Overview:

This Esper artifact/combo deck leverages Tivit, Seller of Secrets as a value engine and combo enabler, generating massive artifact token resources through voting triggers. The primary strategy revolves around assembling infinite turns via Time Sieve supported by Tivit's Clue/Treasure generation and Academy Manufactor tripling outputs. Secondary win conditions include Thopter Foundry/Sword of the Meek life gain loops, planeswalker ultimates, and Magister Sphinx life manipulation. The deck features strong artifact synergies with blink effects (Brago, King Eternal, Displacer Kitten) and planeswalker toolboxes to control the game.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, signets), tutors (Tribute Mage, Trinket Mage), and value engines like Shorikai, Genesis Engine. Cast Tivit by T4-5 using artifact ramp.
2. Token Generation: Activate Tivit's combat/ETB triggers with Academy Manufactor to create 3 Clues + 3 Treasures per vote. Use blink effects to reset Tivit's triggers.
3. Combo Assembly:
   • Infinite Turns: Pair Time Sieve with Tivit's token generation (5+ artifacts per turn cycle) to take consecutive turns.
   • Thopter/Sword: Thopter Foundry + Sword of the Meek generates infinite life/thopters when combined with a sac outlet.
4. Alternative Wins: Activate planeswalkers (Tezzeret the Seeker, Ichormoon Gauntlet ultimates), swing with Kappa Cannoneer, or reset life totals with Magister Sphinx.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including color sources
• Prioritize early ramp (signets, Sol Ring) or tutors
• Look for Tivit enablers (Swiftfoot Boots, Lightning Greaves) or combo pieces
• Avoid hands lacking artifact synergy or color fixing

Key Tips:

• Use Displacer Kitten to blink Tivit after casting noncreature spells for extra voting triggers
• Liquimetal Torque enables artifact synergies with planeswalkers/creatures
• Oath of Teferi doubles planeswalker activations and enables Felidar Guardian blinks
• Nevinyrral's Disk clears threats while preserving your artifacts if timed with indestructible effects

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Artifact Hate: Stony Silence, Null Rod, or Collector Ouphe cripple token generation and combo execution
• Graveyard Reliance: Sword of the Meek recursion and Academy Ruins strategies fold to Rest in Peace
• Stack Interaction: Limited protection for combo turns beyond 6 counterspells

Moderate

• Board Wipes: Creature-based value engines (Shorikai, Solemn Simulacrum) struggle against repeated wraths
• Tax Effects: Thalia, Guardian of Thraben slows artifact-based ramp and combo assembly
• Life Total Pressure: Slow starts may fold to aggressive decks despite Filigree Angel lifegain

Minor

• Limited land destruction protection outside of basic landcycling
• Some clunky mana (11 enters-tapped lands) slows early development

Most Important Cards:

• Time Sieve (Primary win condition - infinite turns)
• Academy Manufactor (Triples Tivit's token output for combos)
• Tivit, Seller of Secrets (Token generator and value engine)
• Thopter Foundry (Secondary combo piece and life stabilizer)
• Tezzeret the Seeker (Tutor for artifacts and untap synergies)
• Ichormoon Gauntlet (Planeswalker accelerator and extra turns)
• Displacer Kitten (Blink enabler for Tivit/planeswalkers)
• Sword of the Meek (Combo piece with recursive capabilities)
• Brago, King Eternal (Blink engine for value/combo resets)
• Magister Sphinx (Life total manipulation finisher)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10
Can execute infinite turns as early as T5-6 with optimal draws, but typically threatens wins T7-8 through layered artifact synergies.

Resilience: 6/10
Multiple recursion engines (Academy Ruins, Eternal Wanderer) and protection (hexproof equipment, counterspells), but critical vulnerabilities to artifact hate.

Consistency: 7/10
11 tutors and strong card draw (Tivit triggers, Shorikai, planeswalkers) reliably find key pieces, though 3-card combos require setup.

Interaction: 6/10
10 targeted removal spells and 6 counterspells handle key threats, but lacks stack dominance against tuned combo decks.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates T7-8 win potential through deterministic combos with strong tutoring and artifact synergies, aligning with the "Focused Competitive" tier. However, its vulnerability to common artifact hate and reliance on 3-card combos prevent higher optimization.

Power level: 7.0 - 7.5