Overview:

Light-Paws, Emperor's Voice is a highly focused Voltron deck that leverages its commander's unique Aura-tutoring ability to create an overwhelming threat quickly. The deck combines efficient Aura stacking, protection effects, and fast mana to turn Light-Paws into a lethal commander damage engine while maintaining resilience through hexproof, indestructible, and recursion effects.

Primer:

Core Strategy: This deck aims to deploy Light-Paws by turn 2 using fast mana (Mox Diamond, Mana Vault), then chain Auras like Hyena Umbra and Spirit Mantle to create an evasive, protected threat. Each cast Aura triggers Light-Paws to fetch another, creating exponential growth in power (All That Glitters, Ethereal Armor) and resilience (Spectra Ward, Gift of Immortality). Win conditions include commander damage and secondary alt-win Approach of the Second Sun.

Key Lines:

• Turn 2 Light-Paws into Turn 3 kill: T1 Ancient Tomb + Mana Vault, T2 Light-Paws -> T3 Hyena Umbra (fetch Spirit Mantle), attack for 7 commander damage with protection
• Recursion Lines: Replenish/Retether to rebuild after wipes, Hall of Heliod's Generosity to recur key Auras
• Lock Potential: Greater Auramancy + Rune-Tail's Essence makes the board nearly unassailable

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2 lands + 1 fast mana OR 3 lands + Serra's Sanctum
• Reject hands without early Aura plays (e.g., Sram, Senior Edificer alone isn't sufficient)
• Prioritize opening with Enlightened Tutor or Land Tax for consistency

Key Tips:

• Sequence Auras strategically: Fetch protection (Spectra Ward) before power boosts
• Use Sigarda's Aid to flash in Auras during opponents' turns for surprise blocks/triggers
• Scroll Rack combos with Land Tax to filter draws and dig for wincons

Avoid Traps:

• Overextending into board wipes without Teferi's Protection backup
• Wasting removal on non-critical threats - focus on protecting Light-Paws
• Casting Approach of the Second Sun without sufficient protection/recursion

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Relies entirely on Light-Paws (3+ removals cripple the deck)
• Vulnerable to Humility/Darksteel Mutation effects that bypass protection

Moderate:

• Limited answers to resolved non-creature permanents
• Weak to mass land destruction (relies on Serra's Sanctum/Nykthos)

Minor:

• Can recover from single-target removal with recursion

Most Important Cards:

• Serra's Sanctum
• Greater Auramancy
• All That Glitters
• Enlightened Tutor
• Teferi's Protection
• Replenish
• Mana Vault
• Ethereal Armor
• Sram, Senior Edificer
• Smothering Tithe

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10
Capable of T3 kills with perfect draws (Light-Paws + 2 Auras), consistent T5-6 lethal commander damage through protection. Ancient Tomb/Mox Diamond enable explosive starts.

Resilience: 6/10
Multiple protection layers (hexproof, indestructible, phase-out) but folds to repeated commander removal. Recursion via Replenish provides recovery from wipes.

Consistency: 7/10
11 tutors (including Light-Paws' inherent tutoring), 28 Auras with redundant effects. Scroll Rack + Land Tax provides exceptional card selection.

Interaction: 5/10
Focused on protection over disruption. Limited removal suite (Swords, Path) but strong stax elements (Aura of Silence, Blind Obedience).

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH-adjacent speed (T3 goldfish potential) but lacks the infinite combos and free interaction of Tier 1.5+ cEDH decks. Its resilience through protection/recursion and ability to threaten wins through stax pieces like Greater Auramancy place it above optimized casual but below true competitive builds. Comparable to Rubric 7.0 ("Focused Competitive") in speed but held back by commander dependency.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0