Overview:

This Karador, Ghost Chieftain deck leverages Abzan's graveyard synergies to create a resilient midrange value engine. The strategy focuses on self-mill (Hermit Druid, Buried Alive), creature recursion (Loyal Retainers, Necromancy), and toolbox tutoring (Survival of the Fittest, Birthing Pod) to outvalue opponents. Karador acts as a cost-reduced engine for recurring key creatures, but the deck can operate independently with its dense recursion package. Win conditions include Craterhoof Behemoth overruns, Kokusho, the Evening Star life-drain loops, and Phyrexian Altar-enabled infinite sacrifices with Luminous Broodmoth/Felidar Guardian.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Graveyard Setup (T1-3): Use Entomb, Hermit Druid, or Buried Alive to stock the graveyard with key creatures like Kokusho, Elesh Norn, or Priest of Fell Rites. Ramp with Birds of Paradise, Bloom Tender, and Solitude early interaction.
2. Value Engine Activation (T3-5): Deploy Survival of the Fittest or Birthing Pod to tutor combo pieces/answers. Recur threats via Karador or Necromancy. Use Luminous Broodmoth + sac outlets for persistent recursion.
3. Win Condition Assembly (T4-7):
   • Combat: Overrun with Craterhoof Behemoth or Elesh Norn-enhanced boards.
   • Combo: Phyrexian Altar + Luminous Broodmoth + Felidar Guardian creates infinite ETB/sacrifice triggers. Pair with Corpse Knight or Poison-Tip Archer for lethal.
   • Life Drain: Loop Kokusho, the Evening Star with sac outlets and recursion.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including green/black sources.
• Prioritize early graveyard enablers (Entomb, Hermit Druid) or tutors (Survival of the Fittest).
• Ensure at least one piece of interaction (Swords to Plowshares, Assassin's Trophy).
• Avoid hands without graveyard setup or ramp.

Key Tips:

• Use Volrath's Stronghold and Emeria, the Sky Ruin for recurring value.
• Tombstone Stairwell becomes lethal with Elesh Norn or Poison-Tip Archer.
• Force of Vigor protects against graveyard hate artifacts/enchantments.
• Grand Abolisher ensures safe combo turns.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) completely shuts down recursion engines.
• Cursed Totem/Linvala, Keeper of Silence disable mana dorks, Birthing Pod, and Fiend Artisan.

Moderate

• Board wipes disrupt creature-based value chains, though recursion mitigates this.
• Drannith Magistrate blocks Karador's graveyard casting ability.

Minor

• Limited stack interaction outside Silence and Grand Abolisher.
• High reliance on nonbasic lands makes Blood Moon/Back to Basics problematic.

Most Important Cards:

• Survival of the Fittest (Tutor engine)
• Phyrexian Altar (Combo enabler)
• Craterhoof Behemoth (Primary finisher)
• Hermit Druid (Graveyard turbo)
• Loyal Retainers (Recur legendaries)
• Buried Alive (Graveyard setup)
• Necromancy (Flash reanimation)
• Kokusho, the Evening Star (Life drain loop)
• Grand Abolisher (Combo protection)
• Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite (Stax/overrun)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10
Can threaten T4-6 wins via Hermit Druid graveyard dumps or T5-7 combat/combo finishes.

Resilience: 8/10
Multiple recursion engines (Karador, Broodmoth, Emeria) and protection (Flawless Maneuver, Grand Abolisher) mitigate disruption.

Consistency: 9/10
12 tutors (including Survival/Birthing Pod) and 8+ card draw engines ensure reliable access to key pieces.

Interaction: 6/10
Efficient targeted removal (Swords, Assassin's Trophy) and stax (Archon of Emeria), but limited counterspells.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH-adjacent speeds with T4-6 win potential through robust tutoring and combo lines but lacks the compact interaction and protection seen in top-tier builds. Its graveyard dependency and vulnerability to specific hate keep it below true cEDH viability.

Power level: 7.5 - 8.0