Overview:

This Edgar Markov Vampire tribal deck leverages the commander's Eminence ability to flood the board with 1/1 Vampire tokens while buffing the team with +1/+1 counters. The primary strategy revolves around overwhelming combat supported by tribal synergies, with secondary infinite lifedrain combos via Exquisite Blood/Sanguine Bond and Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose. Edgar Markov acts as both an engine (token generation) and payoff (+1/+1 counters), while key Vampire lords like Legion Lieutenant and Stromkirk Captain amplify threats. The deck includes strong recursion tools like Patriarch's Bidding and Nullpriest of Oblivion to recover from setbacks.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Game (T1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet), low-CMC Vampires (Vampire Socialite, Charismatic Conqueror), and token generators (Legion's Landing). Use Dark Ritual or Mana Vault for explosive starts.
2. Mid-Game (T4-6): Cast Edgar Markov or high-impact Vampires (Olivia Voldaren, Captivating Vampire). Activate tribal synergies with Roaming Throne (naming Vampires) and Shared Animosity. Use Skullclamp on tokens for card draw.
3. Win Conditions:
   • Combat Overrun: Amplify tokens with Craterhoof Behemoth-like effects (Shared Animosity, Stromkirk Captain) and Flawless Maneuver for protection.
   • Infinite Lifedrain: Tutor for Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond or Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose for instant kills.
   • Recursive Value: Reanimate Vampires en masse with Patriarch's Bidding post-wipe.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including color-fixing (Fetid Heath, Caves of Koilos).
• Prioritize early Vampires (CMC ≤3), ramp (Herald's Horn, Sol Ring), or combo tutors (Demonic Tutor).
• Avoid hands lacking early plays or color sources for Edgar’s {W}{B}{R} cost.

Key Tips:

• Use Reconnaissance to pseudo-vigilance attackers while preserving tokens.
• Teferi's Protection protects against wraths; Deflecting Swat redirects targeted removal.
• Necropotence refuels hands but conflicts with graveyard recursion – time carefully.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Heavy reliance on board presence makes it vulnerable to sweepers like Farewell or Blasphemous Act.
• Limited stack interaction (only 4 counterspell/protection effects) struggles against combo decks.

Moderate

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) disrupts Patriarch's Bidding and Silversmote Ghoul.
• Artifact/enchantment removal cripples key pieces (Exquisite Blood, Skullclamp).

Minor

• High life-gain strategies can outpace lifedrain wincons.
• Mana base includes 7 taplands, slightly slowing early development.

Most Important Cards:

• Edgar Markov (Token generation and anthem effect)
• Exquisite Blood (Infinite combo piece)
• Sanguine Bond (Infinite combo finisher)
• Skullclamp (Token-to-card conversion engine)
• Necropotence (Mass card advantage)
• Patriarch's Bidding (Mass recursion)
• Roaming Throne (Tribal trigger doubler)
• Shared Animosity (Combat damage amplifier)
• Demonic Tutor (Tutor for combo/answers)
• Teferi's Protection (Board wipe insurance)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten combo wins as early as T4 with perfect draws (Tutor → Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond), but typically aims for T6-8 combat kills.

Resilience: 5/10

• Strong recursion (Patriarch's Bidding, Silversmote Ghoul) and protection (Teferi's Protection), but over-reliant on board presence.

Consistency: 7/10

• 8 tutors (including Imperial Seal, Vampiric Tutor) and strong card draw (Necropotence, Welcoming Vampire) ensure access to key pieces.

Interaction: 5/10

• 10 targeted removal spells and 3 board wipes, but minimal stack interaction beyond Deflecting Swat.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at high-powered casual levels with T6-8 win potential via combat or combo, supported by strong tutors and tribal synergy. While resilient to single-target removal, its board-centric strategy struggles against heavy control, placing it below optimized combo decks.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5