Overview:

This Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow deck leverages aggressive Ninjutsu tactics and topdeck manipulation to drain opponents via Yuriko's triggered ability while threatening combo finishes. The commander enables consistent card advantage and life loss through evasive creatures like Changeling Outcast and Gingerbrute, while high-CMC spells (e.g., Blasphemous Edict, Beacon of Tomorrows) amplify damage. Alternate win conditions include Thassa's Oracle paired with Demonic Consultation/Tainted Pact and extra-turn chains. Yuriko acts as both the engine and a critical damage source, with Ninjutsu allowing frequent recasts despite removal.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy unblockable creatures (Changeling Outcast, Tormented Soul, Gingerbrute) or 0-power blockers (Ornithopter). Use Sol Ring, Dark Ritual, or Mana Drain to accelerate into Ninjas like Ninja of the Deep Hours or Yuriko via Ninjutsu.
2. Mid-Game Pressure (Turns 4-6): Activate Yuriko triggers by connecting with Ninjas. Manipulate the topdeck using Brainstorm, Ponder, or Mystical Tutor to reveal high-CMC spells. Deploy Roaming Throne (naming Ninja) to double triggers.
3. Win Conditions:
   • Yuriko Burn: Stack Temporal Trespass, Expropriate, or Bolas's Citadel on top for massive life loss.
   • Thassa's Oracle Combo: Tutor Demonic Consultation/Tainted Pact to exile the library and win with Oracle.
   • Extra Turn Chains: Loop Beacon of Tomorrows or Time Warp with recursion (Mystic Sanctuary).

Mulligan Priorities:

• Prioritize 1-2 evasive creatures, a Ninjutsu enabler (Yuriko/Ingenious Infiltrator), and 2-3 lands.
• Keep hands with tutors (Demonic Tutor, Scheming Symmetry) or protection (Lightning Greaves).
• Avoid hands with only high-CMC spells and no early plays.

Key Tips:

• Use Tainted Pact cautiously to avoid exiling key combo pieces.
• Doomsday requires precise setup (e.g., pile: Thassa's Oracle, Demonic Consultation, free counters, draw spells).
• Bolas's Citadel synergizes with Yuriko triggers to cast high-CMC spells for life.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander-dependent: Repeated Yuriko removal cripples the engine.
• Graveyard hate (Bojuka Bog) disrupts Mystic Sanctuary/Mortuary Mire recursion.
• Anti-draw effects (Narset, Parter of Veils) limit Yuriko’s card advantage.

Moderate

• Board wipes reset evasive creature base.
• Cursed Totem/Torpor Orb nullifies Ninjutsu and ETB triggers.

Minor

• Limited artifact/enchantment removal for stax pieces.
• Struggles against hexproof/shroud on opponents.

Most Important Cards:

• Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow (Engine and primary win condition)
• Demonic Consultation (Oracle combo enabler)
• Thassa's Oracle (Alternate win condition)
• Mana Drain (Counterspell + ramp)
• Cyclonic Rift (Board reset)
• Roaming Throne (Doubles Ninja triggers)
• Tainted Pact (Tutor/combo piece)
• Mystical Tutor (Topdeck manipulation)
• Bolas's Citadel (High-CMC enabler/life drain)
• Scheming Symmetry (Tutor with political utility)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10
Can threaten Oracle combo wins by T4-5 with optimal draws or drain tables quickly via stacked high-CMC triggers.

Resilience: 5/10
Vulnerable to commander removal and lacks mass recursion, but counterspells (Force of Will, Swan Song) and protection (Lightning Greaves) provide some mitigation.

Consistency: 7/10
Abundant tutors (10+), card selection (Brainstorm, Preordain), and redundancy in evasive creatures ensure key pieces are accessible.

Interaction: 6/10
Efficient counterspells (Counterspell, Miscast) and targeted removal (Pongify, Drown in the Loch), but light on board wipes beyond Damnation.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH-adjacent speeds with a T4-5 Oracle combo and consistent Yuriko pressure but lacks the redundancy and free interaction of top-tier lists. Its reliance on Yuriko and vulnerability to grave/artifact hate place it in the high-power casual to focused competitive range.

Power level: 7.5 - 8.0