Redundant damage multipliers but no combo redundancy.

Interaction: 4/10

• 7 targeted removal spells (e.g., Chaos Warp, Vandalblast), mostly sorcery-speed. No counterspells.

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between Focused Casual (4.5) and Optimized Casual (5.0). It has a clear, synergistic gameplan but lacks the speed (T8–10 wins) and interaction density of higher tiers. While it can overwhelm unprepared tables with explosive Ashling turns, it struggles against fast combos or heavy disruption.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0