Overview:

This Jeskai storm deck leverages Kykar, Wind's Fury as a potent engine, converting noncreature spells into Spirit tokens (which fuel mana via sacrifice) and enabling explosive storm turns. The primary strategy revolves around casting cheap instants/sorceries to generate value, storm count, and mana, culminating in win conditions like Grapeshot, Aetherflux Reservoir, or token swarms amplified by Purphoros, God of the Forge/Impact Tremors. Kykar is essential as both a token generator and mana accelerator, enabling storm chains and recovering from early disruption. The deck includes efficient combos like Isochron Scepter + Dramatic Reversal for infinite nonland untaps/mana and utilizes "hidden commanders" like Birgi, God of Storytelling and Storm-Kiln Artist for massive mana advantage.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy cost reducers (Goblin Electromancer, Baral, Chief of Compliance), mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet), and token generators (Young Pyromancer, Third Path Iconoclast). Cast cantrips (Ponder, Preordain) to sculpt hand. Prioritize resolving Smothering Tithe for passive Treasures.
2. Engine Activation (Turns 3-5): Cast Kykar. Use rituals (Seething Song, Pyretic Ritual) and card draw (Windfall, Fact or Fiction) to generate Spirits and mana. Leverage Birgi, God of Storytelling or Storm-Kiln Artist to convert spells into resources. Protect key pieces with counterspells (Swan Song, Dispel).
3. Storm Turn (Turns 4-7): Chain low-cost spells (cantrips, rituals) to build storm count. Sacrifice Spirits to Kykar for red mana to fuel more spells. Win via:
   • Storm Payoff: Grapeshot or Aetherflux Reservoir (50+ life).
   • Token Burn: Purphoros, God of the Forge/Impact Tremors pings.
   • Infinite Combo: Isochron Scepter (imprinting Dramatic Reversal) + 2+ mana rocks = infinite storm/spells/mana.
   • Overwhelm: Empty the Warrens or Talrand, Sky Summoner tokens + Jeskai Ascendancy pumps.
4. Recursion/Alternative Lines: Use Past in Flames to replay spells from graveyard. Finale of Promise recasts key instants/sorceries. Saheeli, Sublime Artificer copies artifacts for value.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including U/R/W sources) and at least one early play: ramp (Sol Ring), cantrip (Opt), or engine piece (Electromancer).
• Prioritize hands with a cost reducer or ritual or card draw engine.
• Avoid hands lacking blue mana, low spell density, or only high-CMC cards.
• Ideal openers include Kykar + protection (Boros Charm) or a combo piece (Scepter).

Key Tips:

• Mana Sequencing: Sacrifice Spirits during the storm turn to chain spells. Use Birgi's back side (Harnfel) for card advantage.
• Protection: Hold counterspells for critical hate pieces (e.g., Cursed Totem, Rule of Law). Use Boros Charm to protect artifacts/enchantments from wipes.
• Storm Efficiency: Cast cantrips before rituals to ensure land drops. Frantic Search untaps lands for reuse.
• Win Flexibility: Muddle the Mixture transmutes for Scepter/Grapeshot. Fabricate finds Reservoir.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Rule of Law Effects: Eidolon of Rhetoric, Deafening Silence prevent spell chaining, crippling the primary win condition.
• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace/Leyline of the Void disable Past in Flames, Finale of Promise, and Faithless Looting recursion.
• Anti-Token Tech: Cursed Totem/Linvala, Keeper of Silence shut off Kykar/Electromancer mana abilities and Birgi's boast.

Moderate

• Board Wipes: Mass removal (Farewell, Blasphemous Act) resets token engines and forces slow recovery.
• Discard/Hand Attack: Targeted discard (Thoughtseize) on key combo pieces (Scepter, Reservoir) delays wins.
• Tax Effects: Thalia, Guardian of Thraben/Sphere of Resistance increase spell costs, disrupting storm sequencing.

Minor

• Artifact/Enchantment Removal: Targeted removal on Smothering Tithe or Aetherflux Reservoir slows the deck but is mitigated by counterspells.
• Fast Aggro: Early creature pressure can outpace setup if interaction is scarce.

Most Important Cards:

• Kykar, Wind's Fury (Token generation, mana engine)
• Birgi, God of Storytelling (Mana generation, card advantage)
• Isochron Scepter (Infinite combo enabler)
• Dramatic Reversal (Infinite combo piece)
• Storm-Kiln Artist (Treasure generation, storm payoff)
• Aetherflux Reservoir (Primary life-based win condition)
• Grapeshot (Primary storm win condition)
• Smothering Tithe (Passive mana acceleration)
• Past in Flames (Graveyard recursion for storm)
• Baral, Chief of Compliance (Cost reduction, card selection)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10

• Capable of T4-5 wins with ideal draws (e.g., T1 Electromancer → T2 Kykar → T3 Scepter/Reversal combo or ritual chain into Grapeshot).

Resilience: 6/10

• Counterspells and protection (Boros Charm) defend key pieces, but heavy disruption or multiple stax effects can cripple the game plan. Recursion (Past in Flames) offers recovery potential.

Consistency: 7/10

• High density of cantrips, tutors (Fabricate, Muddle the Mixture), and redundant engines (Birgi/Storm-Kiln) ensure reliable access to storm components.

Interaction: 7/10

• Efficient counterspells (Dispel, Swan Song), targeted removal (Path to Exile), and board protection (Boros Charm) handle key threats, but lacks board wipes for wide strategies.

Rating Justification:

This deck achieves High Power speed (T3-4 wins possible) through fast mana, cost reduction, and compact combos, but its reliance on noncreature spells and vulnerability to stax/grave hate limits resilience. It operates efficiently under disruption but folds to specific hate cards, placing it below cEDH viability.

Power level: 7.5 - 8.0